Tom Lee: This drop is a "short bear" for crypto, and I don't regret buying ETH at a high price

Tom Lee, in an interview with Rug Radio founder Farokh Sarmad, stated that the crypto market is currently experiencing a "mini winter," which will not be a long-term bear market, but will require time to digest. He advises investors not to wait for the perfect bottom and to start buying in batches at lower points now. The pain may last for several months to half a year, but a significant turnaround is expected in 2026.

Additionally, Tom Lee mentioned that he does not regret buying ETH too early and stated that ETH is currently near the bottom (possibly briefly dipping below $1800 or $1890), but historically there have been 8 V-shaped recoveries. In the long term, ETH is the "next 15-year story"—the foundation for stablecoins, AI, and the creator economy.

Finally, Tom Lee once again predicted that Bitcoin will rise to $200,000 to $250,000 in 2026, while Ethereum will reach $12,000 to $22,000 according to historical ratios.