Bitcoin Holds Dominance as Fear & Greed Index Drops to 23 on Oct 18 – Market in Extreme Fear

On October 18, Alternative Data reported that the cryptocurrency Fear and Greed Index has risen to 23 from 22 yesterday, underscoring persistent extreme fear across digital asset markets. The index—scored on a 0 to 100 scale—integrates key metrics such as volatility (25 %), market volume (25 %), social media hype (15 %), market surveys (15 %), Bitcoin’s dominance (10 %), and Google Trends (10 %) to deliver a composite sentiment gauge. A 23 rating places the market in the bottom quintile, signaling cautious investor sentiment amid heightened market volatility. Traders and risk managers should incorporate these insights when calibrating exposure and setting volatility thresholds, as the index offers a succinct, data‑driven barometer of prevailing market psychology.