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Tom Lee Says Ether Is Entering a Bitcoin-Like 'Supercycle'; Critics Push Back
BitMine Immersion Technologies’ executive chairman says ETH is beginning a bitcoin-style run as he highlights past drawdowns and patience.
Updated Nov 16, 2025, 6:25 p.m. Published Nov 16, 2025, 5:17 p.m.
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What to know:
- Tom Lee says ETH is starting a BTC-like supercycle and urges patience through volatility.
- Skeptics question Ethereum's unique utility and defensibility versus rival chains.
Tom Lee — executive chairman of BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR), head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors and chief investment officer at Fundstrat Capital — said in a post on X that ether is “embarking on that same supercycle” that produced a 100x gain in bitcoin since his 2017 client recommendation.
He noted bitcoin endured six drawdowns greater than 50% and three greater than 75% over the past 8.5 years, arguing crypto’s volatility reflects markets “discounting a massive future” and that investors had to hold through “existential moments.”
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The call drew pushback, however.
A prominent bitcoin influencer known as "The Bitcoin Therapist" asked what utility ether offers that “hundreds of other coins don’t,” questioned Ethereum’s moat beyond market penetration and whether traditional finance would actually run on Ethereum rails for 24/7 trading. “I would never want my assets on the ethereum blockchain,” he wrote.
Lee did not provide timing targets or valuation markers for the ether thesis, beyond cautioning that “the path higher is not a straight line.” His comments extend a long-running view that crypto cycles can reward patience but come with severe interim drawdowns.
Looking ahead, sustained growth in on-chain activity on Ethereum and its Layer-2s, alongside expanded institutional use cases, will be the test of the thesis.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
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