Emre Yumlu 
The long-debated flippening — the idea that Ethereum could surpass Bitcoin in market capitalization — has resurfaced. BitMine’s chairman Tom Lee believes Ethereum could eventually outgrow Bitcoin’s dominance, comparing the potential shift to how Wall Street overtook gold after 1971.
“Ethereum Could Surpass Bitcoin Like Wall Street Surpassed Gold”
In a recent discussion with ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood, Tom Lee referred to the moment in 1971 when U.S. President Richard Nixon ended the gold standard, an event widely known as the Nixon Shock. According to Lee, this decision made the U.S. dollar “fully synthetic,” allowing it to dominate global financial markets.
Drawing a parallel with Ethereum’s evolution, Lee explained:
“Ethereum could overtake Bitcoin just like Wall Street and equities replaced gold. The post-1971 rise of the dollar could be a similar opportunity for Ethereum today.”
Currently, Bitcoin’s market capitalization stands at around $2.17 trillion, while Ethereum’s is approximately $476 billion — meaning Bitcoin remains about 4.6 times larger. Yet, Lee argues that Ethereum’s growing role in decentralized finance and tokenization could close this gap over time.
The Theory Behind Ethereum’s Potential Rise
Lee suggests that Ethereum’s advantage will grow as tokenization of real-world assets accelerates. He draws comparisons with the dollar’s transformation in the 1970s:
“The dollar’s dominance grew from 27% of global GDP to 57% of central bank reserves. A similar opportunity now exists for Ethereum.”
According to Lee, the increasing tokenization of stablecoins, stocks, and real estate will expand Ethereum’s utility and strengthen its position within global finance.
The Flippening Debate Gains Momentum Again
The possibility of Ethereum surpassing Bitcoin has been a recurring theme for years, but recent comments have reignited the conversation. ConsenSys founder Joseph Lubin recently claimed that Ethereum could “grow 100x and surpass Bitcoin as a monetary base.” Meanwhile, Bitcoin advocate Samson Mow countered, arguing that investors would eventually rotate back into Bitcoin once ETH’s price peaks.
Lee, however, remains balanced in his outlook, concluding:
“Ethereum’s rise is still a working theory, but I remain optimistic about both assets.”
As the digital economy evolves, the comparison between Ethereum and Bitcoin mirrors the historical transformation of money itself — a new era where blockchain may play the role once held by gold and the dollar.
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