- Silver price rose by more than 140% in 2025, beating gold's 35% gain
- Industrial demand for silver has jumped, propelled by not only green energy transition an EVs, but also AI data center demand
- Gold price will likely stay up this year, but gains are likely to be modest
After silver’s impressive run last year, some investors are wondering if it can keep up the pace in 2026. Prices jumped 144% in 2025, closing around $70 per ounce, which leads to the question of sustainability.
Why Silver Could Replay 2025 Performance
Silver did better than gold, jumping 144% compared to gold’s 65%. This was because mines produced less silver, but industries needed more for solar energy and electric cars. Some people worry about a bubble, but experts think this is a lasting shift because there isn’t enough silver to meet demand. This shortage has been going on for five years now and some forecasts show that this could be the year silver price will reach $100 per ounce.
Data from Nasdaq and Gartner says that things like solar panel setups and the move to electric vehicles are using up silver faster than mines can produce. Plus, the growing interest in AI is creating even more demand.
Servers used for AI need a lot more silver in their parts because it conducts electricity well compared to regular hardware. Because silver often accounts for only a fraction of the cost of a multi-billion-dollar data center, industrial buyers are “price-insensitive,” meaning they will keep buying even if prices reach triple digits.
Is It Too Late to Buy Silver?
With the price around $78, you might wonder if it’s too late to buy silver if you missed the initial jump above $30 in early 2025. Although prices have already risen, there’s still potential for more gains. Keep in mind that corrections are possible after such growth, so investors should consider dips as chances to buy, balancing risks with long-term rewards.
Silver vs Gold: Which One Will Win in 2026?
When comparing silver and gold, silver seems ready for bigger returns. Gold’s outlook is positive because of ongoing inflation, U.S. deficits, and possible Federal Reserve easing, but experts expect more measured gains. However, geopolitical crisis in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine seem to be approaching resolution, and that could take away some of gold’s safe haven appeal.
Meanwhile, silver has demand from both safe haven investors and industry, which gives it an edge. Solar panels, EVs, and AI use over 60% of supply, which will probably worsen a supply shortage for the sixth year. China’s export limits and mine issues, as reported by Yahoo Finance, are making the physical markets even tighter.
One thing to watch is the gold-to-silver ratio. It fell from 87:1 to about 64:1 in late 2025 but is still higher than the historical average of 40:1. If this ratio keeps getting smaller, silver will naturally increase more than gold, making it the better option for growth.
Silver Price Prediction Today
Silver is currently in a price discovery phase after breaking past the decade-long $50 resistance. The RSI is at 68, showing positive momentum without being overbought. The next resistance is at the upper Bollinger Band level of $80.69, with a clear path to retest all-time highs of $88 if the buying momentum continues. Breaching that mark could see it target the psychological $90 mark. On the downside, initial support is at the middle Bollinger Band at $68.60. If it falls below this, it could drop back to the $61.75 mark which is within the recent accumulation zone.
Silver price daily chart with key support and resistance levels created on TradingView on January 6, 2026
Shrinking production and industrial demand from solar and EVs causing a 144% increase that beat gold because there wasn’t enough silver to go around.
Not necessarily. Some analysts forecast that silver could go over $100, so buying when prices drop could pay off. But be careful, the price has already gone up significantly, so it might be risky.
A primary disruptor would be the Federal Reserve returning to a high-interest-rate posture. Also, if factories around the world slow down or if mines produce extra silver while mining for copper and zinc, that could ease the shortage and lower prices.