According to BlockBeats, the cryptocurrency fear and greed index has dropped to 18 today, down from 24 yesterday, indicating persistent negative sentiment in the market. The index, which ranges from 0 to 100, reflects various factors including volatility (25%), market trading volume (25%), social media activity (15%), market surveys (15%), Bitcoin's market share (10%), and Google keyword analysis (10%). The current reading suggests that the market is experiencing 'extreme fear.'