Risk-Off

Definition ∞ Risk-Off describes a market sentiment where investors withdraw capital from higher-risk assets and allocate it to perceived safer holdings. This behavior typically occurs during periods of heightened economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability, or significant market downturns. Digital assets, particularly less established ones, often experience selling pressure during risk-off episodes.
Context ∞ The digital asset market frequently experiences risk-off periods, often correlating with broader macroeconomic shifts or specific industry events like regulatory crackdowns or security breaches. During such times, investors prioritize capital preservation, leading to decreased liquidity and increased volatility in speculative digital assets. Understanding this sentiment is key to interpreting market movements.