Tom Lee Says Ethereum Could Lead AI-Era Finance as Institutional Adoption Accelerates

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-07-13Last updated on 2026-07-13

Abstract

At the WebX 2026 conference in Tokyo, Fundstrat's Tom Lee presented a bullish case for Ethereum, arguing it could become the foundational settlement layer for the AI era. He credited this potential to leadership changes at the Ethereum Foundation and accelerating institutional adoption. Lee cited key 2026 trends—U.S. monetary policy, the CLARITY Act, and AI investment—as macro factors impacting crypto. He highlighted rising institutional demand, noting Wall Street's growing preference for Ethereum. Comparing the current market to the post-1987 stock market recovery, Lee suggested Ethereum may be forming a significant bottom before a potential upswing. Supporting his outlook, Lee mentioned developments like Robinhood Chain and revealed that Bitmine now holds roughly 5.74 million ETH (~4.8% of supply), with plans to increase to about 5%. He framed this as part of a broader institutional shift toward investing in Ethereum's infrastructure for long-term value, beyond short-term price movements.

Coinpost-hosted WebX 2026 in Tokyo had Tom Lee as one of its speakers in favor of Ethereum. Lee gave his keynote speech entitled “Ethereum: The Cure for the Wealth Uncanny Valley.” Lee said Ethereum has the potential to become the settlement layer for the artificial intelligence era. He attributed that opportunity to leadership changes within the Ethereum Foundation and increasing institutional participation across digital asset markets.

He stated, “Under the leadership of the new foundation, ETH has the potential to become the settlement layer for the AI era.”

Lee mentioned several macroeconomic trends that could affect the crypto market during 2026. They included U.S. monetary policy, the CLARITY Act, artificial intelligence investment trends, and poor financial sector performance relative to other sectors. He additionally mentioned rising institutional demand as one of the main factors supporting the role of Ethereum in the future. As mentioned by Lee, Wall Street now favors Ethereum due to increasing investments by institutions into it.

Robinhood Chain and Market Structure Support Ethereum Outlook

The comparison between the present market environment of Ethereum and the bounce-back of the American stock market after the 1987 stock market crash was done by Lee. Lee stated that Ethereum seems to be on the verge of forming an important bottom ahead of a possible recovery. Furthermore, Lee analyzed the history of price performance of Ethereum through various market cycles, emphasizing the fact that many people do not recognize its intrinsic value when the price is falling. Robinhood Chain was mentioned as a recent event in the Ethereum ecosystem by Lee.

Bitmine Expands Ethereum Holdings

Lee also disclosed updated information regarding Bitmine’s Ethereum treasury strategy during the presentation. He said Bitmine currently holds approximately 5.74 million ETH, representing about 4.8% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.

The company plans to gradually increase its holdings to approximately five percent of the total Ethereum supply. Lee added that Bitmine also intends to expand investments throughout the broader Ethereum ecosystem alongside its treasury strategy.

His comments reflected growing institutional interest in Ethereum infrastructure rather than short-term market performance. Investors and analysts continue monitoring whether institutional participation, regulatory developments, and expanding blockchain applications strengthen Ethereum’s position throughout the remainder of 2026.

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