Silver explosion: US economist Peter Schiff predicts Bitcoin collapse

• Silver price jumps
• Peter Schiff warns of a reverse trend for BTC
• The US economist is known for similar warnings

Silver recently experienced an unprecedented surge: the price of the precious metal shot up an impressive 150 percent in 2025 and continued this trend at times in the new year: at the end of January it reached a record high of 116.63 US dollars before a correction occurred. But while silver celebrated new records in 2026, US economist Peter Schiff once again warned of a dramatic crash in Bitcoin.

China as a price driver: export controls fuel demand for silver

In contrast to gold, whose recent price rise was driven primarily by geopolitical uncertainty and US President Trump’s policies, the silver boom had other causes, according to a report by the German Press Agency (dpa). China plays the central role here: at the beginning of January, Beijing imposed export controls on silver in order to secure the strategically important metal for the domestic industry. This measure dramatically worsens the already tense supply situation.

“Silver is a hybrid metal,” explained Michael Eubel, head of BayernLB’s precious metals business in Munich, according to dpa. “One half of production is needed for industry, the other half goes to the investment market.” This dual role makes the precious metal particularly vulnerable to supply bottlenecks – and drives prices to ever new heights.

Industrial boom fuels hunger for silver: AI, solar energy and e-mobility as drivers

According to CCN, the rise in silver prices is based less on speculation than on real demand pressure from the economy, because industrial demand for silver is literally exploding. The metal is essential for solar cells, electric vehicles and advanced electronics – sectors that are expanding rapidly thanks to massive investments in green energy and AI infrastructure. Data centers and semiconductor production further exacerbate the supply gap and drive prices further up.

Peter Schiff warns: Bitcoin crash is imminent

While silver rushed from record to record in January, long-time gold and silver advocate Peter Schiff sounded the alarm again for the largest cryptocurrency. The US economist predicted a dramatic Bitcoin collapse – and cited the silver rally as a harbinger. “What happens to silver will happen to Bitcoin, just in reverse,” Schiff wrote on

What’s happening with silver is about to happen with Bitcoin, only in reverse. Silver’s spectacular rise will usher in Bitcoin’s catastrophic collapse. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

– Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) January 19, 2026

In fact, Bitcoin has been struggling since the beginning of the year. Despite a brief rise above the $97,000 mark in early January, the cryptocurrency’s 2026 was mostly down – with an acceleration in early February. Increasing correlation with equity markets further limits upside potential in times of macroeconomic stress, CCN said.

Schiff – a well-known Bitcoin opponent

Schiff’s bearish stance on Bitcoin is not new: Over the years, he has repeatedly predicted the collapse of the world’s most popular cryptocurrency and urged investors to switch to precious metals. However, many of his predictions did not come true – Bitcoin reached several all-time highs despite his warnings. Nevertheless, the economist remains true to his line. Schiff argues that Bitcoin, unlike silver, has no intrinsic value. While the precious metal has a clear industrial use, he believes the Bitcoin price is only driven by hype and speculative excesses – making the cryptocurrency vulnerable to a quick unraveling.

Editorial team finanzen.net