In a bullish forecast for the cryptocurrency market, Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine Technologies, aims high, predicting Bitcoin could soar to $250,000 by the end of the year. He also sees significant potential for Ethereum, forecasting its price could climb to between $12,000 and $15,000, reflecting a possible 200% increase by the end of 2025.
Lee’s optimism is juxtaposed against recent market challenges faced by Ethereum, which experienced selling pressure leading to a decline below $4,200. Despite this, Lee refers to Ethereum as a “truly neutral chain,” and highlights its potential to gain traction among institutional investors, particularly from Wall Street and the U.S. government.
In a notable development earlier this week, BitMine added 264,000 Ethereum to its treasury, bolstering its total to 2.14 million Ethereum, valued at over $11 billion. Lee asserted that both the White House and Congress are adopting a more favorable stance toward cryptocurrencies, especially Ethereum, positioning it for future support.
During a panel at the Korea Blockchain Week 2025’s Impact conference, Lee discussed the possible synergy between Ethereum and advancements in artificial intelligence, indicating a need for an economy for robots that could be built on the Ethereum blockchain. He referenced a recent statement from former President Trump regarding the importance of “proof-of-human” mechanisms, which Lee suggested would find application within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Lee’s remarks about BitMine also draw a parallel to MicroStrategy, the well-known corporate holder of Bitcoin. He noted that both companies serve as large-cap stock equivalents in the crypto space, likely to attract passive inflows as they become incorporated into major indices. Since transitioning to an Ethereum-focused treasury model, BitMine’s market capitalization has skyrocketed from $37.6 million in June to approximately $9.45 billion, solidifying its status as the largest Ethereum treasury globally.
The high trading volume and institutional interest surrounding BitMine reflect its substantial impact on the market landscape. Lee’s comparisons suggest that the prominent treasury firms like BitMine and MicroStrategy are reshaping perceptions of cryptocurrencies, making them more appealing as serious investment options.
As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, many investors are keeping a close watch on these developments, particularly as potential regulatory support and technological advancements could alter the dynamics for Ethereum and Bitcoin in the coming months.