TL;DR:
- The Fear and Greed Index drops to 22 points, reflecting deep pessimism among investors.
- Bitcoin remains under pressure near $87,000 as retail traders capitulate.
- Santiment notes that the divergence between price and sentiment often precedes bullish rebounds.
Psychological pressure is taking hold of the digital asset ecosystem. Today, crypto market sentiment fell to “Fear” levels, sitting at 22 points according to the latest CoinMarketCap Fear and Greed Index. This is one of the lowest readings since the November capitulation events, even surpassing last week’s nervousness.
In this context, it is known that when retail investors reach a state of emotional exhaustion, the market tends to find solid support.
Despite the fact that the price of the pioneer cryptocurrency fell back below $87,000 after its failed breakout attempt, a revealing divergence exists: while sentiment is collapsing sharply, the price is not dropping at the same pace.
๐ฑ The retail crowd has shifted mostly bearish toward crypto after yesterday's drops. This is historically a good sign, because high:
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 16, 2025
๐ฆ Blue bars indicate FUD, and prices usually bounce
๐ฅ Red bars indicate FOMO, and prices usually drop pic.twitter.com/hgqd2sSeIX
This phenomenon, analyzed by Santiment, reveals that we are in a stage of exhausting selling pressure from small traders, while large holders remain patient.
Technical Indicators and Retail Capitulation
Analysis of momentum indicators, such as the Choppiness Index, shows that the market is in high-range conditions. This indicates a weakness in the current downtrend rather than an imminent and sustained collapse. If crypto market sentiment continues to reach historical zones of extreme fear, the probability of short-term stabilization or a relief rally increases considerably.
The history of the crypto sector demonstrates that extreme fear usually aligns with periods of undervaluation or market overreactions. Rather than marking the start of a deeper decline, these levels of negativity often coincide with local bottoms prior to a recovery.
In summary, the current outlook reflects a psychological capitulation. As long as macroeconomic conditions remain stable and “whales” do not accelerate the distribution of their assets, the market could be reaching its sentiment floor. Experienced investors often view this crypto market sentiment not as a signal to sell, but as an indicator that a rebound may be closer than retail traders expect.