
Lee the Captain, a crypto analyst with more than 50,000 subscribers on YouTube, explained why he is leaning toward Cardano (ADA) instead of Ethereum (ETH) right now.
Many investors wonder why someone would favor ADA when ETH has already proven itself as the second-largest cryptocurrency. According to Lee, the reasoning comes down to potential returns, current valuation, and long-term growth opportunities.
Ethereum has already seen a new all-time high in this cycle, which shows its dominance in the market. Lee points out that if ETH were to reach $10,000, it would deliver less than a 3X return from current levels.
Cardano price, on the other hand, has not yet reached a new high in this cycle. If ADA were to climb to $10, Lee calculates that it could be around an 11X move based on its current circulating supply. Even a more modest target of $5 would still deliver a stronger return than ETH at $10,000. This simple math is what makes ADA attractive to him at the moment.

ADA vs ETH: Popularity Does Not Always Equal Opportunity
Lee acknowledges that Ethereum is more popular than Cardano and likely always will be because of its recognition and adoption. That popularity brings stability, but it also limits explosive upside compared to newer networks.
Cardano may not be the biggest player, yet Lee does not see it as a weak blockchain. He notes that Charles Hoskinson, one of the original Ethereum co-founders, built Cardano as a layer 1 designed for efficiency and scalability.
One of Lee’s key points is how the user experience differs between Cardano and Ethereum. Gas fees on Ethereum have long been a challenge, even if layer 2 solutions now help reduce costs. By contrast, ADA transactions remain affordable, and the network’s scalability makes it easier to imagine broader adoption. Lee explains that while ETH benefits from its ecosystem of layer 2s, he personally prefers how Cardano handles scalability on its base layer.
Market Cap Comparison Highlights the Gap
Lee uses a market cap comparison to reinforce his point. Ethereum currently sits around $500 billion in value, while a $10 ADA price would put Cardano near $358 billion. In his view, this does not look unrealistic for one of the top layer 1 blockchains.
He also stresses that the market has not yet seen a true altcoin season in this cycle. When that moment comes, coins like ADA could experience sharper moves than ETH, simply because they start from a lower valuation.
Instead of chasing short-term moves, Lee emphasizes dollar cost averaging. His strategy is to accumulate ADA consistently rather than waiting for the perfect chart pattern.
ETH remains strong and widely adopted, but from his perspective, ADA has more room to surprise investors once market momentum shifts. This does not mean ADA is risk-free. It simply means that for him, the risk-to-reward ratio feels more compelling with Cardano right now.
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Lee the Captain makes it clear that he is not claiming Cardano will outperform Ethereum in every way. He respects ETH’s position as the dominant smart contract network.
What he highlights is the potential upside in ADA price compared to ETH price if the next leg of the market cycle favors altcoins. Ethereum may continue to lead in adoption, yet Cardano offers what he sees as a stronger opportunity for growth from today’s levels.
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