Bitcoin at $250,000? Tom Lee Thinks This Is the Year
One of Wall Street’s most closely followed strategists just made a statement that’s turning heads across both crypto and traditional finance.
Tom Lee, co-founder of Fundstrat and Bitmine, believes Bitcoin could surge to $250,000 this year, setting a brand-new all-time high. His conviction isn’t based on hype — it’s rooted in long-term adoption trends, shifting investor behavior, and Bitcoin’s growing role as “digital gold.”
Speaking on the Master Investor podcast with Wilfred Frost, Lee shared not only his bullish outlook on Bitcoin, but also a disciplined framework for navigating volatility — especially with turbulence potentially looming in 2026.
Why Tom Lee Sees a New Bitcoin All-Time High
According to Lee, Bitcoin’s next major move depends on whether the market can fully move past a crypto deleveraging cycle that temporarily broke its historical correlation with gold.
“We think Bitcoin will make a new high this year,” Lee said.
While he acknowledges that gold still has a larger investor base, Lee argues that Bitcoin’s adoption curve is steeper.
“More people own gold than own crypto,” he noted — a gap he believes will narrow rapidly.
However, Lee also highlighted a structural weakness in crypto markets: leverage.
“Crypto has periodic deleveraging events,” he said. “They impair market makers — and market makers are essentially the central bank of crypto.”
In other words, volatility may persist, but the long-term trajectory remains firmly upward.
Bitcoin and Gold: Not Either-Or
Despite his bullish stance on Bitcoin, Lee isn’t dismissing gold. In fact, he believes both assets belong in a modern portfolio.
Gold’s recent strength, he explained, stems from geopolitical instability and expectations of easier global monetary policy. Yet, most investors remain underexposed.
“I think it means gold should be sitting in a portfolio,” Lee said, pointing to recommendations of up to 10% allocation from figures like Ray Dalio.
Importantly, Lee reframed gold’s role:
“Gold doesn’t make sense if you view it as a commodity. It acts as an alternative to the dollar.”
In Lee’s framework, gold protects, while Bitcoin grows.
The Biggest Mistake Investors Keep Making
Lee’s strongest warning wasn’t about crypto — it was about behavior.
He cautioned investors against trying to perfectly time market tops and bottoms, arguing that emotional decisions often destroy long-term returns.
“Trying to time the market makes you an enemy of your future performance.”
Even when discussing potential turbulence in 2026, Lee remained clear: pullbacks are not exit signals.
“They should view the pullback as a chance to buy, not a chance to sell.”
Discipline, patience, and consistency, he emphasized, are still the most reliable investing strategies.
Why the U.S. Remains a Long-Term Winner
Beyond Bitcoin, Lee remains optimistic about the U.S. economic outlook, citing two powerful tailwinds: demographics and technology.
1. Demographics & Wealth Transfer
Unlike many developed economies, the U.S. benefits from a relatively strong prime-age workforce. At the same time, massive intergenerational wealth transfers are underway.
“Gen Z, millennials, and Gen Alpha are set to inherit substantial sums of money,” Lee said.
While this could widen inequality, it also represents a huge wave of capital that may flow into equities, crypto, and emerging technologies.
2. Technology & Super Intelligence
Lee believes technological progress is accelerating — from robotics to artificial intelligence — reinforcing U.S. leadership.
“Evidence that we’re moving toward super intelligence is accelerating.”
He also noted that blockchain adoption is expanding rapidly, moving well beyond early crypto-native companies.
“It’s not just BlackRock and Robinhood anymore.”
Final Takeaway: Think Long-Term, Stay Convicted
Tom Lee’s message is clear:
Bitcoin could reach $250,000 this year
Gold still plays a critical role in portfolios
Trying to time the market is a losing game
Volatility may test investors in the short term, but Lee believes those who stay disciplined — and focused on long-term adoption — stand to benefit the most.
In a world of noise, his advice is simple: ignore the panic, trust the trend, and think years — not weeks — ahead.