I just realized something that many people tend to overlook when discussing precious metal investing—platinum. Most people only think of gold, but what exactly is platinum, and why is it worth paying attention to?

Platinum (bạch kim) is one of the rarest elements on Earth, with only about 0.005mg/kg in the earth’s crust. It has a gray-white, shiny appearance, is highly durable, and is difficult to oxidize. The great thing about it is that it doesn’t dissolve in common acids; it only dissolves in some special solutions. Around 80% of global platinum production comes from South Africa, and the rest mainly from Russia and Zimbabwe.

Compared with gold and silver, platinum production is far lower—100 times less than silver and 15 times less than gold. So what is platinum, if not a metal with real value? It is widely used in the automotive industry (accounting for more than 50% of demand), high-end jewelry, medicine, and is becoming increasingly important in clean energy industries.

Looking at prices, platinum once reached 2,276 USD per ounce in 2008, but then fell to 593 USD in 2020. Currently (Q2/2026), the price is around 1,150–1,200 USD per ounce. I find that it fluctuates quite strongly, creating big opportunities for those who want to profit from price differences.

What’s interesting is that since 2015, platinum prices have always been lower than gold, even though platinum is actually 15 times rarer. The reason is that gold is seen as a “safe-haven currency” during times of instability, while platinum is viewed as an industrial metal that depends on global supply and demand. When the economy is difficult, people rush into gold; when the economy develops, platinum draws more attention.

Compared with white gold, platinum is about 40–50% more expensive for the same piece of jewelry. But white gold is simply gold alloyed with other metals (70–75% gold), not pure platinum.

I think platinum has good opportunities for several reasons: First, it’s a “hedge” against inflation like gold. Second, mining output is limited and global supply is tight. Third, the green energy trend is creating new demand for platinum in electrolysis machines and fuel cells. Fourth, the price of palladium (another metal used in cars) is twice that of platinum, so manufacturers are starting to replace it with platinum.

Platinum investment is also fairly flexible—you can do it via ETFs, futures contracts, mining company stocks, or CFDs. I prefer CFDs because there’s no need to store physical assets, they offer high leverage, and you can profit from both rising and falling prices.

If we compare platinum with gold: gold is still “king” in terms of liquidity and investor acceptance, but platinum has higher profit potential due to stronger price volatility and growing industrial demand. If you’re looking for safety, gold is the choice. If you want higher risk for higher gains, platinum is the suggestion.

Overall, what is platinum? It’s an investment opportunity that’s been “undervalued” relative to its true value. Especially in the current context—when inflation is still high, geopolitical uncertainty remains, and demand for clean energy is surging—I think short-term investing in platinum could deliver better results than gold. Of course, there are always risks, so you need to manage capital carefully.