Tom Lee is getting bullish on Bitcoin and Ethereum again. | Credit: CCN.
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Bitcoin has broken out of “extreme fear” for the first time in months.
Fundstrat’s Tom Lee has drawn criticism on social media after reiterating aggressive price targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum relative to Gold and Silver.
Lee’s targets for Ethereum and Bitcoin were previously called “unlikely to materialize” by analysts.
Gold and silver’s explosive rally to start 2026 is fueling renewed debate over whether Bitcoin (BTC) could follow the same path, fueled by bullish comments from Fundstrat’s Tom Lee.
It comes as Bitcoin has broken out of “extreme fear” territory for the first time in months, according to sentiment indicators.
Despite the renewed optimism, Lee’s comments that gold’s historic gains will eventually translate into a new rally for digital assets are being attacked by disgruntled traders following a series of missed forecasts.
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, which tracks volatility and social media trends, has remained firmly in fearful territory since early November.
That mood has begun to lighten, even as uncertainty remains high.
In a commentary shared this week, the firm noted that investors are entering the new year with mixed emotions, shaped by both recent cuts and signs of recovery.
“Some mourn personal losses, while others celebrate crypto gains and community resilience,” Santiment said.
However, optimism about the recovery was not universally shared, particularly following comments from Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee, who once again bullishly linked Bitcoin’s outlook to moves in gold and silver.
Lee argued that the recent strength of precious metals supports a bullish case for digital assets.
He pointed out that silver has rallied sharply over the past month, while gold has rallied aggressively over the past year, adding that big gains in commodities have historically preceded cryptocurrency gains.
Lee wrote: “If these major commodity markets make such a move, how can anyone be skeptical of digital assets in 2026?”
The comments quickly drew criticism on social media platform X, where some users pointed to Lee’s previous predictions.
“Please, for the sake of your career, stick to stocks only,” wrote one user X.
X-users have spoken out against Tom Lee’s newest insight.
Another said: “Maybe because you literally said that BTC and ETH will be higher than they are now before today (year end).
Gold and silver extended their rally into early 2026, adding to what Bloomberg described as their strongest annual performances in more than four decades.
Gold traded near $4,375 an ounce, while silver climbed more than 2 percent, continuing the momentum built up in a successful year for precious metals.
However, senior commodity strategist at TD Securities Daniel Ghali said significant volume of silver positioning could unwind in the coming weeks.
Ghali estimated that about 13 percent of total open interest in the Comex silver markets could be sold in the next two weeks, a move he said could trigger a sharp repricing.
Despite near-term risks, Bloomberg noted that precious metals had an exceptionally strong run in 2025, albeit with increased volatility towards the end of the year as some investors took profits and technical indicators signaled overbought conditions.
Lee has remained one of Bitcoin’s most vocal positive supporters.
Bloomberg previously reported that he expected Bitcoin to rise between $150,000 and $200,000 by the end of January, a view he later expanded on, saying on stage at Binance Blockchain Week that prices could reach $250,000 within months.
In retrospect, Lee’s record in 2025 was mixed.
While his broader directional optimism was partially validated when Bitcoin hit new all-time highs in October, his calls have consistently exceeded timing and magnitude.
CCN’s education team reported that Lee’s projection from early March that Bitcoin could surpass $150,000 by the end of the year proved too optimistic.
That target was later raised in September, when Lee suggested Bitcoin could “easily” hit $200,000 under favorable conditions, another prediction that fell short.
Skepticism towards Tom Lee’s latest price forecasts has also come from technical analysts, who argue that current chart signals contradict optimistic projections.
Valdrin Tahiri, a CCN analyst, said on December 5 that Lee’s outlook for Ethereum implies an aggressive valuation for Bitcoin, which is hard to justify based on market structure.
“Another part of Tom Lee’s prediction is that Ethereum will hit $62,000,” Tahiri said.
Tahiri said technical indicators point in the opposite direction.
“Judging by the bearish divergences on the weekly time frame, this seems highly unlikely,” he said, referring to the weakening momentum visible on Bitcoin’s longer-term charts.
While relative strength readings for Ethereum remain more constructive, Tahiri noted that Bitcoin has already lost key support.
“Ethereum to Bitcoin chart shows holding RSI above 50 but has already broken down on Bitcoin,” he said.
Tahiri added that the broader Bitcoin price structure remains fragile, with the market trading in an ascending parallel channel that is at risk of failure.
“The only way to prevent the breakdown is if Bitcoin price recovers the ascending parallel channel,” he said, adding that “there are no signs to suggest that will be the case.”
As a result, Tahiri said Lee’s high-conviction predictions are unlikely to come true.
“Thus, Tom Lee’s predictions for Ethereum and Bitcoin are unlikely to materialize,” he said.
The post Bitcoin Price Will Follow Gold’s Mega Gains, Says Tom Lee, Under Fire As BTC Leaves ‘Extreme Fear’ appeared first on ccn.com.
