Bitcoin Above $76,000 Could Confirm Start of New Crypto Bull Market :Tom Lee

Bitcoin could officially confirm the end of the recent crypto bear market if it closes May above the $76,000 level, according to market strategist Tom Lee. Speaking at a major crypto conference in Miami, Lee said bitcoin has already recorded positive monthly gains in March and April, while May is currently on track to become the third consecutive green month.

Historically, Lee argued that bitcoin has never posted three straight monthly gains during a prolonged bear market. Bitcoin recently recovered from its sharp decline from nearly $126,000 in late 2025 to around $60,000 earlier this year and is now trading close to $80,000.

Tokenization and AI Finance Drive Crypto Growth

Lee believes the next crypto growth cycle will be fueled by tokenization and artificial intelligence based financial systems. He said stablecoins and blockchain settlement networks are becoming critical infrastructure for AI-powered financial applications.

Digital Finance Firms Could Challenge Traditional Banks

Lee also predicted that crypto native financial companies may eventually rival traditional banking giants. He pointed to firms operating with smaller workforces but generating profits comparable to major financial institutions through blockchain-based settlement and tokenized asset services.

According to Lee, tokenized finance and AI-driven payment systems could significantly reshape the global financial industry over the next decade.