Ether climbed to 0.02858 BTC this week, breaking a multi-week resistance line since June and prompting Tom Lee to cite stablecoin growth, tokenization and an 'ETH as money' narrative that could rotate capital from Bitcoin into altcoins. The ETH/BTC ratio remains well below its 2017 peak of 0.15, Lee’s $250,000 ETH target would imply a >25x rise from that peak, and spot ether funds recorded a seven-week outflow streak in late June with ETH still 7.72% lower over three months, leaving the breakout’s sustainability for crypto, DeFi and market adoption uncertain.

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In Brief

Ether (ETH) climbed to 0.02858 BTC, breaking above a multi-week resistance line.
Tom Lee ties the move to stablecoin growth, tokenization, and an ETH as money narrative.
The ratio touched 0.15 only in 2017 and remains far below Lee's long-term targets.

Ether (ETH) climbed to 0.02858 BTC this week, breaking above a resistance level that has held since June. Bitmine chairman Tom Lee called the breakout a signal that crypto is turning a corner.

Lee has tracked this ratio for months as a barometer for the wider market. He argues the move points to a shift that is already underway.

Why Lee Sees a Turning Point

Lee ties the rise to growth in stablecoins, tokenization, and new Ethereum spinoff projects. He also cites falling oil prices and progress on the CLARITY Act as supportive factors.

“There are reasons for ETH/BTC price ratio to rise in 2H2026, in short, ETH is money narrative likely gains traction.”

— Tom Lee, Fundstrat

As 2H 2026 starts, a key ratio is $ETH / $BTC price ratio– given growth in stablecoins, tokenization, new @ethereum spinoffs– these favor this ratio risingmacro should be on balance friendlier– oil declines = less inflation– crypto still a downstream story to AI– Clarity… pic.twitter.com/jzAOUADqv0
— Bitmine (NYSE-BMNR) $ETH (@BitMNR) July 2, 2026

Bitmine has been a big supporter of Ethereum, and kept buying ether through a heavy accumulation phase. Although Lee recently hinted its aggressive accumulation phase is nearing an end. Lee also tied a separate ether selloff earlier this quarter to routine quarter-end window dressing rather than weakening fundamentals.

Traders often treat the ETH/BTC ratio as a proxy for risk appetite across the wider altcoin market. A sustained climb would suggest capital is rotating out of Bitcoin and into higher-beta tokens. That pattern historically accompanies broader alt season rallies.

Come by today for @WebX_Asia at 11:25am at the CYRL Stage at the Prince Park Tower Tokyo 🇯🇵 I will be speaking about the “Uncanny Valley of Wealth” PS: keep an eye 👁️ on $ETH / $BTC ratio. Signal of a revival of crypto https://t.co/jwktsEJQhG pic.twitter.com/oTqMFiFi16
— Thomas (Tom) Lee (not drummer) FundstratDirect.com (@fundstrat) July 13, 2026

The Weaker Story Underneath

The ETH/BTC ratio touched 0.15 only briefly, at its 2017 peak, and has stayed below that level since. Lee’s $250,000 ether target would push the ratio above 25 times that 2017 high, based on current Bitcoin prices.

The pair still sits 7.72% lower over the past three months, even after this week’s bounce. Spot ether funds also posted a seven-week outflow streak in late June, a trend that has only partly reversed.

Whether the breakout holds through 2026 will show if Lee’s revival call was early or simply too soon.

Read the article at BeInCrypto