Stock market investors are now more nervous than crypto investors, data shows

Stock market investors are now significantly less confident than their cryptocurrency peers, as weakening artificial intelligence ( AI ) sentiment weighs on risk assets. U.S. chipmakers have lost roughly 20% over a two-week period; meanwhile, NASDAQ-100 recorded its worst weekly performance since the tariff turmoil in April 2025, according to data shared with Finbold on October 21 from crypto analytics firm Block Scholes. As a result, the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), which measures expected volatility in the S&P 500 , reached its highest level since the Federal Reserve’s meeting this July.