Thomas Lee: Don't Get Too Focused on Finding the Bottom, Look for Opportunities Amidst Volatility

At the Consensus Hong Kong 2026 event, Thomas Lee – Fundstrat’s Chief Investment Officer and Chairman of Ether fund management company BitMine Immersion (BMNR) – delivered a noteworthy message to crypto investors: instead of trying to catch the market bottom, start looking for opportunities to deploy capital. “Think About Opportunities Instead of Selling Off” According to Lee, the common psychology during sharp corrections is to wait for a “perfect bottom” before taking action. However, he believes this approach often causes investors to miss out on important accumulation phases. “You should think about the opportunities at this time rather than panic selling,” he emphasized. Bitcoin has now fallen about 50% from its all-time high set in October, marking the deepest correction since 2022. In the latest trading session, BTC dropped below $67,000, down 2.8% in 24 hours after rallying from around $60,000 to over $72,000 last week. Ethereum has also faced selling pressure, falling to around $1,950, a loss of about 3%. The Causes Behind the Weakness Thomas Lee believes that the recent weakness in the crypto market is not due to intrinsic factors but is influenced by sharp volatility in the metals market, especially gold. At the end of January, gold’s market capitalization fluctuated by trillions of dollars in a single day, triggering widespread margin calls and putting selling pressure on risky assets, including cryptocurrencies. He notes that in 2025, Bitcoin underperformed gold, but this situation could reverse. According to Lee, gold likely peaked this year, and Bitcoin could enter a stronger phase in 2026. Ethereum and the “Perfect Bottom” For Ethereum, Lee reiterates a cyclical characteristic: since 2018, each roughly 50% decline in ETH has often been followed by very strong recoveries. Citing technical analyst Tom DeMark, he suggests ETH may need to dip slightly below $1,800 to form a “perfected bottom” before entering a more sustainable recovery phase. This implies that the market may still experience short-term volatility, but in the medium to long term, the cycle structure remains intact. Strategic Perspective: Accumulate or Wait? Thomas Lee’s core message is: The market is in a deep correction phase. Macroeconomic volatility is creating short-term pressure. But this could also be a strategic accumulation zone for the next cycle. With Bitcoin down 50% and Ethereum retreating to a key price zone, waiting for “perfect confirmation” might cause investors to miss the opportunity to rebalance their portfolios at attractive levels. Of course, risks still exist, especially if ETH drops below $1,800 or BTC loses key support levels. However, Lee argues that markets often reward those who dare to act when fear is at its peak. Conclusion Thomas Lee’s speech at Consensus Hong Kong 2026 is not a declaration that the market has bottomed, but a reminder about investment mindset: Don’t obsess over catching the exact bottom – focus on probabilities and long-term opportunities. In previous cycles, correction phases of 40–60% often laid the foundation for subsequent growth. The question isn’t “where is the bottom?” but “what is your strategy for the next cycle?”