Key Takeaways:Fundstrat’s Tom Lee maintains his $250,000 Bitcoin target by the end of 2025.Lee believes $200K to $250K is possible this year if BTC sustains momentum above $120K.While some analysts forecast lower targets, Lee sees rising institutional interest as a long-term bullish driver.Lee ultimately projects Bitcoin will reach $1 million “over time.”Tom Lee: Bitcoin Can Still Hit $250K by End of 2025Despite recent volatility in the crypto market, Fundstrat managing partner Tom Lee remains bullish on Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory. In a new interview on the Coin Stories podcast with Natalie Brunell, Lee said he believes Bitcoin could still hit $250,000 by the end of 2025, reaffirming a prediction he first made last November.“I think Bitcoin should really build upon this 120 before the end of the year—200,000, maybe, 250,” Lee said on Tuesday.Lee’s optimism stands out as the crypto market cools off from its recent high. Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high of $123,100 on July 14, before dipping below $112,000 over the weekend. At the time of writing, BTC is trading around $113,000, according to Nansen.Diverging Analyst Targets: From $160K to $250KWhile Lee holds firm on his $250K projection, other major analysts are taking a more measured approach.Standard Chartered and Bernstein maintain year-end targets of $200,000.10x Research’s Markus Thielen forecasts a more cautious $160,000.Arthur Hayes and Unchained’s Joe Burnett have echoed bullish views, suggesting $200K+ is within reach this cycle.Lee argues that Bitcoin’s four-year halving cycle may already be over, citing increasing institutional adoption as a transformative force. This belief is increasingly shared across the crypto industry, especially with spot Bitcoin ETFs seeing significant inflows in Q3 2025.Still, not all agree.Crypto analyst Rekt Capital says Bitcoin may still follow the traditional halving cycle, which would put the market peak in October 2025, or 550 days post-halving.Meanwhile, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan recently stated the halving cycle is "dead," predicting 2026 — not 2025 — as Bitcoin’s next big year.Market Sentiment Turns Neutral After VolatilityBitcoin’s retreat from recent highs has also affected broader crypto sentiment. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped from a Greed score of 60 to a Neutral 54 mid-week, as traders grow cautious ahead of macroeconomic data and the next Federal Reserve decision.Despite the pullback, Lee remains unfazed.“Skepticism is actually positive,” Lee said. “If everyone’s bullish, it’s probably already priced in. But when there’s plenty of doubt, markets have room for upside surprises.”Lee continues to believe that Bitcoin will ultimately reach $1 million “over time”, driven by broader institutional adoption, diminishing trust in fiat systems, and growing demand for digitally scarce assets.Can BTC Reclaim Its Bullish Momentum?With less than five months left in 2025, Bitcoin will need to reclaim and build above the $120,000 level to reignite the bullish narrative Lee envisions. Whether or not BTC hits $250K this year, Lee’s long-term forecast remains one of the most bullish on record — and one that institutions are increasingly watching closely.If institutional inflows resume and macro conditions remain favorable, Bitcoin's road to $200K+ may still be in play — even if many traders are still on the sidelines, accoridng to cointelegraph.
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