2025-12-28 14:21:27

On the stage of all commodities, silver plays a very peculiar role.

It has the hedging properties of gold but fluctuates more violently; it is driven by industrial demand yet often pushed along by market sentiment; behind every crazy surge, there is almost always a hidden warning signal.

Looking back at history, there have only been two true "silver bull markets"—and both ended quite tragically.

**First Round: Speculators vs. the Financial System**

The timeline points to the late 1970s to 1980. This wave of silver market activity is a textbook example of a "speculative bubble."

What was the background at that time? The Bretton Woods system had already collapsed, the dollar's credibility was wavering, global high inflation was spreading, and the market's desire for "hard currencies" was at its peak. In this environment, silver prices soared from less than $2 per ounce to nearly $50—an increase of over 20 times.

Who was fueling this rise? The Hunt brothers. Their approach was straightforward: frantic buying, while manipulating both the spot and futures markets, attempting to monopolize the global silver supply to counter the dollar system. For a time, silver became a symbol of "anti-paper money."

And then? The exchanges suddenly changed rules, margins skyrocketed, forced liquidations began, and liquidity vanished in an instant. On March 27, 1980, silver plunged over 50% in a single day. The result? Widespread investor bankruptcies, and the two Hunt brothers went from billionaires to heavily indebted.

The core of this history is simple: speculation tried to challenge the existing financial rules, but ultimately, the rules fought back with force.

**Second Round: Retail Frenzy, Same Tragedy**

The timeframe is from 2008 to 2011. The story feels familiar—retail investors' frenzy pushed prices higher, and in the end, the same conclusion...

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GasFeeVictim

· 4h ago

Damn, it's the same story again, always retail investors taking the hit... Silver is just an emotional machine; even if the technicals collapse, do they still want to rely on mysticism to rescue the market? History is really repeating itself. Will someone try to monopolize again this time? The Hunt brothers' move was too ruthless, forcing their way against the rules... So, how are the people who chased silver now? The bankruptcy list has grown even longer. One word: wait.

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TerraNeverForget

· 4h ago

Silver is just a bait; every time, someone takes the hook and then gets harvested. Behind the sharp rise, someone is setting a trap; retail investors are always the last to take the fall. I remember the Hunt brothers' wave; they tried to go against the entire system, but ended up being suppressed... This is the invincibility before the rules. I was also involved in the 2011 wave, claiming it was a safe haven, but it fell faster than anything else. Now there are still people touting silver as an anti-inflation hedge, but I really don't believe it anymore. As long as you're playing in the futures market, you'll be harvested by the big players—it's a fate.

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airdrop_whisperer

· 4h ago

Silver is just a trap, it looks shiny and sparkling, but in reality, every time it's just being harvested. The Hunt brothers' move was really about trying to fight the dollar system, but the exchange just changed the rules and crushed them. That's the law of the financial jungle. I still remember the retail investor boom in 2008, how many people dreamed of silver skyrocketing to get rich, only to be trapped and stuck... This thing has never been kind to retail investors. Why is it that every time silver surges wildly, it's a sign of disaster? It's really mysterious. History keeps repeating itself, only the participants are different, and it's terrifying. After reading this, I am even more convinced that silver is just a tool to cut leeks; it's better to stay away.

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TheShibaWhisperer

· 5h ago

Silver is just a money-grabbing machine for retail investors, always the same套路 --- Hunter brothers' recent move is a classic negative example; if you want to challenge the system, there's only one way to go --- Back in 2011, my buddy got caught in it, and he still hasn't broken even... --- So, in commodities, silver is the most deceptive; it looks like opportunities are everywhere, but in reality, it's all traps --- No wonder retail investors keep making the same mistakes; history can't be avoided just by looking back --- A 20x increase sounds exciting, but a 50% plunge in a day means it's all over; this kind of trading isn't meant for retail investors at all --- Every time they say "this time is different," and then the rules change, the game is over—so true

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gm_or_ngmi

· 5h ago

The lesson from the Hunt Brothers' Napo is bloodily clear—no one wins in the face of rules. History always repeats itself, retail investors still haven't learned. Silver is just a tool for cutting leeks; they keep playing with a different disguise. Nothing has changed since the 1980s; I really can't hold it anymore. Back in 2011, my grandfather was still losing his shirt. Rules are always for the winners. When will we retail investors ever understand?

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