Bitcoin: Crypto Sentiment Index Drops to 56, Down from 82 in August

The crypto sentiment index from CoinMarketCap shows a score of 56 out of 100 on October 13, 2026, placing it in neutral territory. The Alternative.me index reaches 57 but remains classified in the greed zone. This divergence comes as US spot Bitcoin ETFs have shifted from $241.1 million in net inflows to $678.9 million in net outflows within a week. However, these flows are not included in the calculations of either index.

In Brief

• The CoinMarketCap crypto sentiment index shows 56 out of 100, returning to neutral territory as of October 13, 2026.
• Alternative.me shows 57 out of 100 on the same day, in the greed zone, down from 69 the day before: a drop of 12 points in 24 hours.
• US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $241.1 million in net inflows from September 28 to October 2, followed by $678.9 million in net outflows from October 5 to 9.
• Neither CoinMarketCap nor Alternative.me directly incorporate Bitcoin ETF flows into the published components of their indices.

Bitcoin: What is the Crypto Sentiment Index Status in October 2026?

The CoinMarketCap crypto sentiment index is at 56 out of 100 on October 13, 2026, compared to 57 for Alternative.me. CoinMarketCap classifies this level as neutral, while Alternative.me still places it in the greed zone.

The daily series from Alternative.me shows:

• 73 on October 6, 2026;
• 61 on October 11, 2026;
• 69 on October 12, 2026;
• 57 on October 13, 2026.

The drop between October 12 and 13 reaches 12 points.

Graph showing the evolution of the Fear and Greed index over a 30-day period. Source: CoinMarketCap

A sentiment index measures the prevailing mood of the crypto market based on several indicators. The closer the score is to 100, the more optimism or greed dominates. Conversely, fear will be strong if it approaches 0. However, it does not alone allow for predicting the direction of Bitcoin's price.

What Does a Crypto Sentiment Index of 56 Mean for Bitcoin?

A score of 56 suggests a less euphoric crypto market. It does not constitute a buy, sell, or reversal signal for Bitcoin. In reality, this index describes a market mood at a given moment. It does not provide a certain direction or price target.

The CoinMarketCap index combines five families of data:

• the price momentum of the top ten cryptocurrencies excluding stablecoins;
• the implied volatility of Bitcoin and Ethereum;
• the put/call ratio;
• Bitcoin's weight against stablecoins;
• CoinMarketCap's own research and engagement data.

For its part, Alternative.me follows a different logic. It remains more focused on Bitcoin. Its index notably takes into account:

• volatility;
• momentum and volumes;
• social media;
• Bitcoin dominance;
• Google Trends.

|--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Criterion | CoinMarketCap | Alternative.me | | Score as of October 13 | 56/100 | 57/100 | | Classification | Neutral | Greed | | Scope | Ten major cryptos excluding stablecoins | Bitcoin | | Data Considered | Momentum, implied volatility, derivatives, market composition, engagement | Volatility, momentum, volumes, social networks, dominance, searches | | Caution | Does not predict BTC price on its own | Does not predict BTC price on its own |

Methodological sources: CoinMarketCap, Crypto Fear and Greed Index; Alternative.me, Crypto Fear & Greed Index.

Why the Crypto Sentiment Index Does Not Reflect Bitcoin ETF Flows

The U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $241.1 million from September 28 to October 2, 2026. According to data from Farside Investors, they show net outflows of $678.9 million from October 5 to 9. October 7 alone accounted for $484.9 million in net outflows. Including the session on October 12, the cumulative outflows for October reached $451.7 million.

Bitcoin ETF flows from September 24 to October 13, 2026. Source: Farside Investors

The CoinMarketCap and Alternative.me indices do not allow us to conclude whether the price of Bitcoin will rise or fall. They also do not provide direct information about the number or profile of investors. Hence, it is important to analyze ETF flows, monetary policy, and other market variables separately.

To track the evolution of crypto sentiment, it is ideal to compare the two indices over time rather than isolating a daily score. This trend should then be confronted with Bitcoin ETF flows and other market data. The next macroeconomic event to watch closely is the FOMC meeting scheduled for October 27 and 28, 2026.