Bitcoin (BTC) slipped 5.49% in the past 24 hours, falling to $95,383 before attempting to stabilize above $96,000.
The sell-off hit sentiment hard. The Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index slid to 15 on November 13 and edged up to 16 on November 14, firmly in Extreme Fear territory.
Selling intensified after the Federal Reserve rejected the possibility of a December rate cut, a decision that rattled risk assets across global markets. Bitcoin’s pullback occurred alongside a 2% decline in the Nasdaq, reflecting the asset’s ongoing sensitivity to macro catalysts. As Treasury yields climbed and liquidity tightened, both TradFi and crypto faced synchronized outflows.
The macro backdrop explains much of the pressure. Higher rates reduce capital rotation into speculative assets, and the bond market’s reaction triggered a broader derisking across equities, tech, and digital assets. Bitcoin moved almost in lockstep with major U.S. indices during Thursday’s session, underscoring how quickly sentiment shifted once the Fed signaled a more restrictive stance.
History of Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index
Historical sentiment data reinforces the severity of the drop. The index hovered around 34 last month, marking a standard “Fear” reading, before sliding to 24 last week and eventually collapsing into the mid-teens this week. The last time sentiment reached similar lows was February 27, 2025, when the index touched 10, preceded by a steep multi-week sell-off.
Despite the pullback, Bitcoin is now approaching a zone that has previously attracted long-term buyers. In past cycles, extreme fear readings often aligned with local bottoms, especially when macro-driven selling outweighed crypto-native fundamentals. However, with Treasury yields rising and tech stocks under pressure, the market may need clearer signals from the Fed before confidence returns.
