Silver is retail traders' new obsession as record numbers bet on rally
The iShares Silver Trust, or SLV, saw its largest ever flood of new cash from individual investors.
TL;DR
- Retail investors have invested approximately $171 million net into the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) on a single day, the largest inflow recorded.
- Silver's rally has driven the SLV ETF up over 52% in 2026 and nearly 145% last year.
- Silver has surpassed technology stocks as the primary focus of retail trading enthusiasm.
- Trading momentum in silver is higher than in Nvidia, indicating a more intense retail "chase."
- Interest in silver is also benefiting mining stocks like Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining.
- Some retail investors are making leveraged bets that silver prices will fall, as indicated by flows into the ProShares UltraShort Silver (ZSL) ETF.
- There's a belief among some investors that silver's surge is a "meme commodity" trade characterized by high volume and volatility, rather than a fundamental shift.