Bitcoin Sentiment Triggers CZ's Insight: Sell Greed, Buy Fear

In the latest turn of events within the cryptocurrency landscape, Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), has delivered a critical reminder to traders about the importance of market sentiment. His telling statement — “Sell when there is maximum greed, and buy when there is maximum fear” — comes at a moment of uncertainty in the crypto markets, as traders weigh the possibility of buying or enduring another market stall.

Key Takeaways

Market Sentiment Shift: The Crypto Fear & Greed Index indicates a shift from "Extreme Fear" to a sentiment score of 20.
Condition of Bitcoin: Currently, Bitcoin is priced at approximately $91,780, significantly down from its all-time high of $126,000.
Traders' Caution: Despite a slight increase in price from 2024’s lows, trader enthusiasm remains low, with discussions around market volatility and institutional behavior.
Historical Context: Past instances show that Bitcoin often reaches local bottoms shortly after periods of extreme fear, though analysts caution that previous performance may not guarantee future results.
US Market Indicators: The Bitcoin (BTC) Coinbase premium has turned positive for the first time in nearly a month, suggesting potential recovery in buyer confidence in the U.S.

Bitcoin

CZ's Insight Amid Market Anxiety

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index recently noted a change to a score of 20, moving out of “Extreme Fear” after experiencing low levels for an extended period. The index fell to its yearly low of 10 on November 22, and the market remained entrenched in extreme fear for eighteen consecutive days.

"Unpopular opinion, but it's better to sell when there is maximum greed, and buy when there is maximum fear." 🤷‍♂️
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) November 29, 2025

Many analysts considered this duration of extreme fear unprecedented. Matthew Hyland characterized it as the “most extreme fear level” observed this cycle, with traders arguing that even this characterization might be overly optimistic.

Bitcoin's Stability and Market Mood

Reports indicate that Bitcoin is currently trading around $91,780, a considerable drop from its peak of $126,000 in October. While prices have risen from the lows of over $40,000 in 2024, overall confidence among traders remains fragile.

Santiment, a market analytics platform, has noted that discussions among users are leaning more towards concerns about volatility and institutional actions rather than general enthusiasm. The Altcoin Season Index is currently at 22 out of 100, reflecting a preference for safer investments among traders.

BTCUSD trading at $91,560 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

Many traders responded quickly to CZ’s remarks. One user mentioned that emotions often overshadow logic when actual trading occurs. Another participant pointed out that market movements tend to be influenced by psychology long before technical indicators align. This discrepancy between traders' understanding of fundamentals and their actions is evident, with many acknowledging the wisdom of CZ's advice yet struggling to apply it when prices begin to decline.

Numerous reports from analysts reveal a pattern worth noting. Nicola Duke highlighted that historically, every time the market entered extreme fear in the last five years, Bitcoin discovered a local bottom within several weeks.

Source: Alternative.me

However, while historical context can provide insights, it does not guarantee similar outcomes this time around. André Dragosch, a researcher at Bitwise, cautioned that current pricing resembles a global growth outlook reflective of recession levels — the most bearish outlook seen since 2020 and 2022, which poses real risks for potential buyers.

Meanwhile, positive shifts are also observed, as the Bitcoin (BTC) Coinbase premium has turned positive after nearly a month of negative readings.

Data from Coinglass on the 30th reported a premium of 0.0255%, marking the first positive increase in 29 days. For nearly a month, a negative premium had indicated that selling pressures were prevailing in the U.S. market, with investors adopting a cautious stance.

Source: Coinglass

The Coinbase premium tracks the comparative price of Bitcoin on Coinbase, a leading U.S. exchange, against the global average. When the premium is positive, it suggests that the U.S. price exceeds the worldwide average, often interpreted as a signal that buying activity in the U.S. is on the rise, institutional participation is increasing, and overall investor confidence is recovering.

Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView