Silver Surges Past $101 as Single Investor Controls 1.5% of Global Supply – Is This the Start of a Monetary Collapse?
- The $1 Billion Silver Bet: Who Is Behind This Move?
- Why Silver’s Rally Could Be Different This Time
- The Anti-Crypto, Pro-Hard Assets Argument
- Historical Parallels: Buffett’s Silver Play vs. Today
- FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
In a stunning move, an anonymous investor has amassed 12.69 million ounces of physical silver—equivalent to 1.5% of the world’s annual supply—sparking a frenzy in precious metals markets. With gold hitting $5,000/oz and silver rallying over 250%, analysts warn of an impending monetary reset. This article dives into the investor’s bold claims, the industrial demand driving prices, and why cryptocurrencies might be "musical chairs" in this high-stakes game.
The $1 Billion Silver Bet: Who Is Behind This Move?
In October 2024, a mysterious figure named "David" began aggressively accumulating physical silver, bypassing ETFs and leverage. By 2026, his holdings reached 12.69 million ounces—worth nearly $1 billion at current prices. For context, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway once held 129.7 million ounces before selling in 2006 for massive profits. David’s public statements on X (formerly Twitter) suggest he expects a global financial collapse, citing:
- $28 trillion in maturing U.S. Treasury debt by 2028
- The "Great Reset" and Basel III reforms destabilizing banks
- Trump-era tariffs accelerating inflation
he wrote.
Why Silver’s Rally Could Be Different This Time
Unlike past speculative bubbles, this surge ties to tangible factors:
| Driver | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Solar panel demand | Peaking in 2025 (uses 20% of annual supply) | Bank of America |
| Gold-silver ratio | Fell from 105:1 to 50:1 since April 2026 | LSEG Data |
| Industrial shortages | 2026 deficit forecast: 142 million ounces | StoneX Group |
Rhona O’Connell of StoneX cautions:
The Anti-Crypto, Pro-Hard Assets Argument
David’s controversial stance extends beyond metals. After being ousted from Entrata’s board in 2022 for COVID conspiracy theories, he doubled down on fringe economic views:
"Central banks will print exponentially to avoid default. Real estate, stocks, and bonds are traps. My 20% gains on physical metal prove it’s the only ‘no-counterparty-risk’ asset."
Mainstream analysts push back. Michael Widmer (Bank of America) notes silver’s "fair value" is $60/oz, while BTCC’s market team highlights Bitcoin’s 120% YTD gains as a hedge. Still, the gold/silver frenzy continues—up 147% in 2025 and 40% YTD in 2026.
Historical Parallels: Buffett’s Silver Play vs. Today
The last comparable accumulation was Berkshire’s 1990s silver hoard. Key differences:
- Scale: Buffett bought 130M oz (~5% of supply); David holds 12.7M oz.
- Market: 1990s demand was photographic; 2026 is solar/tech-driven.
- Macro: Then, low inflation; now, debt crises loom.
As one Reddit user quipped:
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
How does 1.5% of global silver supply move markets?
With annual mine output at ~800M oz, David’s 12.7M oz equals 1.5%—enough to strain industrial users if withheld from markets.
Are cryptocurrencies really "musical chairs"?
David’s view is extreme, but BTCC data shows crypto’s 30-day volatility (78%) dwarfs silver’s (42%).
What’s the gold-silver ratio telling us?
At 50:1 (vs. historical 70:1), silver looks undervalued—if gold holds $5,000, $100 silver seems plausible.
