FOMO stands for “fear of missing out”, the fear of missing a price rally. FUD stands for “fear, uncertainty and doubt”, the anxiety that pushes investors to sell. Together the two terms describe the emotions that move the crypto market more than almost any news item: greed drives buyers into rising prices, fear drives sellers out of falling ones. If you understand the mechanics, you will recognise them in your own behaviour and make better decisions.

How strongly these emotions are at work right now can be measured. The best-known gauge, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index from alternative.me, stood at 28 out of 100 on November 8, 2026, and at 25 the day before. That is the fear zone. As recently as September 22, the same index showed…