I just noticed that silver is an asset that is gaining increasing attention, not because it is "the gold of the poor" anymore, but because the fundamental factors have changed completely.

What’s interesting is that silver is a metal with a long history. Humans have used it as a medium of exchange for nearly 4,000 years, from ancient times until the 16th century when Spain made it the world's first widely accepted currency across all continents. Although its role as money ended in 1935, its value has never disappeared.

What has changed is that silver now plays a new role in the tech era. It has properties that gold does not—being the best conductor of electricity and heat, reflecting light highly, being antibacterial, and highly flexible. These characteristics make it an essential component in solar panels, electric vehicles, electronics, 5G, and AI systems.

According to the World Silver Survey 2025 report, the silver market is experiencing a structural deficit for the fourth consecutive year. Industrial demand hit a record high of 680.5 million ounces, accounting for 59 percent of total demand, but supply cannot keep up. The gap between global demand and production is a perfect storm that many analysts believe will push prices significantly higher.

Compared to gold, the silver market is much smaller—about $2.7 trillion versus $30 trillion for gold. This means that capital inflows can have a more dramatic impact on prices, and silver's price volatility is 2-3 times higher than gold. Yes, it’s a double-edged sword, but in a bull market, it tends to surge faster than gold.

The Gold/Silver Ratio remains high at around 84:1, indicating that the market has not fully priced in the fundamental factors of silver. The opportunity still exists.

There are many ways to invest. You can buy physical silver in bars or coins through leading precious metals dealers, but you should consider storage and insurance costs. Alternatively, you can invest through mutual funds and mining stocks, which are more liquid. Another option is trading via futures markets like TFEX or using CFDs for those seeking more flexibility and lower capital requirements.

The best part is that silver is more accessible than gold, with a per-ounce price many tens of times lower. Retail investors can start with relatively small capital.

Of course, there are risks. Its high volatility can cause short-term losses, and since over half of the demand comes from industry, prices are more sensitive to economic downturns than gold. However, for investors willing to accept higher risk, current fundamental factors make silver an extremely attractive growth investment option.

Ultimately, silver is an asset that should not be overlooked, especially if you are looking for opportunities to generate better returns than gold.