Tom Lee Confirms VIX Spike as Market Bottom Signal After 36% Rally

Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee told CNBC that the recent decline in the market is actually a healthy correction, and that a VIX explosion usually has been a sign of hitting bottom. On October 10, 2025, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) increased by 25.68% to 20.65, the most notable daily gain of the index in more than half a year. Lee noted that this spike is mostly observed to correlate with the periods of market stabilization, as opposed to long-term downfalls.

Market Rights itself After 36%

According to Lee, the recent sell-off was long overdue, since the U.S. stock market had increased by 36 percent since the lows in April. Dow was down 1.31 percent, and NASDAQ crashed by 2.54 percent, which underscores the prevalent selling of profit in the market following six months of steady growth. The so-called fear gauge of Wall Street, VIX, has traditionally been on its peak at short-term market lows. Lee quoted this information saying that the current volatility resembles a reset rather than a failure. He has observed that the present 20.65 reading although high is nowhere close to the level of a crisis experienced during past market shocks.

Long-term Market Drivers

Lee repeated that the market was resilient due to three underlying structural forces, including the boom of AI innovation, the increasing adoption of blockchain by Wall Street, and the loosening cycle of the Federal Reserve. Fed started with the reduction of rates earlier in 2025 to increase liquidity and growth, whereas AI-driven stocks such as NVIDIA and Microsoft hold market expectations steady despite temporary declines.

Although there was a decrease in S&P 500 by 1.89%, Lee referred to the action as healthy market flush. He also stated that there should be an absence of a structural disruption; otherwise, a geopolitical crisis or radical change in policy, the correction will provide a new buying window. Lee said that markets require these resets. They clean out over leverage and regain momentum.

Analysts Favor Lee on Stability of Market

Analysts observe that a 20% and above spike in VIX on a single day results in an average positive one-month forward payoff of the S4P 500. This statistical threat can be used by Lee to prove his position that the current volatility is probably just an interim bottom. Analysts with an interest in blockchains also shared the same view and mentioned that AI and digital asset markets are still in the core.