Tom Lee Predicts Bitcoin & Ethereum Surge in 2026

Wall Street Analyst Forecasts Major Crypto Recovery

Prominent market analyst Tom Lee, Chairman of BitMine Immersion Technologies, has made bold predictions for cryptocurrency markets in 2026, forecasting significant price surges for both Bitcoin and Ethereum despite expected volatility. In recent interviews and market analyses, Lee has outlined a compelling case for what he calls a 'V-shaped recovery' following recent market turbulence.

Bullish Predictions for Bitcoin and Ethereum

Lee predicts Bitcoin could reach between $100,000 and $150,000 by year-end 2026, with some of his more aggressive forecasts suggesting the possibility of $250,000. For Ethereum, he anticipates prices could soar to $7,000-$9,000, representing a potential 177% increase from current levels. 'We're seeing structural shifts that create a self-reinforcing bullish cycle,' Lee stated in a recent interview. 'Institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and strategic accumulation strategies are converging in ways we haven't seen before.'

Institutional Adoption Driving Growth

The analyst points to several key factors supporting his optimistic outlook. Over $115 billion has flowed into spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, creating substantial institutional demand. Companies like MicroStrategy have accumulated significant Bitcoin holdings, with the business intelligence firm acquiring 225,027 BTC in 2025 alone. Meanwhile, BitMine Immersion Technologies, which Lee chairs, has become one of the largest corporate holders of Ethereum, with approximately 4.168 million ETH representing about 3.45% of the entire supply.

Market Dynamics and Potential Volatility

Despite his bullish long-term outlook, Lee warns investors to expect volatility in 2026. He predicts a potential 10-15% pullback in early 2026 due to profit-taking and valuation reassessment, but views this as temporary turbulence rather than a long-term setback. '2026 will likely include both correction and growth phases,' Lee explained. 'We're still early in crypto adoption - only about 4 million Bitcoin wallets hold over $10,000 compared to 900 million global IRA and brokerage accounts at that level.'

Strategic Investments and Market Positioning

BitMine Immersion Technologies recently made headlines with a $200 million investment in Beast Industries, the company founded by YouTube creator MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson). Lee described the deal as 'uniting the world's top creator with the largest Ethereum platform, representing an evolution of digital platforms and money.' The company's strategic pivot from Bitcoin mining to becoming an Ethereum-focused treasury company has resulted in its stock surging over 3,000% in just five trading days.

Long-Term Outlook and Industry Transformation

Looking beyond 2026, Lee maintains a long-term Bitcoin target of $3 million and believes Ethereum's real-world asset (RWA) tokenization will drive utility-based demand. He cites growing adoption signs including BlackRock exploring tokenized ETFs on blockchain and stablecoins processing over $15 trillion in payments in 2024. 'Blockchain is becoming Wall Street's settlement layer,' Lee noted. 'The fundamentals are strengthening despite recent market weakness, setting the stage for a powerful recovery.'

For more information about cryptocurrency market trends, visit CoinDesk and CNBC Crypto.