COINOTAG News, citing Cointelegraph on December 17, notes a shift in retail investor sentiment toward cryptocurrency that has turned bearish. Market participants describe a cautious stance and tighter liquidity as volatility persists. The overall mood remains risk-off, even as institutional demand shows uneven resilience. This framing aligns with ongoing coverage of market psychology and sentiment indicators shaping near-term risk assessments.

Santiment data reinforces that this setup can be a bullish contrarian signal: when retail investors expect further declines, prices often bottom and rebound as buyers re-enter. While not a guarantee, the pattern has historically preceded upside moves amid improving on-chain metrics and liquidity conditions. Traders should monitor key support levels and sentiment indicators for early momentum shifts.