Silver has pushed into a strong new phase, with prices climbing to multi-decade highs near $79 per ounce. Year to date, the metal is up more than 150%, and this move hasn’t come out of nowhere. Tight supply conditions and fast-growing demand from technology-driven sectors are finally colliding in a way the market can’t ignore.
Market Snapshot
The latest run has lifted silver’s total market value to roughly $4.04 trillion, putting it among the world’s most valuable assets. Investor interest is clearly picking up as well. Inflows into silver-backed ETFs have reached record levels, pushing total holdings to about 1.13 billion ounces.
Silver is also starting to outperform gold on a relative basis. The gold-to-silver ratio has dropped to 68, which lines up with its long-term average and suggests silver is gaining the upper hand after years of lagging behind.
Technical Structure and Price Action
From a chart perspective, silver’s breakout above $54.50 was a key moment. Once that level gave way, prices accelerated quickly. The next big psychological level traders are watching is $100.
That said, momentum is running hot. The RSI has moved above 70, which often signals that prices may need time to cool off. Strong support now sits in the $54–$55 range, and holding above that zone would help establish a higher long-term base. Even with near-term overheating, the broader chart setup still looks constructive, with 2026 price expectations clustering between $68 and $78.
What’s Driving the Move
The biggest factor behind silver’s strength is a structural supply shortfall. Current estimates suggest 2025 could mark the fifth to seventh straight year of deficits, with shortages ranging from 95 to 117 million ounces.
Demand remains just as important. About 60% of silver usage is industrial, tied to solar panels, electric vehicles, and growing AI infrastructure. On top of that, U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts have improved the appeal of non-yielding assets, bringing more investors back to silver.
Risks to Keep in Mind
The main risk in the near term is a technical pullback after such a steep run. There’s also the possibility that a sharp global slowdown could temporarily hit industrial demand. Even so, those risks sit against a backdrop of tight supply and strong long-term fundamentals.
Overall, silver’s rally looks less like a speculative spike and more like the result of long-building pressure finally being released.
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