Bitcoin Eyes $150,000 as Institutional Money Inflows Mark “First Wave,” Says Fundstrat’s Tom Lee

Add to Google Preferred Sources
Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee indicated Bitcoin could reach $150,000, describing the current rally as merely the “first wave.” He noted that if the Federal Reserve holds rates steady at the September 15 FOMC meeting while employment data and CPI come in weak, markets could rally powerfully. Lee cited four reasons for a potential Q4 crypto surge: the end of the four-year crypto cycle, the return of South Korean investors, and expectations for passage of the CLARITY Act. He also suggested Ethereum could climb to roughly $6,000 when Bitcoin hits $150,000.

Key Elements

Fundstrat co-founder and Bitmine Immersion Technologies Chairman Tom Lee indicated that Bitcoin could reach $150,000 (approximately ¥24 million). He argued that the current rally in cryptocurrency markets is still only the “first wave,” with institutional investors aggressively accumulating crypto-related equities serving as a precursor to major price movements heading into the fourth quarter.

Speaking on CNBC, Lee expressed his view that the September 15 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will be a key inflection point for markets. He analyzed that if the Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady while employment data and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) come in weak, markets could rally very powerfully. While September is historically a weak month, the widespread bearish sentiment itself could lay the groundwork for an upside surprise, he noted.

On the S&P 500, Lee projected that even if a correction occurs in October, the 7,300–7,400 level would serve as downside support, with the index potentially pushing above 8,200 by year-end. He pointed to long-term interest rate trends and the Fed’s rate decisions as key variables influencing both equities and cryptocurrencies.

Four Reasons Crypto Could Surge in Q4

Lee laid out four reasons on CNBC why September and the fourth quarter could mark a breakout phase for cryptocurrencies.

First, crypto has already become the best-performing macro asset class in the third quarter. Second, the four-year crypto cycle comes to an end next month, bringing sidelined investors back into the market. Third, South Korean investors who had shifted capital into AI-related stocks earlier this year are already showing a recovery in crypto trading volumes. Fourth, if the CLARITY Act (Clarity for Digital Assets Act) is passed, it would provide a significant tailwind for Bitcoin and Ethereum in the fourth quarter.

“Very few people actually hold crypto. That’s exactly why Bitcoin can easily reach six figures ($100,000, approximately ¥16 million),” Lee said. He noted that institutional investors are already aggressively buying crypto-related equities, and the surge in trading volume reflects positioning ahead of major market moves expected in the fourth quarter.

Ethereum Outlook

Last week, Lee told crypto media outlet Milk Road that if Bitcoin reaches $150,000, Ethereum could climb to approximately $6,000 (around ¥960,000). He characterized this estimate as “conservative rather than aggressive.”

Meanwhile, Arthur Hayes, co-founder of crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX, told Cointelegraph that Ethereum currently offers the best risk-reward profile in the crypto market, noting that ETH could see price movements of three to five times within a short period. Hayes argued that rival asset Hyperliquid has lost the relative upside potential it once had, making Ethereum a cleaner trade at current levels.

Market Implications

Lee’s remarks underscore the view that the crypto market is undergoing a structural shift from retail-driven to institution-driven dynamics. If institutional capital inflows gain full momentum, Bitcoin’s price movements could diverge from the traditional four-year cycle pattern.

With Federal Reserve monetary policy remaining the largest external factor, the September 15 FOMC meeting and subsequent economic data releases will be closely watched for signals on how both equities and cryptocurrencies may move toward year-end. In particular, the fate of the CLARITY Act will significantly shape the U.S. regulatory environment, making congressional developments a key item to monitor.

Once added, BigGo Finance appears first in Google Search Top Stories, so you get the broadest, most up-to-the-minute, and most comprehensive global financial news first.

Source: finance.biggo.com