10:35 ▪
4
min read ▪ by
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index at 18 points means the return of the crypto market to the zone of extreme fear. After a failed recovery, this new episode of stress reflects a tougher atmosphere, fueled by geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic doubts. Another observation emerges behind this sentiment indicator: mistrust is now spilling over into altcoins, trading volumes and social signals.
In short
- The Crypto Fear and Greed Index fell back to 18, sending the crypto market back into the extreme fear zone after a brief recovery a few days ago.
- This new increase in risk aversion is explained by a more tense climate characterized by macroeconomic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions.
- Altcoins are emerging as the first victims of this mistrust, with 38% of them nearing their all-time lows and trading volumes down around 50%.
- Social indicators confirm this malaise between the decline in altcoin discussions and the increase in Google searches related to the idea of zero bitcoin.
The sentiment barometer is once again falling under macroeconomic pressure
The Crypto Fear and Greed Index falls back into the extreme fear zone, a sign of a sudden spike in nervousness in the crypto market. The index actually reads 18, down from 20 on Friday and 25 on Wednesday. This rapid decline thus wipes out the mid-week bounce and reflects a strong return to risk aversion among crypto investors.
Such a deterioration is related to the ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran, which weigh on risk appetite and at the same time support macroeconomic uncertainty. In addition, it is worth noting that the index already reached a yearly low of 5 in February, in a market context degraded by several factors, including uncertainty about interest rate policy, liquidity levels and the increase in US public debt.
- The index is at 18;
- It was on a Friday at 8 p.m.;
- It briefly rebounded to 25 on Wednesday;
- Level 18 corresponds to a return to extreme fear.
Altcoins, volumes and social indicators confirm the loss of confidence
CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost clarifies this “38% of altcoins are trading near their all-time lows”which is a situation considered more severe than that observed after the collapse of FTX. It also states that this drop in prices was accompanied by “around 50% drop in crypto market trading volume”.
Darkfost summarizes this dynamic in a clear sentence: “Altcoins remain the last segment of the crypto market that usually captures liquidity flows. Under these conditions, the situation is not surprising, given the geopolitical and macroeconomic deterioration observed in recent months.”.
We also observe two other signs of this mistrust. According to Santimento, mentions of altcoins on social media have fallen to their lowest level in two years. At the same time, global Google searches “Bitcoin Goes to Zero” according to Google Trends, they reached their highest level since 2022 in February 2026. These elements no longer describe a troubled market. They show a decline in attention, liquidity and confidence on multiple fronts simultaneously.
The return of extreme fear is no longer a simple psychological signal. Between volumes contracting, confidence eroding, and 38% of altcoins in the critical zone according to CryptoQuant, the crypto market shows continued fragility in a climate still dominated by uncertainty.
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A graduate of Sciences Po Toulouse and holder of the blockchain consultant certification issued by Alyra, I joined the Cointribune adventure in 2019. Convinced of the potential of blockchain to transform many sectors of the economy, I committed myself to raising awareness and informing the general public about this ever-evolving ecosystem. My goal is to enable everyone to better understand blockchain and take advantage of the opportunities it offers. I strive every day to provide an objective analysis of current events, decipher market trends, convey the latest technological innovations, and put into perspective the economic and social issues of this ongoing revolution.
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The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be taken as investment advice. Before making any investment decision, do your own research.
