The magnitude of price moves over 30 days, annualized. The higher, the harder the market moves.
Very low volatility (compression) often precedes a strong expansion, without telling its direction, up or down. Extreme volatility accompanies panics (the March 2020 crash well above 100%) and blow-off tops. Compare it across time rather than in absolute terms.
| < 30 | compression: unusually calm market, often precedes an expansion (direction unknown) |
| 30 – 50 | low volatility: quiet regime |
| 50 – 80 | normal volatility: the most common zone |
| 80 – 120 | high volatility: strong trend or stress |
| > 120 | extreme volatility: panic or euphoria (crashes, tops) |
Descriptive historical markers, not decision thresholds.
See Realized volatility (30d) live on the platform →