If you haven't looked at a precious metals chart lately, you might want to sit down. Silver isn't just "up"—it’s essentially gone parabolic. As of January 17, 2026, the current cost of silver is hovering around $90.88 per ounce.
Think about that for a second. Just a year ago, we were looking at prices in the $30 range. We’ve seen a nearly 200% jump in twelve months. Honestly, it’s the kind of move that makes veteran floor traders at the COMEX rub their eyes in disbelief. While gold usually gets all the headlines, silver has been the absolute Rockstar of the portfolio lately, outperforming almost every major asset class.
What’s Actually Driving the Current Cost of Silver?
It’s easy to just say "inflation" and call it a day, but that's lazy. The real story is a messy, complicated mix of industrial desperation and a massive shift in how people view money.
First, let's talk about the "Green Squeeze." You've likely heard about the push for solar energy and electric vehicles. Well, silver is the secret sauce for both. It is the most conductive metal on the planet. You can't just swap it out for something cheaper without losing efficiency. In 2025, industrial demand hit its second-highest level in history. We are now in our fifth consecutive year of a structural silver deficit. Basically, we are using way more silver than we are digging out of the ground.
- Solar Panels: These things are silver hogs. As China and Europe ramp up solar installations to meet 2030 climate goals, they are sucking up available supply.
- EV Batteries and Electronics: Your car is becoming a giant rolling computer, and computers need silver for circuitry and high-end battery connections.
- AI Data Centers: This is the new kid on the block. The massive infrastructure needed for AI requires high-performance chips and cooling systems that rely heavily on silver’s unique thermal and electrical properties.
Then you have the geopolitical side. It’s kinda wild out there. With the ongoing tariff wars between the U.S. and China, "resource nationalism" has become the buzzword of 2026. China has started restricting silver exports, treating it as a strategic asset rather than just a commodity. When the world’s biggest producer starts hording, the price only goes one way.
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The Robert Kiyosaki Factor and Retail Mania
You can't talk about silver prices without mentioning the hype. Robert Kiyosaki, the Rich Dad Poor Dad author, has been screaming from the rooftops about silver for decades. He recently celebrated silver crossing the $90 mark and is now predicting it could hit **$107 per ounce** as early as Monday, January 19.
Whether you're a fan of his or not, his influence on retail investors is massive. When he tells millions of people that Tesla is "struggling to secure silver," people run to buy physical coins and ETFs like SLV. This creates a feedback loop. Higher prices lead to more FOMO (fear of missing out), which leads to even higher prices.
Is $100 Silver Inevitable?
Most analysts seem to think so. Experts at Motilal Oswal have set targets that translate to massive gains, and some aggressive forecasts from groups like The Oregon Group suggest even crazier numbers, like $150, if the supply deficit doesn't break.
But let’s be real for a minute.
Markets don't go up in a straight line forever.
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We’ve seen some "backwardation" recently—that’s a fancy finance term meaning the price for immediate delivery is higher than the price for future delivery. It signals that people are desperate for the physical metal right now. However, that kind of vertical move usually invites a correction. If the Federal Reserve decides to pivot and hike rates again to fight this new wave of inflation, the current cost of silver could see a sharp, painful pullback.
Why Paper Silver is Different from Physical Silver
If you walk into a local coin shop today, you aren't going to pay $90.88. You’re going to pay that plus a premium. Because physical silver is so tight, dealers are charging anywhere from $5 to $15 over the spot price for American Silver Eagles or generic rounds.
In places like Shanghai and India, the premium is even higher. There’s a massive arbitrage gap where silver is flowing from the West to the East because the "real" price in Asia is often $10 higher than what we see on the New York screens.
Technical Milestones to Watch
If you’re trading this, keep an eye on these levels:
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- $93.00: This was the recent 52-week high. If we break this decisively, there isn't much "overhead resistance" left until $100.
- $85.00: This is the immediate support floor. If it drops below this, we might see a "margin call" sell-off.
- The Gold/Silver Ratio: This has dropped from 100-to-1 last year to around 50-to-1 now. Silver is gaining ground on its big brother, gold, at a record pace.
How to Navigate This Volatility
If you're looking to get into silver now, you've missed the easy money at $30, but many believe the "super-cycle" is just getting started.
- Dollar Cost Averaging: Don't bet the farm at $90. Buy a little every week to smooth out the price swings.
- Check the Premiums: If the dealer is asking for a 30% premium over spot, you're getting ripped off. Look for low-premium bars if you're just in it for the metal value.
- Watch the Miners: Stocks like Pan American Silver or First Majestic often move 2x or 3x faster than the metal itself. They are risky, but the rewards can be huge in a bull market.
- Consider Storage: If you buy a lot of physical, don't just keep it under your mattress. Insured vaults or high-quality home safes are a must at these prices.
The silver market is currently in "price discovery mode." That’s code for "nobody knows where the ceiling is." Between the transition to green energy and the crumbling trust in paper currencies, the white metal has finally found its moment in the sun.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the live COMEX ticker to see if silver has held the $90 support level through the weekend. If you are holding physical bullion, contact a reputable appraiser to update your insurance policy; most people are currently under-insured given that silver has tripled in value over the last year. Finally, review your portfolio's "precious metals' weight"—if silver now makes up more than 20% due to its recent run, it might be time to rebalance.