Bitcoin (BTC) has surged nearly 100x since Fundstrat recommended it near $1,000 in 2017, enduring six corrections exceeding 50% and three over 75%. Tom Lee, Fundstrat’s Chief Investment Officer, now points to Ethereum following a similar path.
Meanwhile, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley notes that Bitcoin’s $1.9 trillion market cap remains relatively small compared to the hundreds of trillions in global assets.
Tom Lee’s experience with Bitcoin goes back almost a decade, anchored by Fundstrat’s early call around $1,000.
According to the Fundstrat executive, the initial position has delivered roughly 100-fold returns despite intense corrections that shook investor confidence.
Lee emphasizes that capturing such exponential gains requires enduring what he calls ‘existential moments, meaning times of pessimistic sentiment and major sell-offs.
As of this writing, Bitcoin’s market capitalization was approximately $1.91 trillion. The broader cryptocurrency market reached $3.23 trillion.
Yet, these numbers are small compared to traditional asset classes, highlighting the strong growth potential industry leaders often mention.
Lee attributes current weakness in crypto to market makers facing balance sheet strain and forced sales. He argues these are technical, not fundamental, challenges within a large-scale supercycle.
Against this backdrop, the Fundstrat CIO advises against leverage, noting it increases downside risk during periods of high volatility.
Data on Coinglass shows that Bitcoin futures Open Interest is near 100,000, indicating new positions are opening and possibly signaling bullish sentiment. However, higher Open Interest can also signal short-term volatility as traders react to shifting momentum.
Fundstrat’s outlook is not limited to Bitcoin. The firm believes Ethereum is entering its own supercycle, noting that Ethereum’s progress will not be linear. Based on this, they advise investors to expect volatility as the price appreciates in the long term. This trend mirrors Bitcoin’s history of sharp declines between rallies.
Lee’s point about “stomaching existential moments” is equally relevant for Ethereum investors. The asset has experienced its own significant drops, at times losing over 80% from its peaks.
Nevertheless, investors who held on were rewarded with sizeable gains, strengthening the case for patient capital in high-conviction digital assets.
Elsewhere, Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley contextualizes Bitcoin’s potential by comparing its size with traditional markets.
Horsley points out that Bitcoin’s $1.9 trillion market cap is minimal next to $120 trillion in equities, $140 trillion in fixed income, $250 trillion in real estate, and $30 trillion in gold.
Given this context, Bitcoin makes up only a fraction of investable global assets. Even small reallocations from traditional assets to crypto could significantly boost Bitcoin’s valuation.
Since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024, institutional adoption has increased, with pension funds, endowments, and corporate treasuries allocating capital to Bitcoin.
Horsley also touches on Bitcoin’s cycle, typically influenced by halving events. He argues that pre-2026 selling could disrupt these patterns, possibly paving the way for a strong bullish phase in 2026.
Year-to-date, Bitcoin is up 2.5% for 2025, according to available data, pointing to building momentum.
Several factors, including limited supply, growing institutional interest, and Bitcoin’s tiny share of global wealth, create a strong investment thesis.
Both Lee and Horsley note that patience is needed, as volatile markets can tempt investors to sell early.
