Crypto traders are showing high levels of fear, and some analysts say that could set the stage for a rebound. According to Santiment, social chatter about Bitcoin is split evenly between bullish and bearish.
Ether, meanwhile, has just over 50% more bullish than bearish comments, but that is still below its usual volume of positive talk. Santiment added that less than half of social posts about XRP are bullish, calling it one of the most “fearful moments of 2025” for that token.
Trader Fear Fuels Buy Opportunities
Santiment and other data providers point to extreme pessimism across the market. Based on reports, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index returned a score of 15 out of 100 on Thursday, a reading labeled “extreme fear” and the lowest since March.
Joe Consorti, head of Bitcoin growth at Horizon, said current sentiment mirrors the mood in 2022 when Bitcoin traded around $18,000. Fear is high. Many investors have pulled back.
Crypto Capitulation Can Precede A Rally
Some market watchers see the squeeze of weak hands as a buying window. According to Santiment, when retail selling peaks, larger holders often absorb the coins that are liquidated, and prices can be pushed upward afterward.
Samson Mow, founder of Jan3, has argued that the sellers now are mostly newer buyers who entered over the last year and are taking profits, while long-term holders are stacking more Bitcoin.
This view suggests selling pressure could be temporary and that accumulation by committed holders may be setting up a rebound.
Social Mood And On-Chain Signals
Public sentiment is just one piece of the picture. Based on reports from Glassnode and others, key on-chain indicators are showing patterns similar to past drawdowns, yet supply held by long-term addresses remains meaningful.
October added to the uneasy backdrop after it ended with the largest market liquidation since the pandemic, wiping out billions within hours.
Markets were also shaken by comments from US President Donald Trump about 100% tariffs on Chinese imports, which revived global trade fears and fed volatility.
Technically, Bitcoin recently flashed its fourth “death cross,” a bearish signal that has on past occasions been followed by extended weakness. That is a clear warning. But historical seasonal data still leans positive for year-end.
Data from Coinglass shows Bitcoin finished six of the past eight Decembers higher, with gains ranging from 8% to 45%. So while caution is reasonable given current signals, there is a statistical pattern that traders will watch as the year closes.
What Traders Might Expect Next
Based on the mix of sour sentiment, on-chain buyer behavior, and historical seasonality, the market could experience a swift move if retail capitulation slows and larger players step in. That move may look sudden. It could also unfold gradually, depending on macro headlines and liquidity flows.
For now, the mood is rather gloomy and the numbers are stark for crypto. Yet a shift in who is holding coins might be the trigger that changes price action before the year ends.
Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView
