#How has silver performed in 2026?
Silver has shown impressive growth in 2026, gaining 14% year-to-date. The metal experienced a significant rise of over 6% in a single day, with prices surpassing the $81 mark. This upward movement has been bolstered by geopolitical developments, notably the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, which heightened demand for safe-haven assets like silver.
In the previous year, 2025, silver surged by an extraordinary 145%. It reached an all-time high nearing $84 before retreating to $71 by the year’s close. The resurgence at the outset of this year can be attributed to ongoing geopolitical instability and macroeconomic factors that favor hard assets.
#What does silver's market cap indicate about its status?
This latest rally has propelled silver’s market capitalization to approximately $4.5 trillion, positioning it just under Nvidia at around $4.6 trillion, according to the Companies Market Cap database. As investor sentiment shifts towards hard assets for both protection and preservation of purchasing power, it is possible that silver could soon surpass Nvidia, solidifying its place as the second-largest global asset following gold.