China Just Triggered the Next Silver Shock: Why Your Dollars Won’t Save You This Time

The Fight Has Already Started—And Silver’s at the Center of It

Friends, I don’t say this lightly: we’re entering a new kind of financial war, and silver is shaping up to be one of the first casualties—or the first winners, depending on which side you’re on.

Mining mogul Frank Giustra just laid it out plain: a “bare-knuckle fight” is coming between East and West over control of critical resources—and silver is now front and center. This isn’t some tinfoil-hat theory or market hype. It’s happening right now, and if you’ve been following Dedollarize News, you know this fight has been brewing for years.

China Just Weaponized Silver—And the West Isn’t Ready

Here’s the bombshell: China is restricting silver exports starting this year.

Now, why is that such a big deal? Because China isn’t just the #2 silver producer in the world—it’s also a critical refiner and exporter. Cutting off that supply is like choking a garden hose during a heatwave. The demand is there, but the flow just got squeezed.

This isn’t a desperate move. As Giustra said, “This silver move is a policy of strength, not desperation.” China knows exactly what it’s doing. They’ve been quietly hoarding silver, just like they’ve been stacking gold and dumping U.S. Treasuries. They’re building an economic war chest—and silver is now part of their ammunition.

History Repeating: From the Opium Wars to Economic War 2.0

Giustra made a fascinating historical point that most analysts overlook: back in the 1600s to 1800s, China absorbed up to 50% of the world’s silver supply. That silver powered their economy—until the British flipped the table by dumping opium into China to balance the trade deficit.

That ugly chapter led to war, addiction, and eventually, the colonization of Hong Kong. Now, in 2026, the tables have turned: China’s the superpower, and silver is once again the choke point.

Silver Prices Just Doubled—And This Is Likely Just the Beginning

Here’s what should make you sit up: silver prices closed 2025 at over $71/oz, nearly 150% higher than the year before. That’s the biggest annual gain since 1979.

Now, the mainstream financial press is barely covering this. Why? Because they don’t want the public to understand what's coming. Wall Street is still pretending silver is some industrial sidekick or old-world store of value. But that story is dead.

Silver isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential.

Industrial Demand Is Exploding—And Silver Can't Keep Up

Let me walk you through the demand side real quick, because this is where the real fireworks begin:

• Solar power is consuming over 200 million ounces of silver per year—projected to hit 450M+ ounces by 2030.
• Why? Because silver’s conductivity is unmatched. You can’t just swap it out.
• AI and electrification are pouring gasoline on the fire. Every AI query, every EV, every solar panel—it all needs silver.

Meanwhile, the supply? Stuck in the mud.

• 72% of silver production is a by-product of mining other metals (copper, lead, zinc, gold).
• You can’t just open a silver mine on demand. Primary silver mines are rarer than ever.
• There’s been no net supply growth in 25 years.

Let that sink in.

Paper Silver Markets Are Lying to You

Right now, we’re seeing something that should scare every investor relying on paper assets:

The silver market is in deep backwardation.

That means spot prices—what it costs to buy silver today—are higher than futures prices. That’s not normal. It means investors are paying a panic premium to get silver now, not later.

Why? Because they don’t trust they’ll be able to get it in the future. That’s not speculation. That’s survival instinct.

The Great Silver Squeeze of October 2025 pushed lease rates to 40%—a flashing red light that something is broken. Now, with China restricting exports, the next move could be even more dramatic.

The Bigger Threat: ISO 20022 Is the CBDC Superhighway

You may have heard that President Trump banned the Fed’s Central Bank Digital Currency pilot back in 2025. That’s true, and it bought us time. But the real beast is still alive—and it's called ISO 20022.

This global financial messaging system is quietly becoming the digital backbone for future CBDCs, and it's already been adopted by SWIFT, the Fedwire system, and over 200 banks and financial institutions.

What’s the problem? ISO 20022 enables real-time surveillance, programmable money, and centralized control over your transactions—all under the guise of “efficiency.”

So while the FedNow experiment is paused, the rails are being laid in the background. When the next crisis hits—and it will—those rails can be activated instantly to launch a U.S. CBDC with zero resistance.

And if your wealth is stuck in the system when that happens? Good luck accessing it without a digital permission slip.

Wall Street’s Still Sleeping—But You Shouldn’t Be

Right now, most American investors are chasing the next tech stock, trusting the Fed, and pretending everything’s fine. Meanwhile:

• Physical silver is vanishing.
• Premiums are rising.
• The U.S. dollar is losing global trust.
• The digital trap is being laid by ISO 20022.

And you’re supposed to just hold dollars and smile?

Listen, I grew up in a working-class family. We didn’t have financial safety nets. And today, millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, trusting a system that has no intention of protecting them.

That’s why I fight so hard for gold and silver—especially physical silver. Not ETFs. Not paper contracts. Real metal in your hand or secure storage.

What Comes Next: The Case for $100+ Silver

Here’s the bottom line: all the conditions are in place for a massive silver revaluation.

• Multi-decade backwardation? Check.
• Surging solar and AI demand? Check.
• Supply shortages? Check.
• Government manipulation and export restrictions? Check.
• Western complacency? Check.

We’re looking at a perfect storm.

When silver’s real value gets priced in—and it will—the folks who were early will look like geniuses. Everyone else will be priced out.

Don’t Wait for the Panic—Act Now

This isn’t about making a quick buck. This is about protecting your family, your freedom, and your future.

If you're still sitting on the sidelines, wondering whether to get into silver, ask yourself:
What are you waiting for—the IMF to flip the switch?

Your Next Step: Arm Yourself With Knowledge

Before the next shock hits, I want you to read something that could make all the difference. Bill Brocius has put together a powerful eBook that walks you through how to protect yourself from bank failures, currency collapse, and silver shortages.

👉 Download it free now:
Seven Steps to Protect Yourself from Bank Failure

And if you haven’t yet, subscribe to our free Dedollarize newsletter to get real updates from people who actually see what’s coming.

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Stay sharp, stay sovereign,
– Frank Balm
Lead Analyst, Dedollarize News