The cryptocurrency market staged a broad recovery on Friday, lifting total market capitalization to approximately $2.36 trillion, up more than 2% over the past 24 hours.
Key Takeaways:
Total crypto market cap climbed above $2.36 trillion, gaining over 2% in 24 hours.
Bitcoin rose nearly 3% and traded close to $69,000.
Ethereum outperformed with a 4% daily gain.
The Fear & Greed Index remains at 8, signaling persistent extreme fear.
The rebound comes despite the Fear & Greed Index remaining deep in “Extreme Fear” territory, highlighting a disconnect between improving price action and cautious investor sentiment.
Altcoin Season Index sits at 30/100, indicating Bitcoin dominance remains strong.
Bitcoin led the recovery, rising roughly 2.8% on the day to trade near $68,800. The move reinforces short-term momentum after recent volatility, with traders watching whether the asset can reclaim and hold the $69,000 level. Bitcoin’s market capitalization now stands above $1.37 trillion, maintaining its dominant position within the digital asset sector.
Ethereum delivered even stronger relative performance, gaining over 4% in the past 24 hours to trade around $2,034. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap continues to attract attention as network activity and ETF-related flows remain closely monitored by institutional participants. Ethereum’s market capitalization has climbed back above $245 billion following the rebound.
Sentiment Remains in Extreme Fear
Despite the upward price movement, market sentiment indicators remain cautious. The Fear & Greed Index reading of 8 suggests investors are still positioned defensively. Historically, such extreme fear levels have often coincided with short-term bottoms, though they can persist during prolonged uncertainty.
The Altcoin Season Index at 30/100 further confirms that the current environment favors Bitcoin over smaller-cap tokens. Capital concentration in BTC typically reflects a risk-off posture within the crypto ecosystem, where investors prioritize liquidity and relative stability.
Technical Levels in Focus
Among large-cap assets, XRP advanced nearly 2.7% on the day, while BNB added more than 2%. Solana also posted gains of roughly 3.6%, although its weekly performance remains slightly negative, reflecting broader volatility across altcoins.
From a technical perspective, traders will be monitoring whether Bitcoin can sustain momentum above recent resistance levels and whether Ethereum can build continuation above the $2,000 mark. Broader macroeconomic data and equity market performance remain potential catalysts for near-term volatility.
While the market’s recovery is encouraging, sentiment data suggests participants are not yet convinced of a sustained breakout. For now, price action is improving, but confidence remains fragile.
