Tom Lee’s Bold Call: Bitcoin Poised to Shatter All-Time High Before January 2026 Ends

Wall Street's crypto bull just drew a line in the sand. Fundstrat's Tom Lee projects Bitcoin will not just recover, but will blast past its previous peak within the next three weeks. The countdown to a historic breakout is officially on.

Anatomy of a Prediction

Lee's forecast hinges on a confluence of macro and on-chain factors aligning—a perfect storm brewing for the flagship cryptocurrency. It's a bet against the prevailing Wall Street skepticism, a direct challenge to the traditional finance playbook that still views digital gold as a speculative sideshow. The timing is aggressive, leaving little room for error or delay.

The Mechanics of a Move

For this to materialize, Bitcoin needs to sustain a monumental rally, cutting through overhead resistance with decisive force. The narrative shifts from mere recovery to unprecedented price discovery. It bypasses the cautious, incremental growth models favored by analysts in favor of a parabolic surge.

A Provocative Finish

If Lee's call hits, it redefines crypto's place in the global financial hierarchy overnight. If it misses, it becomes another bold prediction filed away—right next to those 'permanent low interest rate' models the Fed loved so much. Either way, the market is about to deliver a verdict with billions on the line.

TLDR

• Tom Lee predicts Bitcoin will hit a new all-time high by the end of January 2026, despite currently trading around $93,200
• Lee forecasts 2026 will have a volatile first half due to institutional rebalancing, followed by a strong rally in the second half
• He calls Ethereum “dramatically undervalued” and expects it to enter a supercycle similar to Bitcoin’s 2017-2021 run
• His firm Bitmine Immersion Technologies now holds 4.14 million ETH, showing confidence in the asset
• Lee also predicts the S&P 500 will reach 7,700 by end of 2026, driven by AI productivity gains and strong corporate earnings

Fundstrat Global Advisors co-founder Tom Lee said Monday that Bitcoin has not peaked yet. He expects the cryptocurrency to reach a new all-time high by the end of January 2026. Lee made these comments during an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

JUST IN: Tom Lee says #Bitcoin could reach $250,000 in 2026 if the 4-year cycle breakspic.twitter.com/Zr7ca45NOn

— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) January 5, 2026

“I don’t think bitcoin has peaked yet,” Lee stated. He admitted his team was too optimistic about reaching a high point before December 2025. However, he believes Bitcoin can still hit a new record this month.

Bitcoin previously reached an all-time high above $126,000 in October 2025. The cryptocurrency traded around $88,500 on December 31, 2025. As of January 5, 2026, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $93,200.

Lee’s prediction comes after a late-2025 pullback in digital asset prices. In August 2025, he had predicted Bitcoin WOULD surpass $200,000 before the end of last year. That forecast did not materialize.

Two Halves for Crypto Markets in 2026

Lee outlined his view that 2026 will be split into two distinct periods. The first half may face challenges as institutions rebalance their portfolios. This period represents what Lee calls a “strategic reset” in crypto markets.

“The first half of 2026 may be tough as we deal with institutional rebalancing,” Lee said. He described this volatility as necessary preparation for later gains. The second half of the year is expected to bring stronger performance.

Lee explained the current period as a digestion phase. Markets are processing multiple years of gains across risk assets. This reset does not indicate structural problems in the crypto market.

Lee expressed strong bullish views on ethereum during his appearance. He described the asset as “dramatically undervalued” at current prices. Lee compared Ethereum’s potential trajectory to Bitcoin’s run from 2017 to 2021.

His crypto mining firm Bitmine Immersion Technologies recently acquired more ETH. The company now holds 4.14 million tokens. Last year, Lee predicted Ethereum would reach $15,000 by December 2025.

That prediction missed the mark. Ethereum’s highest price in 2025 was $4,830. The cryptocurrency traded around $3,300 in December 2025.

Stock Market Forecast Alongside Crypto Outlook

Lee also shared one of Wall Street’s more aggressive equity forecasts. He projects the S&P 500 will reach 7,700 by the end of 2026. This outlook is based on resilient corporate earnings and economic strength.

“If you look at the fundamental strength of the U.S. economy and the AI-driven productivity gains, we are looking at a path to S&P 7,700 by year-end 2026,” Lee said. He believes earnings per share will prove more durable than pessimistic forecasts suggest.

Lee framed ETH purchases as a balance-sheet decision rather than speculation. “Acquiring an asset that can appreciate by 10 times or more is a strategic necessity for any modern treasury,” he stated. His firm’s large Ethereum position reflects this philosophy.

Despite warning about first-half volatility, Lee maintained an optimistic tone. He views potential price pullbacks as buying opportunities. “There’s a lot to be optimistic about in 2026,” Lee concluded.