Crypto Market Surges: BTC & ETH Post Gains as Fear Index Holds at 29
Bitcoin and Ethereum lead a market charge while investor sentiment remains in 'Fear' territory—proving once again that crypto markets laugh in the face of traditional sentiment indicators.
The Fear & Greed Paradox
A reading of 29 on the Crypto Fear & Greed Index typically signals caution. Yet, the two largest digital assets by market cap are climbing. It's a classic crypto disconnect where on-chain momentum and whale accumulation often trump retail sentiment surveys. The index might be fearful, but the price action is decidedly greedy.
Leadership from the Front
BTC and ETH aren't just ticking up—they're setting the tone. Their gains provide a bedrock of legitimacy, pulling altcoins in their wake and offering a semblance of stability in a famously volatile arena. When these two move, the entire digital asset ecosystem pays attention.
What the Data Doesn't Show
The raw numbers—the gains, the index level—tell only part of the story. They don't capture the simmering institutional bids below the surface or the leveraged longs quietly building on derivatives exchanges. In crypto, the tape often reveals its hand long after the smart money has already placed its bet. It's a market where the 'dumb money' indicator is sometimes the one published for all to see.
So, while the headline index screams fear, the price charts whisper opportunity. Just another day in the greatest financial reality show on earth—where the only constant is the market's ability to humble both bulls and bears, usually before lunch.
Major Crypto Events Today

Source: Forex Factory
24-Hour Crypto Market Update: Prices, Volume & Trends
The global cryptocurrency market today reached a capitalization of $3.22 trillion, reflecting a 0.9% increase over the last 24 hours. Total trading volume across all cryptocurrencies was $134.7 billion, showing steady activity.
Bitcoin (BTC) remains the largest crypto, commanding 57.1% market dominance, while ethereum (ETH) holds 12.1%. Currently, 19,206 cryptocurrencies are being tracked, with Polkadot and XRP Ledger tokens showing the strongest gains in the past day.
Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $92120.83 up 1.14% in the last 24 hours, with a trading volume of $63.7 billion and a market cap of $1.83 trillion.
Ethereum (ETH) is priced at $3250 rising 0.73% in 24 hours with a trading volume of $27.8 billion and a market cap of $392 billion.
Note: BTC and ETH are often viewed as less volatile historically, but still risky.
Stable (STABLE) is trading at $0.01442 with a 17% drop and a strong $298.83M trading activity.
Zcash (ZEC) stands at $459.44, gaining 16.32% with $1.19B in TV.
Yooldo (ESPORTS) is priced at $0.4308, up 5.65% with $619.17M in trading activity.
Jelly-My-Jelly (JELLYJELLY) trades at $0.06650, soaring 33.77% and recording $131.42M trading volume (TV).
Lombard (BARD) is at $0.8998, rising 8.46% with $217.29M in TV.
Zcash (ZEC) is trading at $458.75, up 15.89%, with a strong TV of $1.18 billion.
MYX Finance (MYX) stands at $3.06, gaining 11.12%, backed by a trading volume of $36.9 million.
MemeCore (M) is priced at $1.56, rising 8.68%, with a trading volume of $21.39 million.
Sei (SEI) is priced at $0.1313 with a 6.68% loss, recording a trading volume of $161.7 million.
Cardano (ADA) trades at $0.4216 after a 4.69% drop, with a large daily volume of $1.20 billion.
Telcoin (TEL) stands at $0.005074, falling 3.42%, and has a trading volume of $2.95 million.
Stablecoins recorded 0.7% positive change in the past 24 hours, with a market cap of $314.9 billion and trading volume of $103.2 billion.
The Decentralized Finance (DeFi) market dips 1.8% in the last 24 hours, reaching a market cap of $113.8 billion, while total value locked (TVL) stands at $5.78 billion.
Fear and Greed Index Today

Source: Alternative Me
Today’s Fear & Greed Index is 29 (Fear), unchanged from yesterday and slightly above last week’s 28, showing mild sentiment improvement. It is still higher than last month’s 24 (Extreme Fear), indicating reduced panic.
Latest Crypto Market News Today, 12 December
It enables a three-year tokenization service for custodied assets, set to launch in late 2026 on approved blockchain networks.
Do Kwon has been sentenced to 15 years after a court found he misled markets, faked Terra’s stablecoin mechanism, and hid Jump Trading’s support, causing over $40 billion in losses to investors.
x402 has launched V2, transforming its single-call payment tool into a full payment LAYER with wallet identity, dynamic recipients, wider chain and fiat support, and a modular SDK for developers.
JPMorgan has executed a $50 million commercial paper issuance for Galaxy Digital on solana (SOL), with Coinbase and Franklin Templeton buying the notes and all payments settled in USDC, signaling broader blockchain bond plans.
Jobless claims ROSE to 236k, exceeding expectations, while the September trade deficit narrowed to $52.8 billion.
Crypto ETFs saw strong momentum with $716M weekly inflows, lifting two-week inflows to $1.8B. Bitcoin, XRP, and chainlink led gains as AUM rose 7.9%, signaling improving market sentiment.
FTX/Alameda unstaked 194,800 SOL worth $25.5M and moved it across 26 wallets, mostly to Coinbase and Binance. Since 2023, over 9.56M SOL has been withdrawn, with 4.07M still staked.
Note: Each of these updates affects liquidity, cryptocurrency sentiment, and potential returns, underscoring the need for careful monitoring.
Comparative Insight
Over the past 7 days, the total crypto markets cap increased ~1.2%, with BTC gaining 1.3% and ETH 1.5%. Altcoins showed mixed performance, indicating cautious investor sentiment amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
What This Means for Crypto Users
Crypto investors should be aware of ongoing volatility and regulatory changes. ETF inflows, DeFi dips, and SOL movements indicate that while trading opportunities exist, risks remain high. Users should monitor industry sentiment, diversify portfolios, and keep detailed transaction records.
CoinGabbar’s Opinion
The last 24 hours show cautious optimism: Bitcoin and Ethereum remain stable with modest gains, while altcoins show mixed performance. Strong ETF inflows and rising cap signal growing confidence, yet the Fear & Greed Index at 29 reflects continued investor caution.
Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Please DYOR before investing. CoinGabbar is not responsible for any monetary losses. Crypto assets are highly volatile and you can lose your entire investment. Some services or assets discussed may not be available in all regions.