Share this article
Bitcoin Greed & Fear Index Shows Extreme Pessimism, Tactical Bottom May Be Near: Analyst
Peak fear suggests a tactical low may be near.
Nov 22, 2025, 3:57 a.m.
Make us preferred on Google
What to know:
- Bitcoin's Greed & Fear Index has plummeted to extreme pessimism, according to 10x Research.
- Peak fear suggests a tactical low may be near.
Bitcoin sentiment has plunged into extreme pessimism, suggesting a tactical or interim low from which a BTC price bounce is likely, according to analytics firm 10x Research.
The firm's proprietary "Greed & Fear" Index, which measures market sentiment, has crashed to a record low of less than 5 points. Readings below 10% represent extreme fear or pessimism, and above 90% signal green or over-optimism.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
More importantly, the 21-day simple moving average of the index has slipped to 10%, a level that has consistently marked tactical lows over the years.
"Our own 10x Greed & Fear Index has been sitting near its lowest possible reading, and the slower-moving average has now reached the 10% zone, a level that often marks a tactical low," Markus Thielen, founder of 10x Research, told CoinDesk.
Peak pessimism does not necessarily signal an immediate end to the downtrend. While prices may continue to decline, the pace is likely to slow, with a tactical low in sight.
"Prices can still fall further, as we saw in March when the indicator bottomed before bitcoin continued to slide into April. Yet, bitcoin still staged a 10% rebound immediately after that initial sentiment low. With sentiment now near rock bottom again, a similar short-term rebound is possible," Thielen explained.
Bitcoin traded near $84,800 at press time, having hit a low of $80,880 on Friday, according to data from CoinDesk. Despite the bounce, prices are still down 10% for the week and 23% for the month.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
More For You
More For You
BlackRock's digital assets head: Leverage-driven volatility threatens bitcoin’s narrative
Rampant speculation on crypto derivatives platforms is fueling volatility and risking bitcoin’s image as a stable hedge, says BlackRock’s digital assets chief.
What to know:
- BlackRock digital-assets chief Robert Mitchnick warned that heavy use of leverage in bitcoin derivatives is undermining the cryptocurrency’s appeal as a stable institutional portfolio hedge.
- Mitchnick said bitcoin’s fundamentals as a scarce, decentralized monetary asset remain strong, but its trading increasingly resembles a "levered NASDAQ," raising the bar for conservative investors to adopt it.
- He argued that exchange-traded funds like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin ETF are not the main source of volatility, pointing instead to perpetual futures platforms.
Top Stories
