tothemoon

Hey everyone, if you’re into precious metals or just love a good market story that’s got my heart pounding, sit down because this silver situation is absolutely wild right now. 😱🪙🔥
It’s December 29, 2025, and reports are flooding in that physical silver in China is trading at massive premiums — some spots pushing effective prices well over $80/oz while global spot hovers around $79. Supply is drying up fast, and it’s feeling like the real-world demand is finally crushing the paper pricing game.
This isn’t just another rally; it feels like the start of something huge. Let me share why I’m so excited (and a bit nervous) about what’s happening with silver — the disconnect is growing, the squeeze feels real, and the great shift might just be beginning.
My First Encounter with Silver: The Underdog Metal That Stole My Heart ❤️
I’ve been in precious metals for years, starting with gold because it’s the “king.” But silver? Silver was always the scrappy underdog — cheaper, more volatile, used in everything from jewelry to industry. I remember buying my first silver coins back in the early 2020s when prices were depressed around $20–25/oz. I stacked a little, thinking it was a fun side play to gold.
Then 2024–2025 happened. Silver started waking up. Industrial demand exploded with solar panels, EVs, electronics — all needing silver’s unmatched conductivity. I watched prices climb from $29 at the start of 2025 to records above $79 now. It’s been an emotional rollercoaster: excitement when it pumps, fear during dips, but always that hope that silver would finally get its moment.
And now? Reports from China have me glued to my screen. Physical silver shortages, premiums spiking — this feels different. Real scarcity, not just speculation.
What’s Happening in China Right Now: The Physical Supply Crunch 🇨🇳🪙
Late December 2025 reports show Shanghai physical silver trading at sharp premiums — up to $8+ over COMEX futures in some cases, with spot closing around $78–82/oz locally while global benchmarks lag. Inventories on Chinese exchanges hit multi-year lows, backwardation kicking in (spot higher than futures — classic tightness sign).
China consumes over 50% of global silver, mostly industrial: solar (exploding with green energy push), EVs (Tesla and others needing it for batteries/electronics), 5G, medical devices. Demand is insatiable, but supply? Mines can’t ramp fast enough, recycling limited, and now export restrictions loom from January 2026 — licenses required, small exporters blocked.
This isn’t hype; it’s structural. Physical buyers in China are bidding aggressively because they need the metal NOW. Paper markets (COMEX, London) still dominate pricing, but the disconnect is growing wider every day. When physical demand crushes paper supply… that’s when squeezes happen.
The Disconnect: Paper Pricing vs Real-World Scarcity ⚡
For years, silver prices have been suppressed by paper contracts — endless futures trading keeping spot low while physical quietly disappears into industry (silver gets “consumed,” unlike gold). But 2025 changed everything: deficits for 5+ years, inventories plunging, China front-loading exports before curbs.
Now, the gap is exploding. Shanghai premiums signal Asian buyers don’t care about Western paper prices — they’ll pay what it takes for deliverable bars. If this spreads globally, COMEX deliveries could get stressed, forcing prices higher to ration supply.
Elon Musk even commented: “This is not good” — silver critical for Tesla’s processes. When billionaires notice, you know it’s real.
Why the Squeeze Feels So Real This Time 🔥
This isn’t the 2021 Reddit squeeze (fun but short-lived). This is fundamental:
Industrial boom: Solar alone could consume record ounces in 2026. EVs, AI hardware — silver irreplaceable.Supply constraints: Mining output flat, major producers (Peru, Mexico) struggling.Geopolitical shift: China prioritizing domestic needs, export licenses blocking flow.Investment inflow: Safe-haven buying amid uncertainty, ETFs loading up.
Global deficits projected 100M+ ounces again in 2026. If physical tightness pulls pricing from East to West… $100/oz isn’t crazy — some analysts calling it inevitable.
The Great Shift: From Undervalued Metal to Supercycle Star? 🚀
Silver has always been gold’s volatile little brother — ratio historically 50–80:1, but now stretching as silver outperforms. Gold up 70% in 2025, silver 150%+. This shift feels monetary: investors waking to silver as inflation hedge + industrial must-have.
If squeeze intensifies, we could see the “great repricing” — physical discovery taking over from paper manipulation. Stacking physical now feels smart — premiums already rising at dealers.
My Personal Take: Excited but Cautious 😎
I’m stacking more silver these days — coins, bars, a bit in ETFs. The thrill of potential $100+ in 2026 gives me goosebumps, but I remember past fakeouts. Only invest what you can hold long-term, diversify, enjoy the ride.
Silver’s waking up… and it won’t wait for skeptics. Are you in the squeeze play?
What’s your 2026 silver target?
$100 breakout 🔥$150 supercycle$200+ moonPullback coming
Share your thoughts below — silver stackers unite! 👇🪙
#SilverSqueeze #Silver #PhysicalSilver #ChinaSilver #Silver100 #Bullish #StackSilver #PreciousMetals #IndustrialDemand #ToTheMoon