Crypto market volatility fails to shake bullish conviction from leading analysts
Despite recent turbulence in the cryptocurrency market, BitMine chair Tom Lee and BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes are doubling down on their bold prediction that Ether (ETH) will reach $10,000 before the end of the year.
Speaking on the Bankless podcast, both industry veterans reiterated their confidence in Ethereum’s growth trajectory, even as the token continues to consolidate below $4,200.
“For Ethereum, somewhere between $10,000 and $12,000 — that’s my range,” Lee said, adding that such a move would not mark a speculative peak but rather a “price discovery at a new level.”
At the time of reporting, Ether traded near $4,129, representing a potential 142% gain if the analysts’ targets are met.
Ethereum “basing” for four years, says Lee
Lee emphasized that Ethereum has been consolidating since 2021, forming a strong foundation for its next major move.
“Ethereum’s basically been basing for four years now, just broke out of the range, so it wouldn’t be a blow-off top — it’s a natural progression,” he noted.
Ether reached its all-time high of $4,878 in 2021, briefly retesting those levels in August 2025 before retracing. The cryptocurrency remains up more than 57% over the past 12 months, underscoring renewed investor confidence amid broader market recovery.
Historical data points to moderate gains
While Lee and Hayes maintain an ultra-bullish stance, historical patterns suggest a more moderate outcome. According to CoinGlass data, Ethereum has delivered an average fourth-quarter return of 21.36% since 2016. If repeated, ETH could end the year near $5,000 to $6,500 — aligning with forecasts from analysts like Tesseract CEO James Harris.
Still, some experts, including MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe, see current dips as buying opportunities.
“It needs a higher low, and then we’re off toward new highs,” van de Poppe said, referring to the ETH/BTC pair’s recent rebound zone.
As the year winds down, the debate continues between historical realism and long-term optimism, with Ethereum’s next move likely to define the tone for crypto markets heading into 2026.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.