🚨 What happened

• Tom Lee, co-founder and head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, told CNBC that he forecasts Bitcoin (BTC) could surge to $250,000 by the end of 2025, up from around $118,760 today.

• He argues that even at $250K, BTC would represent only about 25 % of gold’s market cap, leaving plenty of upside.

🔍 Why he believes it

1. Institutional adoption – Big players like pensions, hedge funds, and families increasing exposure to BTC as a macro asset, akin to digital gold.

2. Supply scarcity – Around 95 % of all 21M BTC have already been mined; few new coins enter circulation each year.

3. Huge global demand – Today, just 5 % of the global population owns BTC, so large untapped demand remains.

4. Pro-crypto policies – Supportive regulatory moves, like the GENIUS Act or friendly approaches under former President Trump, could boost adoption and inflows.

📅 Is $250K realistic this year?

• Lee’s base case remains ~$150,000, with the possibility of reaching $200K to $250K if momentum and demand align.

• He balances optimism with conditions: strong institutional inflows, favorable macroeconomic policies, and continued regulatory clarity.

📈 Long-term vision

• Growth beyond gold – If BTC matches gold’s market cap (~$23 trillion), it could one day hit $1M+ per coin.

• Lee even envisages a $2 – $3 million terminal value if Bitcoin truly garners equal status to gold.

💬 Market & community reaction

Crypto Twitter and analysts were abuzz. One user tweeted:

“$250K sounds wild, until you zoom out and realize… it’s just one more leg in the pattern.”

This reflects both excitement and healthy skepticism within the market.

🧠 Bottom line

Tom Lee’s bold call isn’t just hype—it’s backed by:

• Sensible supply-demand fundamentally

• Institutional inflows across the board

• Regulatory tailwinds strengthening credibility

That said, achieving $250K still requires a ~110 % rally from current levels, with plenty of macro and crypto-specific variables in play.

⚠️ Important caveat: This is a bullish forecast, not a certainty. Bitcoin remains volatile, and factors like global regulation, economic shifts, or speculative busts can influence its path significantly.

📌 Summary:

Tom Lee of Fundstrat sees a base-case $150K for Bitcoin by year-end, with upside to $250K if strong momentum and institutional demand coincide. Over the long run, he envisions BTC as “digital gold,” potentially reaching well into the six figures—even $2–3 million per coin—if it captures gold’s market share.