Podcast Summary: "Is Silver's Sudden Surge Just the Beginning?"
Podcast: Rebel News Podcast (Real Money Show)
Date: January 24, 2026
Host: Jeremy Wiseman
Guest: Jerry Coraya
Episode Overview
In this episode, Jeremy Wiseman and Jerry Coraya dive into the recent explosive surge in silver prices—up 34% just weeks into the year—and unpack whether this signals a lasting paradigm shift in precious metals. The conversation explores the collapse of the paper silver market, mounting global demand for physical bullion, the strategic value of gold and silver as collateral, and real-world maneuvers by governments and industries to secure these assets. Thoughtful skepticism is given to widespread misinformation and technical barriers facing individual investors.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Collapse of the Paper Silver Market
- Paper vs. Physical: The longstanding price control on silver via paper trading (COMEX/LBMA) is now under siege as over $2 billion in silver has been taken off exchanges in just six weeks.
- Implication: This marks a "structural issue," signaling that real, physical ownership is becoming the dominant force pricing silver.
- Quote:
"The paper market that has been controlling the price of silver for decades is collapsing. It's now being trumped by physical precious metals." – Jeremy [00:36]
- Quote:
2. Collateral is King: Gold & Silver's Renewed Status
- Theme for the Next Two Years: The word "collateral" will be central, as countries and institutions return to using gold and silver as the base for economic confidence—shifting back from digital and paper financialization.
- Systemic Change:
- Gold/silver seen as the world’s true collateral; their removal from exchanges underlines a flight to real assets.
- Quote:
"We're moving away from that big one world style, one world government, back to mercantilism, building of things. So the reshoring of physical gold and silver is happening." – Jerry [04:49]
3. Scarcity & Supply-Side Squeeze
- Critical Minerals: The U.S. designates silver as a critical mineral, meaning strategic government interest in securing supply lines.
- Chinese Export Restrictions: As of January 1st, China has heavily restricted silver exports, keeping more supply within domestic borders. In 2025, China had record exports, which have now halted.
- Quote:
"China has now restricted exports on physical silver... Gone. That's no longer coming to global markets. It's going to stay domestically in China, which means supplies just got that much tighter." – Jeremy [07:43]
- Quote:
- Manufacturing Reshoring: U.S. investment in new facilities (e.g., $7.4 billion smelter in Tennessee) is a sign of sustained governmental interest—but these take years to come online, exacerbating short-term scarcity.
4. Industrial Demand & the Future Tech Boom
- Industrial Uses: Silver demand is expected to soar as technology (EVs, electronics, solar, AI, etc.) accelerates. Corporations like Samsung are securing multi-year direct contracts with miners.
- Debunking Myths: Claims (especially from online AI personas) that silver is being replaced in industry (e.g., with graphene) are false—industry moves prove otherwise.
- Quote:
"Samsung has secured directly from a mine two years worth of silver to meet their demands. So this totally goes against that the AI Asian guy who says Samsung does not need silver." – Jerry [08:32]
- Quote:
5. The Role of Misinformation and Investor Psychology
- AI & Narrative Control: Listeners are warned about an emerging pattern of misinformation, particularly attributed to anonymous online "AI guys" who both stoke and suppress enthusiasm for silver—often to divert small investors.
- Quote:
“What we've noticed is content with just enough facts and misinformation to give people pause. Why is the main target individual retail investors?” – Jeremy [15:00]
- Quote:
- Fractional Reserve System: The hosts argue that institutions require people's capital in banks for collateral—a monetary regime that holding precious metals undermines.
- Psychological Barriers: Friends and social circles sometimes discourage independent financial moves like buying precious metals; the hosts urge listeners to stay confident.
6. Macro Trends & Bull Market Projections
- Central Bank Moves:
- Poland authorized its central bank to take delivery of 150 tons of gold (worth $23 billion).
- Some U.S. states and institutions (like Wyoming's Reserve) are just beginning to buy physical bullion.
- Bull Market Math:
- Historic projections suggest possible gold prices of $8,000–$10,000/oz in the coming years.
- With a tightening gold/silver ratio, silver could reach $200–$500/oz under extreme conditions though such projections are cautioned against as sole “targets.”
- Quote:
“At $8,000 an ounce, if silver were to maintain a 35–1 ratio, that puts it to $228. At the historical ratio of 16–1, $500 an ounce.” – Jeremy [12:09]
7. Practical Considerations for Investors
- “If you can't hold it, you don't own it.” – a repeated motto.
- Registered Plans: Canadians can now own actual physical bullion in their RRSPs, TFSAs, and LIFs through Guildhall, stored outside the banking system (e.g., at Brinks). The process is robust and insured, despite "fake news" suggesting otherwise.
- Administrative Hurdles: Transfer and withdrawal times for registered accounts can be slow; new investors should be persistent when facing pushback from banks and institutions.
- Taxation: They plan a future episode on tax implications for taking physical delivery from registered accounts—urging listeners not to view this as a reason not to act.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Physical vs. Paper Silver:
"If you have all of this paper and you’re using it to push the price down, you’re getting a compression in the price of silver. For decades we didn’t really know what the actual price of silver should be.” – Jeremy [03:38]
-
On Industrial Demand:
“Most of the industries require silver. If you look to the demand from Samsung... that's been debunked by the way. Be careful of what you're taking in from this AI guy. Take it from real guys over here.” – Jerry [08:32]
-
On Inflation and Currency:
“You can't trust that CPI. The CP lie at 2, 3%. I suggest maybe it's around 12 to 13% inflation.” – Jerry [12:38]
-
On Social Pressures:
“A lot of precious metals owners are independent thinkers. It takes a lot to say, look, you can call me a gold bug and I’m still gonna own this stuff.” – Jeremy [20:33]
Important Timestamps
- 00:36 – Introduction, paper market collapse, silver up 34%, gold up 13%
- 01:25 – The shift from London pricing; gold and silver as world collateral
- 03:38 – Paper market’s role in price compression; collapse leads to price discovery
- 04:49 – Global economic shift: from globalization back to mercantilism and reshoring
- 07:43 – U.S. adds silver to critical minerals; China restricts silver exports
- 08:32 – Samsung signs direct mine contracts for silver; industrial demand reality check
- 12:09 – Bull market scenarios: gold to $8,000–$10,000, silver potentially up to $500/oz
- 15:00 – Misinformation and public doubt; narrative tactics targeting individual investors
- 20:33 – Social and psychological factors in investing in precious metals
- 22:24 – The new paradigm: collateral, not digital finance; states starting to accumulate gold
- 24:59 – Guidance for Canadian investors: buying and storing physical metals, administrative hurdles
- 25:56 – Dispelling fears about insured storage, new account setup, and “fake news”
- 28:23 – The history of Guildhall’s work to enable direct physical bullion ownership in RRSPs
Closing Thoughts
The episode stresses that the physical silver (and gold) bull market isn't just a price blip—it’s a reflection of a foundational shift: from a paper-based, globally financialized system to one favoring real, tangible collateral and supply security. Listeners are encouraged to act independently, carefully filter information, and consider the structural forces favoring physical precious metals. While bullish targets excite, practical investing realities—storage, taxation, and dealing with institutions—are front-of-mind for the hosts.
Final Motto:
“If you can’t hold it, you don’t own it.”