At the WebX 2026 event in Tokyo on July 13, Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee outlined several macroeconomic and technological factors poised to shape the cryptocurrency landscape in 2026. Speaking at the conference hosted by Coinpost, Lee emphasized U.S. monetary policy, the potential passage of the Clarity Act, artificial intelligence-driven fear of missing out (FOMO), and capital inflows into AI as critical themes for the year ahead.
Lee also noted the financial sector’s unusually weak performance relative to other industries and argued that Ethereum is currently undervalued. In a speech titled “Ethereum: The Cure for the Wealth Uncanny Valley,” he compared Ethereum’s price trajectory to that of the S&P 500 following the 1987 market crash, suggesting the asset is at a bottom and primed for upward movement.
According to Lee, many investors fixate on Ethereum’s low prices while overlooking its fundamental value. He pointed to growing institutional adoption as a key reason Wall Street increasingly favors Ethereum. As evidence of ecosystem momentum, Lee cited the recent launch of Robinhood Chain—a development he described as significant—while also highlighting what he called exaggerated gas consumption linked to the new platform.