What is a better alternative to CNN Fear and Greed Index?

The EHIQ Structural Risk Index uses 313+ sensors vs CNN's 7 indicators. It leads by 36 days vs 27 and has a higher information coefficient (0.151 vs 0.116). It includes crypto markets and offers a free API.

How does EHIQ detect market crashes?

EHIQ monitors structural conditions — credit spreads, funding rates, contagion patterns, regime states — across 250+ sensors. When multiple independent sensors converge on stress, the index rises. It detected the Jan 2026 BTC crash 11 days early and SVB 60 days early.

Is the EHIQ Structural Risk Index free?

Yes. The composite score, regime label, historical chart, and API (60 requests/day) are free with no login required. Dimension breakdowns and real-time alerts require a subscription.

EHIQ Structural Risk Index

Real-time structural risk assessment powered by 313+ sensors across 7 dimensions. Updated continuously. Backtested across 5 years and 3 market cycles.

Current Reading

23.6

MODERATE

Strongest historical forward-return bucket.

Avg: BTC +9.0% 30d, 69% win rate (n=36). Oct 2024 bottom fired at 24.1; BTC +36.9% next 30d.

5-Year History

Dimension Breakdown

The index is a weighted composite of 7 structural dimensions. Each dimension aggregates multiple sensors into a single stress reading.

Credit & Rates(30% weight, 8 sensors)22/100

Macro & Geopolitical(22% weight, 19 sensors)28/100

Cross-Asset Contagion(12% weight, 8 sensors)47/100

Regime Detection(12% weight, 10 sensors)14/100

Volatility(8% weight, 4 sensors)19/100

Crypto Structure(8% weight, 13 sensors)8/100

Sentiment(8% weight, 21 sensors)20/100

Methodology

The EHIQ Structural Risk Index is a proprietary composite that measures systemic stress across financial markets. Unlike sentiment indicators that measure how investors feel, this index measures what the structure of the market is actually doing.

The index aggregates 313+ real-time sensors into 7 weighted dimensions: Credit & Rates (30%), Macro & Geopolitical (22%), Cross-Asset Contagion (12%), Regime Detection (12%), Volatility (8%), Crypto Structure (8%), and Sentiment (8%).

Each sensor is classified into a stress state (LOW through SEVERE) based on its current reading relative to historical distributions. The composite is Monte Carlo validated across 5 years of data spanning 3 complete market cycles, including the 2022 crypto winter, the 2023 recovery, the 2024 BTC halving rally, and the February 2026 correction.

The index beats CNN Fear & Greed on both information coefficient (0.151 vs 0.116) and lead time (36 days vs 27 days) in backtested comparisons.

How to read the index

Lower is better for forward BTC returns. Same direction as CNN Fear & Greed — low = safer, high = warning — but derived from structural plumbing, not sentiment. The relationship is monotonic: as the index rises, historical 30-day forward returns decline.

Numbers below are from the v4 backtest: 332 weekly observations, May 2021 – March 2026. Spearman IC −0.33 (p < 0.0001). Forward returns are 30-day BTC change.

LOW

0–15

Below historical range. SRI has never dropped below 15 in the observable backtest. No empirical read available for this bucket.

MODERATE

15–30

Strongest forward-return bucket historically. Avg BTC +9.0% over next 30d. Win rate 69% (n=36). Oct 2024 bottom fired at 24.1 — BTC +36.9% next 30 days.

RISING

30–50

Stress building but structure intact. Avg BTC +4.8% over next 30d. Win rate 62% (n=117). Still positive, but weaker than MODERATE.

ELEVATED

50–70

Warning zone. Avg BTC −6.9% over next 30d. Win rate 32% (n=124). Fired 11 days before the Jan 26, 2026 crash (−23%) and before FTX collapse (−18%). Reduce exposure.

SEVERE

70–100

Exit or hedge. Thin sample (n=5) but downside bias. May 2021 crash fired at 78.7 before BTC −12% in 30d.

The Structural Risk Index updates continuously and is available to all EventHorizonIQ users. For granular sensor-level data and alerts, upgrade to Pro.

View Pricing