At the Korea Blockchain Week 2025’s Impact conference, Tom Lee, co-founder of Fundstrat and Chairman of BitMine, offered significant insights into the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency, particularly focusing on Ethereum. Lee characterized Ethereum as a “truly neutral chain,” suggesting that it is poised to gain favor among major financial players in both Wall Street and the White House.
Lee articulated that Wall Street’s inherent desire for neutrality makes Ethereum, a decentralized blockchain, a more attractive option compared to centralized alternatives. He asserted, “If you think about how Wall Street operates, they will only want to do and operate on a neutral chain,” underscoring Ethereum’s potential to become the primary blockchain for financial transactions.
Highlighting the political dimension, Lee pointed out the growing support for Ethereum under the Trump administration. He noted that both the White House and Congress have become increasingly pro-crypto, aligning themselves with Ethereum as a preferred blockchain. Discussions surrounding Ethereum’s capabilities, especially when integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, have gained traction. Lee remarked, “So when I look at that, combined with agentic AI and robots, a lot of that will happen on Ethereum.” He also referenced President Trump’s comments on the necessity for “proof-of-human” mechanisms, which Lee believes could be implemented through Ethereum.
Lee detailed BitMine’s strategic shift to an Ethereum treasury model, a decision aimed at positioning the company for the expected long-term growth potential of Ethereum. Since this pivot, BitMine’s market capitalization has soared from $37.6 million in June to an impressive $9.45 billion by September 2025. The company now holds 2.15 million ETH, making it the world’s largest Ethereum treasury. This remarkable growth mirrors Ethereum’s increasing acceptance among institutional investors.
Furthermore, Lee noted that both BitMine and MicroStrategy, a company focused on Bitcoin treasury management, hold significant shares in cryptocurrency trading volumes. He remarked that these companies are starting to behave like large-cap stocks, drawing institutional interest and passive inflows.
Despite recent market fluctuations, Lee maintained an optimistic outlook for Ethereum, predicting that its price could climb to between $12,000 and $15,000 by the end of 2025. This forecast reflects a belief in the continuing support from Wall Street and government sectors. He anticipates that Ethereum will not only surpass previous highs but will also undergo “real price discovery” as institutional adoption expands.
Lee’s price prediction aligns with the technical targets outlined by Fundstrat, which suggest that Ethereum will experience substantial growth alongside Bitcoin. With projections placing Bitcoin prices at $250,000 by the end of 2025, Lee foresees Ethereum capitalizing on this momentum, possibly reaching new all-time highs in the process.
