Crypto Sentiment Gauge Slips to 56 as ETF Flows Turn Negative
CoinMarketCap's crypto sentiment index stood at 56 out of 100 on Oct. 13, 2026, placing it in neutral territory, while Alternative.me's gauge was 57 and still in greed. Alternative.me's reading fell 12 points from the prior day. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs moved from $241.1 million in net inflows in late September and early October to $678.9 million in net outflows the following week, though neither index directly incorporates ETF flows.
CoinMarketCap's gauge combines five inputs: price momentum among the ten largest non-stablecoin assets, Bitcoin and Ether implied volatility, put/call positioning, Bitcoin's share versus stablecoins, and its own search/engagement data. Alternative.me focuses on Bitcoin, using volatility, momentum and volume, social media, Bitcoin dominance, and Google Trends. Its readings were 73 on Oct. 6, 61 on Oct. 11, 69 on Oct. 12, and 57 on Oct. 13.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs moved from $241.1 million in net inflows between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2 to $678.9 million in net outflows from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9. Neither index's published components directly include ETF flows. The CoinMarketCap reading also compares with 82 in August.
Retail and institutional crypto investors may use sentiment readings and ETF flow data as cues, potentially amplifying caution when gauges fall and outflows appear. Because neither index directly tracks ETF flows, observers could mis