In a recent discussion on the Bankless YouTube podcast hosted by David Hoffman, two of the most respected figures in the crypto industry:Tom Leechairman of BitMine, and Arthur Hayes, founder and former CEO of BitMEX, shared a remarkably optimistic outlook for the price of Ethereum. The two leaders foreseen that Ethereum could reach $10,000 or more by the end of the year, driven by fundamental growth and changing market dynamics. Their comments, made after BTC reached new all-time highs above $126,000added new momentum and optimism that the next Q4 bull rally could be focused on ETGH.
Ethereum Price Breakdown and Roadmap to $10,000
During the Bankless podcast, Hayes was the first to respond when asked for his opinion. End of Year Price Expectations (EOY) for Ethereum and Bitcoin. Without hesitation, the BitMEX founder predicted that ETH could climb to $10,000 and BTC to $250,000 before the year closes. When asked if Ethereum could realistically more than double in just over two months, Hayes confidently responded that it was possible, highlighting the strength of current market dynamics.
Related reading
Lee’s response to the same question was even more optimistic. Despite the recent crypto market flash crashThe BitMine president placed his Ethereum target between $10,000 and $12,000 and shared a similarly bullish view for Bitcoin, predicting a range between $200,000 and $250,000. When asked why he thinks Ethereum could reach such a high valuation in the near term and whether such rapid price appreciation might be unsustainable, Lee dismissed his concerns, noting that ETH has been in consolidation since its peak in 2021.
He argued that the market would not overheat once it hits $10,000, but instead could enter a new phase of price discovery, supported by strong fundamentals and innovative developments within the ecosystem. He also said that $10,000 is not the amount top of cycle for Ethereumand upcoming developments in 2026 could pave the way for further price growth.
Ethereum’s Growing Role Beyond Bitcoin’s Shadow
As the interview progressed, the discussion turned to the evolving dynamics between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the broader crypto market. Turning his attention to Hayes, Hoffman asked if Ethereum should be compared to Bitcoin or other smart contracts in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space. The BitMEX founder responded that he views Bitcoin as money and Ethereum as “computation.” He described ETH as the “benchmark IT asset” of the crypto space, noting that the altcoin is positioned above the rest of the crypto landscape in terms of technology.
Related reading
Lee agreed, but added that he views Ethereum as both money and a computing asset. He defined Bitcoin as digital gold and ETH as an architectural foundation for innovation, particularly in areas such as Wall Street and artificial intelligence (AI). BitMine President emphasized that Ethereum’s growth trajectory does not depend on in competition with Bitcoin but rather about expanding its own usefulness and adoption.
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
