PiCK

Crypto market re-enters 'extreme fear'

Source

Korea Economic Daily

Summary

It reported that the crypto Fear & Greed Index posted 18, entering the 'extreme fear' zone.
It said that since the sharp selloff in October 2025, Bitcoin has fallen about 50% from its all-time high and hundreds of billions of dollars in altcoin market cap have evaporated.
It reported that investor anxiety is deepening, with about 38% of all altcoins trading near all-time lows and trading volume down about 50%.

Forecast Trend Report by Period

Crypto Now

Investors watch from the sidelines amid 'further downside concerns'

The Fear & Greed Index, a key gauge of investor sentiment in the crypto-asset market, has fallen back into the 'extreme fear' zone. As risk appetite freezes, analysts say a wait-and-see stance—driven more by concerns over further declines than expectations of a short-term rebound—is spreading across the market.

According to Cointelegraph on the 8th, the crypto Fear & Greed Index based on CoinMarketCap data recently came in at 18, entering 'extreme fear' territory. Readings of 20 or below are classified as extreme fear. The index briefly recovered to the 'fear' level earlier this month at 20 and rose to 25 on the 5th, but has since retreated again. The move is seen as reflecting weakened risk-asset appetite as geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Israel and Iran intensify.

The crypto market has remained broadly weak since a sharp selloff in October 2025. Bitcoin in Korea reclaimed KRW 100 million on the 4th, but later slipped back below that level. It is down about 50% from its all-time high (KRW 179.87 million). In global markets, it is trading around $67,000.

Altcoins are showing particularly pronounced weakness. The altcoin market has seen hundreds of billions of dollars in market capitalization wiped out. According to The Dark Post, about 38% of all altcoins are trading near their all-time lows. Some analysts say this is even more severe than immediately after the 2022 FTX collapse. Over the same period, crypto trading volume also fell by about 50%. The Dark Post noted that "altcoins are generally where market liquidity flows in last," adding that "given the geopolitical tensions and deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop seen in recent months, the current situation follows an expected trajectory."

Sentiment indicators also point to rising investor anxiety. According to on-chain analytics platform Santiment, altcoin mentions on social media have fallen to their lowest level in the past two years.

Lee Young-min, Bloomingbit reporter 20min@bloomingbit.io