Arthur Hayes and Tom Lee make a bold prediction: Ethereum may challenge $12,000 by the end of the year, with a potential rise of over 140%.

Despite the recent pullback in Ethereum's price, two prominent figures in the encryption industry—Arthur Hayes and Tom Lee—remain steadfast in their year-end prediction: the price of ETH (ETH) will reach between $10,000 and $12,000. This prediction is based on Ethereum breaking out after a four-year bottoming phase, entering a new price discovery stage rather than a bubble peak. If this prediction comes true, Ethereum will have an upside potential of up to 142% based on the current price (around $4,129). Although historical data shows that Ethereum's average rise in the fourth quarter is only 21.36%, both analysts believe that the technical structure and investor interest are sufficient to support a strong rebound.

Strong Bullish Expectations from Two Crypto Giants

Against the backdrop of intensified market volatility and low investor sentiment, Tom Lee and Arthur Hayes have once again confirmed their extremely optimistic outlook for Ethereum.

· Target price level and potential rise

Tom Lee shared his outlook on Ethereum's price trajectory on the Bankless podcast, predicting it will rise to a range of $10,000 to $12,000. Arthur Hayes also joined the discussion, stating he would "remain consistent" with a year-end target of $10,000.

Considering that the trading price of ETH at that time was about $4129, if their prediction materializes, it means Ethereum has the potential to rise 142%.

· Breakthrough in the range welcomes new price discovery

Tom Lee explained that this rise is not due to excessive speculation or a "blow off top," but rather the beginning of new price discovery. He pointed out: "Ethereum has essentially been bottoming out for four years, and it has just broken through this range, so for me, this is not a top, but a search for essential price discovery at a new level."

· The confidence that supports a strong rise

Two analysts have maintained a bullish stance throughout the numerous pullbacks in the market over the year. They believe that Ethereum's technical and structural developments, coupled with a rekindling of investor interest, could support a strong pump in the coming months. Lee added that he expects more fundamental progress for Ethereum by 2025, and even reaching $12,000 may not necessarily mark the end of this cycle.

Prudent Comparison of Market Performance and Historical Trends

Despite the passionate predictions of the two giants, historical data and some market observers take a more cautious approach.

· Recent volatility and long-term resilience

Ethereum has been trading in a broad range since its historical high of $4878 in 2021, although it briefly recaptured that level in August before pulling back. Recently, the market experienced a severe correction, with over $19 billion in crypto assets liquidated, and the price of ETH fell from around $4350 to about $4100. Nevertheless, according to CoinMarketCap data, ETH has still risen by over 57% in the past year.

· The historical average rise is relatively conservative.

According to data from CoinGlass, Ethereum has an average rise of 21.36% in the fourth quarter since 2016. Based on this historical average, the closing price of ETH at the end of the year may be closer to $5000 rather than $10,000.

Tesseract CEO James Harris's expectations align with this, as he anticipates Ethereum will reach about 6500 USD by the end of the year, considering it a more achievable target.

· Technical analysts see entry opportunities

Other analysts see the recent price weakness as an opportunity. Michaël van de Poppe, founder of MN Capital, pointed out that the ETH/BTC trading pair fell to 0.032, which is an "ideal buying area." He added that if the trading pair can establish a higher low, Ethereum is likely to move towards new highs.

Conclusion

Arthur Hayes and Tom Lee's prediction of 10,000 USD for Ether represents the most aggressive bullish sentiment in the market. Their confidence is based on the structural breakthrough after Ethereum's long-term bottoming, as well as expectations for fundamental advancements in the network. Although historical data warns that a 142% year-end rise may be too aggressive, the firm stance of these two crypto giants undoubtedly provides a strong narrative for the market to seek direction amid volatility. If this target is achieved, it would mark the beginning of a new strong cycle for Ethereum and the broader digital asset market.

This article is for news information and does not constitute any investment advice. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and investors should make cautious decisions.