Tom Lee, the co-founder of Fundstrat Global Advisors, is holding firm on his bullish Bitcoin prediction, stating that the premier cryptocurrency could reach $250,000 in 2025. This forecast comes amid a period of market volatility, which saw Bitcoin fluctuate after hitting a new all-time high of around $123,100 in July.
In a recent appearance on the Coin Stories podcast, Lee reaffirmed his conviction, saying, “I think Bitcoin should really build upon this 120 before the end of the year; 200,000, maybe, 250.” This view contrasts with some other analysts who have taken a more measured approach. For instance, Standard Chartered and Bernstein maintain year-end targets of $200,000, while 10x Research's Markus Thielen forecasts a more cautious $160,000.
One of the key drivers behind Lee's optimism is the growing institutional interest in Bitcoin. He argues that the traditional four-year halving cycle may be losing its relevance as corporate and institutional adoption becomes a more powerful driver. This belief is gaining traction, with Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan recently stating the halving cycle is "dead" and predicting 2026 will be the next big year for Bitcoin. Despite recent outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs, data suggests large-scale investors are continuing to accumulate.
Lee also views market skepticism as a positive sign. He believes that when there is widespread doubt, markets have room for upside surprises. This is reflected in the Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which shifted from a “Greed” score of 60 to a “Neutral” score of 54. Furthermore, Lee suggests that a potential easing of monetary policy by the U.S. Federal Reserve could coincide with a step-function higher for Bitcoin's price.
Looking at the long term, Lee is even more bullish, suggesting that Bitcoin should hit $1 million “over time” and could potentially soar to $2 million to $3 million, surpassing the market capitalization of gold. For now, whether Bitcoin reaches the ambitious $250,000 target this year depends on sustaining momentum above key price levels and continued institutional confidence.