Lee described the latest wave of tokenization activity as a turning point for Ethereum. He said large financial institutions building on the network now represent “the venerable and elite of Wall Street.”
His comments followed news that Amundi, Europe’s largest asset manager, launched a tokenized fund on public Ethereum. The firm did not seek permission from ecosystem leaders before deploying, according to Ethereum Foundation ecosystem lead James Smith.
Smith noted that Amundi manages more assets than Fidelity’s asset management arm and PIMCO. He stressed that the group ranks first in Europe and inside the global top ten. Smith also underlined that Amundi chose public Ethereum instead of a permissioned chain.
BlackRock and Franklin Templeton have taken similar steps by issuing tokenized products on Ethereum. These moves helped strengthen the narrative that the network has become the preferred venue for real-world asset tokenization. Lee believes this institutional trend lays important groundwork for future gains in the ETH price.
Tom Lee’s Ethereum Price Target Faces Technical Headwinds
Despite steep market losses, Lee expects the current pullback to create room for a strong Ethereum rebound. He projected short-term downside toward $2,500 as minor compared to what he views as potential upside. His base case calls for the Ethereum price to reach $7,000 – $9,000 by late January 2026.