'GameStop in 2026': How silver market has morphed into meme trading

Core Viewpoint - The recent volatility in silver prices has led to comparisons with meme stocks, raising questions about whether silver is trading on fundamentals or behaving like a meme asset [1][2]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Silver prices have surged dramatically, with spot silver advancing nearly 4% to $4,852.76 per ounce and silver futures rising over 9% to $84 per ounce [3]. - Over the past month, silver has experienced 10 price movements of 5% or more in either direction, indicating significant volatility [3]. Group 2: Retail Investor Behavior - Individual investors invested approximately $171 million net into the iShares Silver Trust on January 26, nearly double the previous peak during the "silver squeeze" of 2021 [3]. - Retail enthusiasm for silver has been likened to the behavior seen in meme stocks, with a growing community on platforms like Reddit actively discussing and promoting silver investments [4]. Group 3: Market Sentiment - Market strategist Michael Antonelli highlighted the disconnect between silver's price movements and traditional valuation models, suggesting that retail trading behavior is driving the current market dynamics [2]. - The narrative surrounding silver has gained traction among retail traders, indicating a shift in market sentiment that resembles the "zeitgeist" seen in previous meme stock phenomena [2].