Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Markets
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Gold in 'extreme greed' sentiment as it adds
Markets
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Gold in 'extreme greed' sentiment as it adds
Gold in 'extreme greed' sentiment as it adds entire bitcoin market cap in one day
6 min read
Gold in 'extreme greed' sentiment as it adds entire bitcoin market cap in one day
Bullion ripped past $5,500 and sentiment gauges hit “extreme greed,” while bitcoin stayed pinned below $90K — a split that’s getting harder to ignore.
By Shaurya Malwa
Updated Jan 29, 2026, 1:22 p.m. Published Jan 29, 2026, 1:00 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
What to know:
- Gold’s surge above $5,500 an ounce has taken on the feel of a crowded trade, with its notional value jumping about $1.6 trillion in a single day.
- Sentiment gauges such as JM Bullion’s Gold Fear & Greed Index are signaling extreme bullishness in precious metals, even as similar crypto indicators remain stuck in fear.
- Bitcoin is lagging despite the “hard assets” narrative, trading like a high-beta risk asset while investors seeking a store of value are favoring physical gold and silver over digital tokens.
Gold’s run is starting to look less like a steady trend and more like a crowding event.
The yellow metal pushed through $5,500 an ounce late Wednesday, and at that pace its notional value rose by roughly $1.6 trillion in a single day — or about the size of bitcoin’s entire market cap.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up
It’s a punchy comparison that comes with fine print, as gold “market cap” is an estimate based on above-ground supply, not a float-adjusted equity-style measure.
But it captures the mood: in the market’s version of a debasement trade, cash is going to the old hedge first.
Sentiment reflects that split. Gold-focused gauges are now flashing “extreme greed,” while crypto’s own fear-and-greed readings have been stuck in the opposite zone for much of the month.
(JM Bullion)
JM Bullion’s Gold Fear & Greed Index is a 0–100 sentiment gauge built from five inputs: physical gold premiums, spot-price volatility, social media tone, JM Bullion retail buying/selling, and Google Trends interest. Low readings suggest fear and capitulation while high readings suggest crowded bullishness. It’s meant as a contrarian signal and not a price forecast.
Silver is adding fuel to the precious-metals narrative too, with sharp weekly gains and sharp intraday swings that feel more like a positioning squeeze than a slow accumulation story.
Bitcoin, by contrast, is still trading like a high-beta risk asset that needs clean liquidity conditions and a clear catalyst.
It hovered around the high-$80,000s, still well below October’s peak, even as metals ripped and headlines kept feeding the “hard assets” frame. That’s awkward for the macro pitch many crypto investors have leaned on — that bitcoin should act like digital gold when confidence in currencies and fiscal policy starts to wobble.
The gap doesn’t mean the thesis is dead, however. Bitcoin has outperformed most assets across longer windows and it can move fast when flows return.
But the last few weeks have been a reminder that “store of value” is as much about who is buying, and why, as it is about the narrative.
Right now the marginal buyer looking for shelter is choosing bars and coins — not tokens and wallets — and bitcoin is being made to prove, again, what it’s for.
More For You
Pudgy Penguins: A New Blueprint for Tokenized Culture
Pudgy Penguins is building a multi-vertical consumer IP platform — combining phygital products, games, NFTs and PENGU to monetize culture at scale.
What to know:
Pudgy Penguins is emerging as one of the strongest NFT-native brands of this cycle, shifting from speculative “digital luxury goods” into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform. Its strategy is to acquire users through mainstream channels first; toys, retail partnerships and viral media, then onboard them into Web3 through games, NFTs and the PENGU token.
The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.
View Full Report
More For You
Crypto Markets Today: Largest tokens decline, with derivatives signaling caution ahead
Even though the Fed's decision to hold interest rates was widely expected, geopolitical tensions and a rotation into haven assets left crypto traders facing a sea of red.
What to know:
- Bitcoin fell and the CoinDesk 20 index dropped as a risk-off shift pushed investors into safe-haven assets.
- Crypto derivatives showed falling open interest, muted volatility and a growing bias toward protective puts and short positions.
- Optimism’s community approved a 12-month plan to use about half of its Superchain revenue for OP token buybacks starting in February. Still, the token fell.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News
Bitcoin's no gold, and it's falling short for payments, too
Sygnum’s new bitcoin fund pulls in $65 million from investors looking for steady yield
Crypto Markets Today: Largest tokens decline, with derivatives signaling caution ahead
Investors accuse Cere Network of $100 million fraud and token-dump scheme in lawsuit
Metaplanet is raising $137 million to pay down debt and buy even more bitcoin
Crypto payments firm BCB Group appoints Tim Renew as CEO in leadership reshuffle
Top Stories
SEC clarifies rules for tokenized stocks, tightening scrutiny on synthetic equity
First gold and silver, now oil is starting to rally and that's bad news for bitcoin
White House to meet with crypto, banking executives to discuss market structure bill
Number of wallets with 1 million XRP is rising again
Meta and Microsoft continue going big on AI spending. Here's how bitcoin miners could benefit
Latest Crypto News
Bitcoin's no gold, and it's falling short for payments, too
Sygnum’s new bitcoin fund pulls in $65 million from investors looking for steady yield
Crypto Markets Today: Largest tokens decline, with derivatives signaling caution ahead
Investors accuse Cere Network of $100 million fraud and token-dump scheme in lawsuit
Metaplanet is raising $137 million to pay down debt and buy even more bitcoin
Crypto payments firm BCB Group appoints Tim Renew as CEO in leadership reshuffle
Top Stories
SEC clarifies rules for tokenized stocks, tightening scrutiny on synthetic equity
First gold and silver, now oil is starting to rally and that's bad news for bitcoin
White House to meet with crypto, banking executives to discuss market structure bill
Number of wallets with 1 million XRP is rising again
Meta and Microsoft continue going big on AI spending. Here's how bitcoin miners could benefit
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact service@support.mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.
You May Also Like
Galaxy Digital’s 2025 Loss: SOL Bear Market
The post Galaxy Digital’s 2025 Loss: SOL Bear Market appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Galaxy Digital, a digital assets and artificial intelligence infrastructure
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2026/02/04 09:49
FCA, crackdown on crypto
The post FCA, crackdown on crypto appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. The regulation of cryptocurrencies in the United Kingdom enters a decisive phase. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has initiated a consultation to set minimum standards on transparency, consumer protection, and digital custody, in order to strengthen market confidence and ensure safer operations for exchanges, wallets, and crypto service providers. The consultation was published on May 2, 2025, and opened a public discussion on operational responsibilities and safeguarding requirements for digital assets (CoinDesk). The goal is to make the rules clearer without hindering the sector’s evolution. According to the data collected by our regulatory monitoring team, in the first weeks following the publication, the feedback received from professionals and operators focused mainly on custody, incident reporting, and insurance requirements. Industry analysts note that many responses require technical clarifications on multi-sig, asset segregation, and recovery protocols, as well as proposals to scale obligations based on the size of the operator. FCA Consultation: What’s on the Table The consultation document clarifies how to apply rules inspired by traditional finance to the crypto perimeter, balancing innovation, market integrity, and user protection. In this context, the goal is to introduce minimum standards for all firms under the supervision of the FCA, an essential step for a more transparent and secure sector, with measurable benefits for users. The proposed pillars Obligations towards consumers: assessment on the extension of the Consumer Duty – a requirement that mandates companies to provide “good outcomes” – to crypto services, with outcomes for users that are traceable and verifiable. Operational resilience: introduction of continuity requirements, incident response plans, and periodic testing to ensure the operational stability of platforms even in adverse scenarios. Financial Crime Prevention: strengthening AML/CFT measures through more stringent transaction monitoring and structured counterpart checks. Custody and safeguarding: definition of operational methods for the segregation of client assets, secure…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 05:40
HKMA Launches Fintech Blueprint with AI, DLT, Quantum and Cybersecurity Focus
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published a Fintech Promotion Blueprint to support responsible innovation and fintech development in the banking sector.
Share
Fintechnews2026/02/04 10:20