Key Takeaways
- Tom Lee expects a March rebound despite geopolitical tensions.
- Other analysts see signs of a bottom.
- Price outlook remains uncertain.
Bitcoin and Ethereum’s prices could rebound in March, according to Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, who has remained bullish despite escalating Middle East tensions that risk a broader global conflict.
Lee told CNBC that historical market behavior during geopolitical shocks suggests investors often benefit from remaining invested rather than exiting positions.
Tom Lee Bullish on Bitcoin and Ethereum Price
Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Lee said investors are increasingly worried that geopolitical tensions could escalate into a larger conflict, even raising fears of World War III.
However, he said markets historically recover quickly unless such worst-case scenarios materialize.
“A lot of experts are going to worry that this could encompass a larger conflict, something that would be World War Three or something,” Lee said.
“But in the absence of that, I think the worst of the sell-off is going to happen this week.”
Lee added that he expects markets broadly — including Bitcoin and Ethereum — to rebound in the coming weeks.
“I would expect actually March to be an up month for the stock market,” he said.
He also pointed to early weakness in technology stocks, major AI companies, and cryptocurrencies as signs the market may already be near a bottom.
“Things like software, the Mag Seven, and crypto all had early weakness,” Lee said. “They’re all probably in the final stages or have already bottomed.”
Lee, who acts as chairman for Ethereum treasury Bitmine, reiterated his optimism about Ethereum’s long-term fundamentals, arguing that growing activity on the network should eventually translate into higher prices.
“There’s so much being built on Ethereum now,” Lee said. “Almost every major announcement of a tokenized fund is happening on Ethereum.”
“If it’s all taking place on Ethereum, then price follows.”
VanEck Sees Signs of a Crypto Market Bottom
Lee’s comments echo recent remarks from VanEck CEO Jan van Eck, who also suggested that the crypto market may be entering a bottoming phase.
Speaking on CNBC earlier this week, the executive said the recent rally in Bitcoin and major crypto-related stocks could indicate the worst of the downturn is passing.
“I think we’re making a bottom and this is a very nice sign of life,” van Eck said.
However, he noted that 2026 historically aligns with the weakest stage of Bitcoin’s four-year cycle.
“Bitcoin goes up three years in a row, then goes down pretty massively in that fourth year,” he said.
“That’s why we’re in a crypto bear market.”
Bitcoin Price Could Rally Toward $75,000
After coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian positions, markets were rattled as traders flocked to traditional safe-haven assets.
In the immediate aftermath, gold rose more than 2.5%, while oil prices surged above $80 per barrel.
Meanwhile, analysts say Bitcoin’s price trajectory in March will likely depend on whether institutional accumulation continues.
Abiodun Oladokun, a crypto analyst at CCN, said sustained buying pressure could push Bitcoin significantly higher in the near term.
“Should this quiet accumulation trend persist in the BTC market, it could push the price toward $71,642,” Oladokun said.
“A breach of this zone could open the door to a rally toward $75,238.”
However, he warned that weakening demand or increased miner selling could trigger downside risks.
“If miner distribution volume grows and new demand falls, the coin risks breaking below its critical support at $67,193 and falling toward $60,001 as March nears its end.”
Tom Lee’s Forecasts Face Scrutiny
Despite his continued optimism, Lee’s Bitcoin and Ethereum forecasts have drawn scrutiny after a string of his high-profile predictions failed to materialize.
Last year, Lee predicted Bitcoin would rise to between $150,000 and $200,000 by late January, a target he later extended.
Speaking onstage at Binance Blockchain Week, Lee went even further, suggesting Bitcoin could climb to $250,000 within months under favorable market conditions.
This, of course, did not come to fruition.
Meanwhile, Tom Lee predicted that Ethereum would trade between $7,000 and $9,000 by the end of January — it instead entered February at just over $3,000.
While his broader bullish outlook received partial validation when Bitcoin reached new all-time highs in October, the majority of his short-term price targets have proved overly ambitious.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
