Metals Shine Bright as Investors Bet Against the US Market
In 2025, gold and silver became the talk of the town for many investors. With the US market feeling shaky, people like Jeremy Cerza, a 45-year-old investor, started moving their money from stocks to these precious metals. Cerza, who isn't a market expert, plans to invest around $20,000 in gold and silver if the S&P 500 drops more than 1% for five days straight.
The Trend Gains Momentum
The trend of investing in metals gained momentum in the second half of 2025. Concerns about inflation, tariffs, and the strength of the US economy drove more people to buy gold and silver. This rush led to a significant increase in their prices, with gold up by 73% and silver soaring by 194% since the start of the year.
Retail Investors Pouring In
Retail investors were pouring money into these metals daily. On average, they invested a net of $15 million in gold and $7 million in silver each day, according to VandaTrack Research. Online chatter about gold and silver also picked up, with these metals becoming popular topics on investment forums like r/WallStreetBets.
Individual Investors' Stories
Bilaal Dhalech started buying gold and silver during the pandemic to protect against inflation. Dhalech has around $10,000 in physical gold and silver and $11,000 invested in gold ETFs. He was surprised to see the rapid increase in their values, comparing it to the volatile world of meme coins.
Jesse Gaddis, who works with precious metals companies, also joined the trend. He started buying metals during the pandemic and now has around $20,000 in physical gold and silver, along with $15,000 in metal ETFs. Gaddis sees gold and silver as a way to preserve wealth and acknowledges that the "Sell America" sentiment has driven many investors to these metals.
Bullion Exchanges Sees Surge
Bullion Exchanges, a New York-based retailer, saw a huge surge in interest for gold and silver. The company doubled its clientele in 2025, with long lines forming outside their stores. Many of these customers were buying metals for the first time.
Driving Factors
The rush to buy metals was driven by two main factors. First, influential investors, known as "gold bugs," promoted the idea of owning metals as a hedge against inflation and tariffs. Second, the "Sell America" trend created a fear of missing out (FOMO), driving up the prices of gold and silver.
Skepticism and Caution
However, not everyone is convinced that this rally will last. Jeffrey Christian, a commodities expert, believes that gold could drop by up to 9% and silver by up to 31% if the hype fades. Some investors, like Gaddis, have already started taking profits by selling part of their metal ETFs.
