‘Extreme fear’ grips crypto – Are whales quietly accumulating?

The cryptocurrency market is showing mixed signals at the moment. Just a week after Bitcoin [BTC] dropped close to $60,000, prices have started to recover. However, on social media, most people are still feeling scared and negative.

Data from Santiment indicates that bearish posts are significantly more prevalent than positive ones, suggesting that fear remains high.

Many small investors are stuck in FUD and are afraid to buy. But in the past, this kind of “extreme fear” has often helped start the next price rise. When most people are too scared to invest, experienced investors usually step in quietly. 

Santiment data uncovers current crypto sentiment

In the chart below, Santiment highlights a familiar pattern in crypto markets: crowd sentiment often moves in the opposite direction of price.

By comparing social media activity, emotional tone, and Bitcoin’s price action, the data shows that extreme optimism usually appears near market tops, while intense fear tends to form close to bottoms.

In February 2026, the chart’s largest green marker reflects a sharp shift in sentiment after Bitcoin dropped from near $100,000 to the $60,000 range, triggering a surge in fear-driven reactions.

Historically, periods of heavy pessimism often mark turning points. When weak hands exit, selling pressure eases, creating room for rebounds. This shift typically opens the door for long‑term investors to begin accumulating, laying a foundation for recovery.

Building on Warren Buffett’s principle of acting against the crowd, Santiment’s analysis suggests that sustained fear below $70,000 may be setting the stage for the next upward move.

Such a sentiment-driven pessimism could serve as potential fuel for future upside.

Crypto market enters ‘extreme fear’

Despite contrarian signals from social sentiment, the short‑term recovery still faces significant hurdles.

On the 11th of February 2026, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index fell to 9, marking “Extreme Fear” levels not seen since the 2018 bear market.

Meanwhile, the average RSI across the crypto market sat near 39.79, suggesting many assets are oversold. Bitcoin itself has dropped more than 26% in the past month, now trading around $66,558.

With indicators like RSI and MACD still showing bearish signals, the charts suggest that the downward trend may not be over yet.

Therefore, for a real recovery to begin, the market likely needs ETF selling to slow down and more buyers to return to the spot market.

Until that happens, Bitcoin and the wider crypto market remain uncertain, trying to find stability in a difficult global and economic environment.

Final Thoughts

• Extreme fear levels, while uncomfortable, have historically marked phases where long-term investors quietly begin accumulating.
• Santiment’s data reinforces a recurring pattern: crowd psychology often peaks at market tops and bottoms, not during stable trends.