SentalysisIn this guide
Key takeaways
- The gauge reads mood from attention, so it reflects the interest of people who never post or trade, not only the loudest voices.
- It shows two strengths and one balance: how strong fear-related and greed-related attention each are, and where the needle sits between them.
- When both sides are strong at once, the gauge says Mixed instead of Neutral. A split market is not a calm one.
- Each side is read against its own history, so a strong reading means unusual for that side, not simply a big number.
- It describes the mood. It is not a buy or sell signal and does not predict prices.
What the gauge shows
A fear and greed gauge answers one question at a glance: is the market's mood leaning toward worry or toward excitement right now? The Sentalysis gauge answers it with three pieces of information, all visible on the card.
- The needle, from 0 (Fear) to 100 (Greed). Above 50, greed-related attention outweighs fear-related attention; below 50, the reverse.
- The band, a plain-language label for where the needle sits.
- Two strength bars, one for fear and one for greed, each from 0% to 100%. They show what is behind the needle, so you can tell a quiet market from a tug-of-war.
| Needle | Band | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | Extreme Greed | Greed-related attention far outweighs fear |
| 60–80 | Greed | Greed leads |
| 40–60 | Neutral or Mixed | Neither side leads: quiet (Neutral) or both strong (Mixed) |
| 20–40 | Fear | Fear leads |
| 0–20 | Extreme Fear | Fear-related attention far outweighs greed |
Neutral and Mixed are different
Any gauge that reduces mood to one number has the same blind spot: strong fear and strong greed can cancel out and land the needle in the middle, where it reads as calm. On Sentalysis the middle band carries two names. Neutral means both strength bars are low: little attention to either side. Mixed means the needle is in the middle because both sides are elevated at once.
That distinction is often the most useful thing on the card. A Mixed reading during a sharp move says the market is divided, not relaxed, and it is a prompt to look at the strength bars and at the chart beside them.
Why read mood from attention
Attention is the broadest trace a mood leaves. People who never post, poll or trade still look things up and read the news when something worries or excites them. Measuring attention captures that wider group, and it reacts the moment interest changes.
Attention on its own has no direction: a surge can mean excitement or alarm. That is why the gauge does not read one series. It contrasts attention to topics associated with fear against attention to topics associated with greed, and reads each against its own history, so a strong reading means unusual for that side. The guide to crypto market sentiment covers how attention compares with other kinds of sentiment data.
How to read it
- Read the bars, not just the needle. The same needle position can come from a quiet market or a divided one.
- Watch the change. A move from Greed to Fear over a few days says more than any single reading.
- Look for persistence. One extreme day can be a reaction to news; a band that holds for weeks is a different observation.
- Put it next to the chart. On the sentiment charts, compare the mood with the price and with attention to the keywords you follow.
What it cannot tell you
The gauge measures attention, which is interest, not conviction or money. It can stay in Extreme Fear or Extreme Greed for longer than seems reasonable, and similar timing between the mood and the price does not mean one caused the other. Use it as one piece of context next to price, discussion in HiveMind and the keywords you track.
Where to find it
The Fear & Greed gauge sits in the market pulse beside your chart, and it is included on every plan, including the free one, together with the Bitcoin Activity card. Plus and Pro add Altcoin, Geopolitical and Macro activity cards. To follow a mood of your own design, combine keywords into a custom index and set a data alert on it.
FAQ
Questions and answers
What is a crypto Fear and Greed Index?
A gauge that summarizes crypto market mood on a 0–100 scale, from extreme fear to extreme greed. The Sentalysis version reads that mood from public attention, contrasting attention to fear-related topics with attention to greed-related topics.
Is the Sentalysis Fear & Greed gauge free?
Yes. It is part of the market pulse on every plan, including the free one.
What does Mixed mean on the gauge?
The needle is in the middle because fear-related and greed-related attention are both strong at the same time, rather than both quiet. It signals a divided market, which is different from a Neutral, calm one.
Should I buy when the gauge shows extreme fear?
The gauge describes mood, not value or timing, and extreme readings can last for weeks. It is not a buy or sell signal, and nothing on Sentalysis is financial advice.