On Monday, retail investors sent approximately $171 million in net funds into the iShares Silver Trust (SLV), marking the largest single-day inflow into the trust, according to market research firm VandaTrack. This inflow is almost double the previous peak recorded during the "silver squeeze" of 2021.
The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) climbed nearly 6% on Monday, helping it achieve a total rally of over 52% in 2026. This follows an impressive advance of nearly 145% last year, showing that silver's appeal is growing among retail investors.
Last week, silver prices topped $100 an ounce for the first time, shifting the focus of retail traders from technology stocks to silver. Vanda analyst Ashwin Bhakre noted that silver has now become the epicenter of retail fervor, even surpassing popular tech stocks like Nvidia, Tesla, and Palantir.
Silver's trading momentum has jumped to 11.55 times its normal level. This is significantly higher than Nvidia's trading momentum of 7.54 times, indicating that the excitement around silver has grown more intense than the classic AI trade.
The heightened interest in silver has also positively impacted mining stocks. Companies like Hecla Mining and Coeur Mining have seen cash inflows more than twice their normal pace, with their shares rising approximately 40% since the beginning of the year.
While retail traders are bullish on silver, they are also making some bearish bets. According to VandaTrack, there has been an unusually high flow of funds into the ProShares UltraShort Silver (ZSL), showing that many investors are betting on a potential crash in silver prices. Bhakre mentioned that retail investors are not only looking to play a squeeze on precious metal prices but are also "structurally repositioning" for a longer-term hard-asset cycle.
As retail investors continue to pour money into silver, the market dynamics are shifting. With record inflows and soaring prices, silver is set to be a key focus for retail traders in the upcoming months. The dual approach of betting on both the rise and potential fall of silver adds an intriguing layer to this evolving market.
