Silver is no longer just another commodity trade. After pushing through $100 per ounce for the first time in history, the metal is now at the center of a much bigger conversation about financial stability and the structure of the metals market itself.
Crypto and macro analyst 0xNobler recently raised a sharp warning, arguing that if silver reprices toward $130, the consequences could extend far beyond precious metals and into the heart of the global banking system.
His argument is not based on charts alone. It is built around a widening disconnect between physical silver and paper silver markets.
What you'll learn 👉
The Growing Gap Between Physical and Paper Silver
0xNobler points to a striking divergence in prices across regions.
While the quoted U.S. price sits near $100 per ounce, physical silver is trading much higher in other parts of the world. In Japan, prices are reported around $145. In China, closer to $140. In the UAE, even higher, near $165 per ounce.
That represents a gap of 45% to 80% between what silver trades for on paper and what buyers are paying for real metal.
In a normal market, such a gap would close quickly through arbitrage. Traders would buy cheap silver in one place and sell it in another, equalizing prices. The fact that this is not happening tells a different story.
It suggests that the paper market may no longer reflect true supply and demand for physical silver.
🚨 IF SILVER HITS $130, THE OLD BANKING SYSTEM WILL COLLAPSE!!
— 0xNobler (@CryptoNobler) January 24, 2026
Silver just hit $100/oz for the first time in history.
But physical silver and paper silver are trading at totally different prices.
Physical vs Paper price:
🇺🇸 USA → $100/oz
🇯🇵 Japan → $145/oz
🇨🇳 China →… pic.twitter.com/TueEFGfsZg
0xNobler argues that this disconnect signals a capped paper market. In other words, silver prices on futures exchanges like COMEX are being restrained by financial positioning rather than physical availability.
One reason he highlights is the large net short positions held by bullion banks. These institutions have historically used short positions to provide liquidity and hedge exposure. But when prices rise sharply, those shorts turn into a liability.
If silver reprices toward the levels where physical metal clears, between $130 and $150, the mark-to-market losses on those positions could become severe.
This is where the banking risk enters the picture.
Even without silver reaching extreme highs like $200, a move toward physical market pricing could result in billions in losses for institutions holding large short exposure. That would directly impact balance sheets and regulatory capital ratios.
Read also: Gold and Silver Rally Sends Fresh Signals Pointing Toward Crypto Altseason
From Silver Price Problem to Delivery Problem
One of the most important points 0xNobler makes is that this is not just a price story.
He frames the situation as a delivery squeeze in the making.
As more buyers demand physical silver and pull it out of vaults, registered inventories decline. In response, exchanges and banks can issue more paper contracts, but that only increases the mismatch between claims on silver and actual metal available.
This creates a fragile structure where many contracts exist for each ounce of real silver.
At some point, if too many holders demand delivery at the same time, the system faces stress not because of price, but because it cannot fulfill those deliveries.
When that happens, paper prices stop being relevant. The market is forced to reprice silver based on physical scarcity.
Read also: Silver Price Already Took Off – Now Copper Is Flashing Supercycle Signals
How Realistic Is This Scenario?
While the warning is serious, it is important to keep perspective.
Banks are not powerless. They can reduce exposure, adjust margin requirements, limit leverage, or settle contracts in cash rather than metal. Regulators can also intervene to stabilize markets before a full breakdown occurs.
That said, the persistent divergence between physical and paper prices is not a healthy sign.
Even if the most extreme outcomes never materialize, the current structure shows that silver is no longer trading like a normal commodity. It is starting to behave like a strategic asset under stress.
That alone changes how investors, institutions, and governments view its role in the financial system.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for daily crypto updates, market insights, and expert analysis.
