Ethereum Price Target Soars to $250,000 Amid AI-Driven Economic Shift

Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine, believes Ethereum's shift into its '2.0' phase could lead to a long-term price target of $250,000 per token. Speaking at WebX 2026 in Tokyo on July 13, Lee compared this transition to past re-ratings at Amazon and Nvidia.

Lee's thesis centers around Ethereum becoming a necessary trust layer within an AI-driven economy, which he calls the 'uncanny valley of wealth.' He argues that blockchain technology is essential for separating human economic activity from autonomous AI-driven transactions.

Ethereum's increasing use as transaction fees and its growing developer activity further support Lee's settlement-layer thesis. BitMine holds 5.74 million ETH, or 4.8% of the total supply, with plans to stay below a 5% concentration threshold. This accumulation strategy is part of BitMine's long-term vision for Ethereum.

Near-term technical signals also support the broader view. Analysts at DeMark Analytics and Steve Suttmeier project ETH reaching $2,200 to $2,239 soon, drawing comparisons to the 1987 S&P 500 pattern. Lee views this near-term move as an early step towards his larger thesis.