Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$90,250.03, down by 2.6 percent over 24 hours. It has extended its bullish tone this week as markets absorbed the US Federal Reserve’s interest latest rate cut and reassessed risk sentiment across assets.

Bitcoin price performance, December 12, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

The Fed has now cut rates three times in three months, bringing the target range down to 3.5 to 3.75 percent.

Bitcoin dipped to US$89,000 to US$90,000 lows at the US market open, echoing post-Fed pullback patterns noted by Santiment across all three cuts since September.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$3,084.18, down by 5 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$2, down by 2.1 percent over 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$131.52, down by 4.2 percent over 24 hours.

Fear and Greed Index snapshot

Open interest eased, while US$3.1 million Bitcoin and US$3.92 million Ether long liquidations signaled deleveraging. A neutral relative strength index and low funding rates kept positioning balanced post-expiry.

CMC’s Crypto Fear & Greed Index continues to hold firm in fear territory, remaining firmly risk-averse on Friday and staying at 29 for a second consecutive day. Despite Bitcoin’s recent upward trend and stabilization at the US$92,000 mark, investors continue to exercise caution after a volatile fourth quarter, reinforcing the view that traders remain reluctant to take on aggressive positions despite improved liquidity conditions elsewhere.

CMC Crypto Fear and Greed Index, Bitcoin price and Bitcoin volume.

Chart via CoinMarketCap.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bessent prepares policy shift on crypto regulation

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent is preparing a major policy letter that would direct the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) away from its post-2008 focus on tightening rules and toward re-evaluating whether existing regulations hinder growth. The draft letter, obtained by CNBC, says the FSOC will begin assessing whether certain oversight measures “impose undue burdens” that may undermine stability by limiting innovation.

The FSOC, originally created to prevent another financial collapse, coordinates oversight between the Fed, the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and other agencies.

If finalized, the policy would empower agencies to roll back or revise rules deemed outdated or overly restrictive.

OCC approves US trust bank approvals

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved national trust bank charters for Circle’s (NYSE:CRCL) First National Digital Currency Bank and the Ripple National Trust Bank. The OCC also endorsed transitions for existing state charters held by Paxos Trust Company, BitGo Bank & Trust and Fidelity Digital Assets.

With these approvals, the firms can now operate nationwide under federal oversight, enhancing stablecoin issuance and digital asset services like custody.

Pakistan clears Binance and HTX to begin licensing process

Pakistan has granted initial clearance for Binance and HTX to set up local subsidiaries and begin preparing applications for full digital asset exchange licences.

The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority issued “no objection certificates” after reviewing each platform’s governance, compliance structures and risk controls, though the approvals stop short of permitting trading activity.

The certificates also allow both companies to register on Pakistan’s anti-money-laundering system and begin establishing regulated local entities ahead of a forthcoming licensing regime.

Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chair Bilal bin Saqib said the phased model will admit only platforms that meet strict global standards on anti-money-laundering and counter-terror financing.

Pakistan, one of the world’s largest crypto markets by retail activity, is simultaneously developing a Virtual Assets Act, while coordinating with US-based World Liberty Financial on digital infrastructure proposals.

Phantom integrates Kalshi prediction market

Phantom has integrated Kalshi’s regulated prediction markets, allowing in-app trading on events like elections, sports, crypto trends and macroeconomics using Solana or its CASH stablecoin.

Users can access live odds, notifications, tokenized positions and community chat without external accounts, leveraging Kalshi’s CFTC oversight and recent high volumes.

Bitcoin and Ether price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$85,873.25, down by 3 percent over 24 hours.

Bitcoin price performance, December 15, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

A bruising bout of weekend volatility pushed Bitcoin to a two week low near US$87,500 amid thin liquidity. Buyers emerged early on Monday to briefly lift prices toward the US$89,500 to 89,700 range, but both DeFi and traditional markets slipped in early trading after Greg Jensen, co-CIO of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates, issued a client note warning that Big Tech’s heavy reliance on external capital for artificial intelligence (AI) investments has entered a “dangerous” phase, amplifying AI bubble fears and exacerbating last week’s tech selloff into Monday.

Bitcoin fell to lows around US$85,400, and the global crypto market cap saw a 24 hour decrease of 3.2 percent.

In a post on X, veteran trader Peter Brandt highlighted that Bitcoin’s advance has fractured after failing to hold support following October highs. He warned that this breakdown could trigger “exponential decay” since each bull cycle has yielded smaller gains. Based on historical precedents, Bitcoin could see a drop to US$25,000.

Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,930.31, down by 5.1 percent over the last 24 hours.

Altcoin price update

• XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.89, down by 5.2 percent over 24 hours.

• Solana (SOL) was trading at US$125.43, down by 3.6 percent over 24 hours.

Crypto derivatives and market indicators

Bitcoin futures open interest rose slightly to US$59.63 billion, while Ether open interest dipped to US$38.2 billion, signaling modest Bitcoin accumulation amid Ether caution.

Heavy long liquidations confirm capitulation selling pressure. Positive funding rates show some bulls hanging on despite pain, but a relative strength index of 27.03 marks extreme fear, historically preceding sharp reversals in crypto.

Elevated Bitcoin funding rates reflect pricier long bias persisting, but decay could accelerate if shorts pile in.

Overall market sentiment skews fearful, with Bitcoin holding firmer than Ether.

Today’s crypto news to know

Strategy expands Bitcoin holdings amid price slump

Michael Saylor’s Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) announced on Monday that it has acquired an additional 10,645 BTC for US$980.3 million, paying an average price of $92,098 per coin.

That brings Strategy’s total holdings to 671,268 BTC. “As of 12/14/2025, we hodl 671,268 $BTC acquired for ~$50.33 billion at ~$74,972 per bitcoin,” the company said in an X post.

JPMorgan launches tokenized money market fund

JPMorgan Chase’s (NYSE:JPM) US$4 trillion asset management arm is launching its first tokenized money market fund, the My OnChain Net Yield Fund, on the public Ethereum blockchain. The fund runs on JPMorgan’s Kinexys platform as a private placement under Rule 506(c), targeting institutions via the Morgan Money trading system.

“Active management and innovation are at the heart of how we deliver new solutions for investors navigating today’s financial landscape,” said George Gatch, CEO of JP Morgan Asset Management. “By harnessing technology alongside our deep expertise in active management, we’re able to provide clients with advanced, innovative, and cost-effective capabilities that help them achieve their investment goals.”

Bitget launches TradFi private beta for traditional assets

Monday saw Bitget announce the private beta launch of Bitget TradFi, a new feature enabling crypto users to open bets on traditional assets using the stablecoin USDT. Fees start at US$0.09 per lot.

Positions will be margined and settled in USDT, eliminating the need for separate brokers or currency conversions, with up to 500x leverage, a tight spread and regulation by Mauritius’ Financial Services Commission.

“The shift in wealth management is happening now, assets that were previously only available on certain niche markets are now on Bitget,’ said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, in the company’s announcement

‘This is historic; crypto, stocks, gold, forex and commodities now coexist under a single system. This is what a universal exchange merging wealth management under a roof looks like; it’s now present-day finance.’

UK moves to place crypto firms under full regulation

UK officials are preparing legislation that would move crypto companies fully inside the country’s financial regulatory framework. According to the Guardian, the plan involves putting crypto service providers under regulation like other financial firms, subject to the Financial Conduct Authority’s rules on consumer protection, governance, transparency and market conduct. Treasury officials say the shift is meant to close longstanding gaps as crypto activity becomes more entwined with mainstream finance rather than operating at the regulatory edges.

Legislation is expected by October 2027 to give firms time to adjust to the more demanding compliance environment.

If enacted, the move would mark a structural change for UK-based crypto startups, which until now have largely operated without full product-level regulation.

HashKey prices Hong Kong IPO at top end at US$206 million

HashKey Holdings, Hong Kong’s largest licensed crypto exchange, is set to raise about US$206 million after pricing its initial public offering near the top of its marketed range, according to a source familiar with the deal.

The company priced shares at 6.68 Hong Kong dollars, valuing the exchange operator as it prepares to debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday (December 17). HashKey operates across trading, asset management, brokerage and tokenization, and runs the city’s biggest regulated crypto exchange.

While Mainland China continues to warn against crypto speculation, Hong Kong has taken the opposite approach, positioning itself as a regulated gateway for digital finance.

North Korean hackers drain wallets using fake online meetings

North Korean cybercrime groups are using fake Zoom (NASDAQ:ZOOM) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Teams meetings to steal crypto, draining more than US$300 million through the tactic so far, according to security researchers.

According to CryptoNews, the scam typically starts with a message from a compromised Telegram account that appears to belong to someone the victim already knows. Victims are then invited to what looks like a legitimate video call, complete with convincing video feeds that are actually pre-recorded footage.

During the call, attackers claim there is an audio problem and send a supposed software “patch” that installs malware. The malware can extract passwords, private keys and internal security data, allowing attackers to empty crypto wallets.

Global crypto thefts have already surpassed US$2 billion this year, with North Korea-linked groups remaining among the most active and sophisticated actors in the space.

Strong reactor growth — not AI hype — to drive long-term demand

In 2024, worldwide uranium production met 90 percent of global demand, with the remaining 10 percent likely made up of stockpiled material. At the same time, global nuclear expansion is accelerating quickly, according to the latest World Nuclear Association outlook. From 398 gigawatts electric (GWe) of installed nuclear capacity this past June, the organization’s reference scenario shows capacity nearly doubling to 746 GWe by 2040.

More aggressive growth could push that figure to 966 GWe, while a slower buildout still reaches 552 GWe.

This rapid growth has major implications for uranium demand.

Reactors are expected to consume about 68,900 metric tons (MT) of uranium in 2025. By 2040, requirements will more than double to just over 150,000 MT in the reference case, and could exceed 204,000 MT in the high-growth scenario. Even the low case sees demand topping 107,000 MT, underscoring the sector’s long-term structural pull on supply.

On that note, Lobo Tiggre, CEO of IndependentSpeculator.com, cautioned investors not to lose sight of uranium’s core driver — dependable, round-the-clock electricity.

“The use case is baseload power,” he said. “There’s no substitution, and the world is building like gangbusters.”

He argued that data center construction and electric vehicle (EV) adoption are just an added boost, not the backbone, and that headlines about AI or data center growth may be distracting from the foundation of the uranium thesis.

“If the EV story completely went away, it wouldn’t undo the thesis for uranium,” Tiggre said. “It would remove a tailwind, not the base story.” And despite political noise in the US, he believes the global shift to EVs remains intact.

He sees AI demand as similar: a powerful tailwind that strengthens the case for nuclear, but doesn’t define it.

When asked how meaningful near-term demand from new reactors and extensions could be — and when utilities will need to accelerate contracting — Gerardo Del Real, publisher at Digest Publishing, didn’t hesitate.

“How material? Very material,” he said.

But he cautioned that utilities remain “the slowest actors, always,” even as long-term contract prices have climbed “US$8 to US$10 above spot.” That contract price, he noted, is the real signal to watch. Because fuel makes up such a small share of a utility’s total operating costs, “they can afford to sign at US$120 or even US$130,” he said — levels that are far more consequential for producers and developers than for reactors themselves.

While some utilities have begun stepping in at higher prices, Del Real said the aggressive contracting many expected a year ago still hasn’t materialized. “I don’t think we’ll really see that until 2026,” he said.

Del Real said the uranium market is being driven by a mix of fundamentals and sentiment, and right now, the psychological lift from the tech boom is hard to ignore. While he doubts every AI-era data center plan will be built, the expert argued that even partial follow-through could massively expand power demand. If tech companies deliver “35 to 50 percent of their promises,” Del Real said, the energy needs would be “absolutely spectacular.”

That surge would hit an already-tightening market. He noted that the uranium sector is on track for a major supply deficit by 2026, a shortfall that he now believes is accelerating.

This sentiment was reiterated by Huhn, who explained that while broader narratives like AI and data center growth have been loosely tied to uranium, they don’t fundamentally alter the thesis for rising prices.

“If we see CAPEX pull back and growth slow, could that narrative impact us? Absolutely. But once prices start moving, uranium will carve out its own story,” he said. In his view, the real driver is the de-risking of existing reactors.

‘So instead of data center demand quadrupling by 2030, if it only doubles, we’re still going to see the de-risking of the existing operating reactors of the world, in particular in the countries that have expansion of data centers, which is most of the modern countries, but especially in the US, especially in China.”

Looking ahead, Huhn stressed that while new US reactors could eventually boost fuel demand in the early 2030s, utilities are already securing long-term contracts today.

“So the market for those reactors exists now,” he said. “As we enter 2026, attention will be everywhere.”

Aging uranium mines threaten supply security

Global uranium production is expected to climb over the next decade, but is seen struggling to meet demand.

The Australian government’s latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report projects that world uranium supply will rise from roughly 78 million MT in 2024 to about 97,000 MT by 2030, fueled by output expansions in Kazakhstan, Canada, Morocco and Finland — a roughly 24 percent increase over six years.

Industry experts also forecast a modest compound annual growth rate of 4.1 percent through 2030, with output reaching around 76,800 MT, reflecting expansions at major producers, including Kazakhstan and Canada.

Yet beyond 2030, many existing mines are expected to plateau or decline unless new projects come online, highlighting the critical need for timely investment to meet the fuel demands of the world’s growing nuclear fleet.

Future supply was a concern raised by Huhn, who underscored the challenges inherent in uranium mining.

“Mining is hard,” he said, pointing to Cameco’s (TSX:CCO,NYSE:CCJ) struggles at MacArthur River as it transitions to a new phase of the mine. The company has experienced mill downtime and production setbacks, yet still aims to deliver 15 million pounds of uranium in 2025, down from its typical 18 million. “These are very complicated underground mines with high-grade ore,” Huhn noted, emphasizing the operational complexity.

Huhn also highlighted long-term concerns: “Cigar Lake will be offline in 10 years, MacArthur River in 15. The two biggest projects that the industry relies on are finite. They need replacements if they intend to stay in uranium mining.”

Regarding Kazatomprom, he said the company is adopting a “value over volume” approach, focusing on responsible management of legacy assets while balancing joint ventures with Russia and China.

However, many of its projects are expected to peak over the next five years, with steep decline rates looming in the 2030s. Huhn warned: “Both (major miners) have pipeline problems into the 2030s. Without new development, the market will struggle to balance supply with the surging demand ahead.”

To facilitate this growth, Huhn stressed that uranium prices will need to stay elevated to incentivize the capital expenditures required to meet long-term demand.

“Looking at what the world will need to supply 250 million to 300 million pounds a year in about 10 years, we’re probably going to need prices in the US$125 to US$150 range, and they’ll need to stay there for a while,” he said.

Huhn added that short-term spikes aren’t enough.

“A spike to US$200 and then falling back to US$100 doesn’t do much for the industry,” he explained, noting that commodities cycles tend to overshoot on both ends. “Even in past cycles, prices fell below production costs — like when spot was US$30 a pound, but most low-cost producers were at US$40 to US$50. When the market recovers, the upside is usually much higher than the incentive price.”

Bullish uranium outlook meets real risks

Tiggre sees a bursting AI bubble as a possible threat to uranium’s upward price movement.

“There’s going to be a lot of companies that blow up,” he said. “There’s a significant chance that we get a major market event based on the AI bubble popping, and there will be a lot of panic selling of everything related. And unfortunately, that’s going to smack uranium too, because it has become an AI play now.”

Tiggre believes an event like this would be a strong buying opportunity, and while he doesn’t want to see people impacted by bubble burst, he urged investors to be prepared.

“I’ll be gleefully in the market when it puts something on sale, something you know is valuable. When the market offers it at a discount, and nothing else has changed, that’s an absolute gift,’ he said.

‘Opportunities like that don’t come often. Fluctuations happen, but a genuine sale on something you want for all the right reasons — that’s what makes fortunes for those with the courage to act.”

For 2026, Huhn sees utilities as the key driver for uranium prices. “I’m really looking at the utilities more than anything in the physical market, because that dictates everything else,” he explained.

While uranium equities have drawn attention, including meme-stock-like surges, Huhn is focused on the underlying commodity. He also pointed to a standoff, noting that major uranium producers like Cameco are seeking market-reference contracts with high ceilings, signaling confidence in rising prices, while utilities — still adjusting from reactor restarts and long-term power agreements — are testing the waters with small tenders.

“(Producers) want market reference with ceilings at US$130 to US$140, so that should tell all of us where the biggest players in the industry believe the price is going,” said Huhn. “Once we see the big utilities step up and sign these large contracts at the prices producers want, then it’s game on,” he emphasized, predicting a rapid price reset that could potentially push uranium from around US$75 to US$100 over a few months.

Looking down the pipeline, Del Real said he’s keeping a close eye on junior uranium companies, which he believes offer some of the biggest upside in the sector.

“If you know the management teams and can access these deals early, you can do spectacularly well,” he said, citing his firm’s early investment in North Shore Uranium (TSXV:NSU) as an example.

While he acknowledged the high risk involved, Del Real argued that in the current volatile market, well-chosen juniors can rival larger producers in potential returns, particularly when strategic financing and timing align.

Key Fed meeting takeaways

It’s worth noting that although the Fed’s cut went through, three out of 12 officials voted against it, a situation that hasn’t happened since September 2019. Two wanted rates to stay the same, while Governor Stephen Miran was calling for a 50 basis point reduction.

Miran took his spot on the Fed’s Board of Governors in September after being nominated by President Donald Trump, who has been critical of the Fed — and Chair Jerome Powell in particular — for not lowering rates as quickly as he would like. Powell’s term ends in May 2026, and it’s anticipated that his replacement will follow Trump’s vision. Kevin Hassett of the National Economic Council is said to be a strong contender, with 84 percent of respondents to a CNBC survey saying they think it will be him.

While the Fed’s rate decision was in focus this week, market watchers are also closely eyeing its post-meeting statement, as well as press conference comments from Powell, to figure out what the central bank’s policy will look like heading into the new year and beyond.

The latest dot plot shows that Fed officials expect only one rate cut in 2026, plus another in 2027. That’s unchanged from projections made in September, but experts have pointed out that the dot plot also highlights the growing divide between Federal Open Market Committee members.

Another important facet is the news that the Fed will start buying short-dated bonds as of Friday (December 12), with an initial round involving purchasing US$40 billion worth of treasuries per month. This move comes after the end of quantitative tightening measures on December 1, and is being looked at as a step in the direction of quantitative easing.

‘This is basically another way of saying quantitative easing, and we’re going to continue to print money,’ said David Erfle of Junior Miner Junky. ‘The Federal Reserve is in a situation where, ‘Hey, we’ve got to continue to issue new debt to pay off the old debt.’ So now the yield curve is going to steepen as the Fed pivots toward these treasury bills, and private investors are going to have to absorb more duration risk. So basically, this means loose monetary conditions are on the way, and that’s positive for both gold and especially now silver.’

Will the silver price keep rising?

With that in mind, what exactly is next for the silver price?

I’ve been asking guests on our channel where the metal goes from here, and many have said it’s becoming harder and harder to predict as silver enters uncharted territory.

Peter Krauth of Silver Stock Investor and Silver Advisor said that a ‘relatively conservative’ outlook for 2026 would be US$70. However, he also emphasized that higher levels are possible:

‘It’s taken 45 years for (silver) to finally break out through that US$50 level. And so we’re in uncharted waters, uncharted territory, and this being the kind of market that we’re in — fundamentally, as well as macroeconomically, as well as geopolitically — I think odds are silver is going to continue to climb higher.

‘And I think it’s going to convert a lot of doubters into into believers that silver is going to go on setting new record highs, and that it’s still relatively early in this market. We’re going to see it perform very, very well for several more years.’

For his part, Erfle weighed in on upside and downside for silver, outlining how the precious metal could get close to the US$100 level. Here’s what he said:

‘If you consider the supply/demand fundamentals, this is a fifth year of a supply deficit in silver, which has constantly been outpacing supply.

‘All these forces have converged to take the silver price so much higher, and looking at upside targets, the next target is the US$66, US$68 area, and then US$80 to US$83 if the momentum continues into January. But the long-term measured target of the cup-and-handle breakout is US$96.’

I’ll be having more conversations about silver next week with experts like Gareth Soloway, John Rubino and John Feneck, so drop a comment on our YouTube channel if you have any questions.

Silver’s price history since 2011

Silver price chart, December 11, 2010, to December 11, 2025.

Chart via SilverPrice.org.

After its 2011 peak, silver’s price pulled back over the following years before settling between US$15 and US$20 for much of the second half of last decade. An upward trend in the silver price started in mid-2020, when it was spurred on by the economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The price of silver breached the key US$26 level in early August 2020, and soon after tested US$30. However, it failed to make substantial progress past that.

In the spring of 2023, the silver price surged by 30 percent, briefly rising above US$26 in early May; however, the precious metal cratered back down to US$20.90 in early October. Later that month, silver advanced toward the US$23 level on the back of safe-haven demand due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Following remarks from US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, speculation about interest rate reductions sent the price of silver to US$25.48 on November 30, its highest point for the fourth quarter.

After starting 2024 on a low note, the white metal saw gains in March on rising Fed rate cut expectations. The resulting upward momentum led silver to reach a Q1 high of US$25.62 on March 20 before breaking through the US$30 mark on May 17. The silver price reached a then 12 year high of US$32.33 on May 20.

In Q3, the metal’s price slid down below the US$27 mark to as low as US$26.64 by August 7 alongside its industrial cousin copper. Heading into Q4 2024, silver reversed course to the upside, tracking the record breaking moves in the gold price. Silver once again breached the US$30 level on September 13 and continued higher.

On October 21, the silver price moved as high as US$34.20 during the trading day, up more than 48 percent since the start of the year and its highest level in 12 years. However, silver spent the rest of the year in decline, bottoming out at US$28.94 on December 30.

Silver’s price performance in 2025

Silver price chart, January 1 to December 11, 2025.

The silver price experienced a momentum shift at the start of 2025, breaking through the US$30 barrier as early as January 5, and reaching US$31.31 by January 29. The metal continued to post gains through much of February and March, climbing to US$32.94 on February 20 and then peaking at its quarterly high of US$34.21 on March 28.

Following US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements on April 2, silver slumped to below US$30. While the Trump administration’s tariff policies have been largely beneficial for safe-haven assets like precious metals, there were concerns that the threat of tariffs could weaken industrial demand, which could cool price gains in the silver market.

Yet those concerns were pushed to the back burner as recent economic and geopolitical events have raised analysts’ expectations of a September rate cut by the Fed. The benchmark rate has not changed since November 2024.

On June 5, the silver price rose to a 13 year high of US$36.05 in early morning trading, before retreating toward the US$35.50 mark. By June 16, the white metal had broken through the US$37 mark for the first time since May 2011.

In July, increasing geopolitical strife in the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine coupled with a positive outlook for China’s solar power industry proved price positive for both silver’s precious metals and industrial angles.

The silver price overtook the US$39 level to reach US$39.24 on July 22.

These same forces, coupled with the nearly unanimous rate cut expectations, launched the price of silver to over US$40 on August 31 for the first time since 2011, and by September 3 it had climbed as high as US$41.45. Silver continued climbing through September, progressively breaking level after level to top US$47 by the month’s end.

The white metal broke its all-time highs in most currencies, including Canadian dollars and Australian dollars, on September 22.

Silver started Q4 by continuing its ascent, breaking through its 2011 peak and topping US$48 on October 3, before climbing above US$51 to beat its US dollar high on October 9.

It continued climbing even higher on the safe-haven demand fundamentals behind its 2025 momentum. Helping drive that demand in October was escalating trade tensions between the US and China, leading to export controls on additional rare earth metals by China and threats of 100 percent tariffs on Chinese imports by the US.

While silver pulled back to around US$48 in late October, news that the US government shut down had come to an end on November 9 drove the silver price back above US$50.

Silver’s foray above the US$56 level on November 28 came on the back of an outage at the Comex, where trading was briefly halted due to a ‘cooling issue’ at a CyrusOne data center used by the exchange.

Silver continued even higher through early December, and on December 12 the metal set a new highest price of US$64.65 two days after the Fed decided to once again cut interest rates.

Silver supply and demand dynamics

Market watchers are curious as to whether the silver price will continue its upward trajectory in 2025. Only time will tell, and it will depend on the white metal’s ability to remain above the critical US$30 level.

Like other metals, the silver spot price is most heavily influenced by supply and demand dynamics. However, as the information above illustrates, the silver price can be highly volatile. That’s partially due to the fact that the metal is subject to both investment and industrial metal demand within global markets.

In other words, it’s bought by investors who want it as a store of wealth, as well as by manufacturers looking to use it for different applications that are incredibly varied. For example, silver has diverse technological applications and is used in devices like batteries and catalysts, but it’s also used in medicine and in the automotive industry.

In terms of supply, the world’s three top producers of the metal are Mexico, China and Peru. Even in those countries silver is usually a by-product — for instance, a mine producing primarily gold or lead might also have silver output.

The Silver Institute’s latest World Silver Survey, put together by Metals Focus, outlines a 0.9 percent increase in global mine production to 819.7 million ounces in 2024. This was in partly the result of a return to operations at Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM) Peñasquito mine in Mexico following a suspension of activity brought about by strike action among workers and improved recoveries out of Fresnillo (LSE:FRES,OTC Pink:FNLPF) and MAG Silver’s (TSX:MAG,NYSEAMERICAN:MAG) Juanicipio. Silver output also increased in Australia, Bolivia and the US.

The firm is forecasting a 1.9 percent rise in global silver mine production to 823 million ounces in 2025. Much of that growth is expected to come out of Mexico, and it is also projecting output will rise in Chile and Russia.

Lower production from Australia and Peru will offset some of these gains.

Looking at demand, Metals Focus sees growth in 2025 flatlining as industrial fabrication takes a hit from the global tariff war. This could be tempered by an anticipated rebound in demand from physical investment in silver bars and coins.

The silver market is expected to experience a substantial deficit of 117.6 million ounces in 2025, amounting to the sixth straight year of supply shortage for the metal.

Investor takeaway

Silver has neared US$50 multiple times, including its all-time high, and as momentum continues for the silver price in 2025 investors are wondering if it could reach those heights once again.

While it’s impossible to know for sure what’s next for silver, keeping an eye on the factors driving its performance, including gold’s performance, geopolitics, the economy and industrial demand, will help investors make decisions on when to buy and sell.

1. Imperial Metals (TSX:III)

Year-to-date gain: 333.7 percent
Market cap: C$1.4 billion
Share price: C$7.98

Imperial Metals is a mine development and production company with operations in British Columbia, Canada.

It holds a 30 percent interest in the Red Chris mine in BC’s Golden Triangle, with the remainder owned by Newmont (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM,ASX:NEM). Imperial also fully owns the Mount Polley copper-gold mine, which reopened in June 2022, and the Huckleberry copper mine, which has been under care and maintenance since 2016.

Provincial approvals for a 4 meter raise of the embankment at the Mount Polley tailings storage facility have been the subject of a lawsuit after the Xatśūll First Nation applied for an interim injunction challenging them in April.

A June 30 update reported that the BC Supreme Court had reserved judgment on the case following a four day hearing. The Supreme Court ultimately dismissed the Xatśūll First Nation’s application for the injunction and judicial review of the approvals on August 6. Imperials’ most recent update on the case came on September 3, when the Xatśūll First Nation filed a notice of appeal to overturn the dismissal of the judicial reviews. However, it did not appeal the injunction decision, meaning the company can complete the raise and continue mining at Mount Polley.

On August 29, Imperial announced that it received approval for a permit amendment allowing the company to expand Mount Polley’s operations and extend its operating life, including pit development and expansion of storage areas within the existing mine site footprint.

In the company’s Q3 production report for Red Chris, released on October 23, it indicated that total copper production at the mine increased 10 percent year-over-year to 20.9 million pounds, up from 18.98 million pounds in Q3 2024. Through the first nine months of the year, copper production increased even more, rising 20 percent to 67.51 million pounds from 56.37 million pounds during the same period of 2024.

The most recent update from Imperial came on November 27, when it released an exploration update from its Huckleberry mine, reporting it completed all nine holes of its 2025 diamond drill campaign testing an area southwest of the Main Zone. One hole returned a grade of 0.5 percent copper over 52.7 meters, including an intersection of 0.81 percent copper and 0.23 grams per metric ton (g/t) gold over 22.6 meters.

Shares of Imperial reached a year-to-date high of C$7.95 on December 10.

2. Meridian Mining (TSX:MNO)

Year-to-date gain: 313.33 percent
Market cap: C$656.72 million
Share price: C$1.55

Meridian Mining is an exploration and development company that is currently developing its flagship Cabaçal copper-gold project in Mato Grosso, Brazil. The project license covers a 50 square kilometer area and hosts an 11 kilometer volcanogenic massive sulfide corridor containing gold, copper and silver.

A prefeasibility study released March 10 demonstrates a post-tax base case net present value of US$984 million with an internal rate of return of 61 percent and a payback period of 17 months. The project has a predicted mine life of 10.6 years with total life of mine production of 169,647 metric tons of copper.

The included mineral resource estimate for Cabaçal shows a measured and indicated resource of 204,470 metric tons of contained copper from 51.43 million metric tons of ore with an average grade of 0.4 percent. It also hosts significant gold and silver resources.

Additionally, Meridian reported on May 8 that it has hired Ausenco Brazil as the lead engineer to complete a definitive feasibility study for Cabaçal, targeting the first half of 2026 for completion.

Meridian has been carrying out an extensive exploration program at the site as part of the study.

The company announced results from the final phase of the drill program on October 7, when it reported significant copper grades. It highlighted an interval of 1.4 percent copper equivalent over 27.5 meters, including an intersection of 6.1 percent copper equivalent over 6.4 meters.

The company stated that the drill program yielded robust grades of gold, copper and silver mineralization, which will contribute to the mineral resource and reserve upgrades included in the definitive feasibility study. It also reported exploration success at the Cigarra target.

On November 3, Meridian announced that the State of Mato Grosso had formally approved the preliminary license for Cabaçal, which the company stated is the first of three licenses required to commence operations. Meridian said that it would now turn its attention to its application for an installation license. If approved, the installation license would allow the company to begin construction at the site.

Shares of Meridian reached a year-to-date high of C$1.65 on December 4.

3. St. Augustine Gold and Copper (TSX:SAU)

Year-to-date gain: 300 percent
Market cap: C$331.75 million
Share price: C$0.32

St. Augustine Gold and Copper is a development company focused on its King-king copper-gold project in the Philippines’ Davao de Oro province. The project consists of 184 mining claims.

On May 30, St. Augustine entered into an agreement with the National Development Corporation (Nadecor) to acquire a 100 percent interest in Nadecor’s wholly owned subsidiary Kingking Milling, which holds the development rights to King-king. Under the terms of the deal, Nadecor will receive C$9.02 million convertible into 185 million shares.

The project’s exploration and development permits are held by Kingking Mining, which remains a 40/40/20 joint venture between St. Augustine, Nadecor and Queensberry Mining and Development. The release also includes details of new ore sales and royalty agreements between Kingking Milling and Kingking Mining.

On June 18, St. Augustine completed a debt conversion with Queensberry Mining, converting C$1.67 million in debt owed to Queensbury into 25.31 million common shares of St. Augustine at C$0.066 per share.

A follow-up announcement from Queensberry Mining stated that the shares represent a 2.5 percent stake in St. Augustine, increasing Queensberry’s holdings in the company to 52 percent of the total issued and outstanding shares.

As for Q3, on July 31, the company released an updated feasibility study for the project. Based on a copper price of US$4.30 per pound and a gold price of US$2,150 per ounce, the project’s economics included an after-tax net present value of US$4.18 billion, with an internal rate of return of 34.2 percent and a payback period of 1.9 years.

The report estimates a 31 year mine life with average annual production of 96,411 metric tons of payable copper and 185,828 ounces of gold. The six phase development plan will see higher average production in the first five years at 129,000 metric tons of copper and 330,000 ounces of gold.

On October 8, St. Augustine announced that it had engaged with Stantec Consulting and Independent Mining Consultants to produce a definitive feasibility study for Kingking. The company said the study will optimize key recommendations from the pre-feasibility study, including a chloride leach process to improve recovery from low-grade sulfide stockpiles early in the mine life, as well as increased throughput capacity.

Shares of St. Augustine Gold and Copper reached a year-to-date high of C$0.58 on July 29.

4. Trilogy Metals (TSX:TMQ)

Year-to-date gain: 269.23 percent
Market cap: C$1.07 billion
Share price: C$6.24

Trilogy Metals is a polymetallic exploration and development company working to advance its Upper Kobuk mineral projects in Northern Alaska, US, which it owns in a 50/50 joint venture with South32 (ASX:S32,OTC Pink:SHTLF).

Its most advanced asset is the Arctic copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver project, which is in the feasibility stage.

In an updated feasibility study from February 2023, the company reported annual payable production volumes of 148.68 million pounds of copper, 172.6 million pounds of zinc, 25.75 million pounds of lead, 32,538 ounces of gold and 2.77 million ounces of silver. After tax, the study pegs the project’s net present value at US$1.11 billion, with an internal rate of return of 22.8 percent and a payback period of 3.1 years.

Trilogy’s other key asset is the Bornite copper-cobalt project located 25 kilometers southwest of its Arctic project. The site hosts widespread mineralization and has seen historic exploration dating back to the 1950s.

A preliminary economic assessment for Bornite, dated January 15, established an after-tax net present value of US$393.9 million, with an internal rate of return of 20 percent and a payback period of 4.4 years.

The updated mineral resource included with the report estimates an inferred resource of 6.53 billion pounds of copper with an average grade of 1.42 percent from 208.9 million metric tons of ore.

Trilogy’s Upper Kobuk assets are among the mineral projects dependent on the approval and construction of the Ambler Access Road, a planned 211 kilometer industrial road through Alaska.

Trilogy’s share price saw substantial gains in October after the US Senate repealed a land management plan that prevented the construction of the access road due to environmental concerns.

Additionally, on October 6, Trilogy entered into a binding letter of intent that will see the US Department of Defense (DoD) invest US$17.8 million in Trilogy in exchange for 8.22 million Trilogy shares, or 10 percent of the company. The DoD will also hold warrants for an additional 7.5 percent, exercisable only after the road is constructed.

The funds are earmarked for exploration and development of the Upper Kobuk projects.

According to the release, the DoD will work to facilitate financing for the road’s construction and collaborate with Trilogy to expedite mine permitting using the FAST-41 process.

In an update on October 24, Trilogy stated that the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority executed the right-of-way permits for the Ambler Access Road with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the National Parks Service and the Bureau of Land Management, which re-established the necessary federal authorizations to advance the project.

Shares of Trilogy reached a year-to-date high of C$14.70 on October 14.

5. Northern Dynasty Minerals (TSX:NDM)

Year-to-date gain: 234.12 percent
Market cap: C$1.53 billion
Share price: C$2.84

Northern Dynasty Minerals is an exploration and development company focused on the Pebble project, a copper-molybdenum-gold-silver project located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska.

Pebble, which the company says is “one of the greatest stores of mineral wealth ever discovered,” hosts a measured and indicated copper resource of 6.5 billion metric tons and an inferred copper resource of 4.5 billion metric tons.

The Pebble property’s measured and indicated resources for molybdenum, gold and silver total 1.26 million metric tons, 53.82 million ounces and 249.3 million ounces, respectively.

The project stalled in 2020 during the permitting phase following a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) veto that suggested the proposed mine would damage the Bristol Bay watershed.

Early in 2024, the Supreme Court declined to hear the matter on procedural grounds, sending it back to the federal district court and the federal circuit of appeals before the Supreme Court would hear it.

Northern Dynasty spent the rest of 2024 advancing its case in Alaska’s state court. In March of that year, it announced the filing of actions to vacate the EPA’s veto.

In 2025, shares of Northern Dynasty began to surge following Trump’s March 20 executive order that called for expedited approvals for domestic mineral production and included copper as a strategically important mineral.

Since Trump became president, Northern Dynasty has been attempting to work with the EPA to vacate the veto on the project. On February 18, the company agreed to grant the EPA a requested 90 day extension to allow for review by the new leadership in the agency, and granted a further 30 day extension on May 14 and a 20 day extension on June 12.

Although the company had hoped to reach a settlement in early July, it ultimately was forced to file a motion for summary judgment on July 17 to have the EPA veto removed.

The most recent update came on October 8, when Northern Dynasty reported that it had filed a brief with the court and presented arguments as to why the veto should be removed. The company’s president and CEO stated in the release that he believes the company has a strong case.

On November 19, the company provided an updated timeline, noting delays due to the US Federal Government shutdown. It said the Department of Justice must file its opening brief by February 16, 2026, and plaintiffs must file their response by April 15. Northern Dynasty stated that, while it understands the challenges, it believes the extension of the original January 2 date is excessive and would prefer the government withdraw its veto.

The most recent update from the case came on December 1, when the company reported that the National Mining Association, the American Exploration and Mining Association, the Alaska Mining Association and the US Chamber of Commerce filed amicus briefs in support of their case.

The three associations’ summary of their argument began, “This case is exceptionally important to Amicis members, the mining industry, and the nation’s economy. The proposed mine – which the US EPA has unlawfully vetoed – will provide a crucial source of copper for construction, transportation, electrical and electronic projects, industrial machinery, and defense applications.”

Shares of Northern Dynasty reached a year-to-date high of C$3.89 on October 14.

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