TLDR
- Silver and gold have overtaken crypto in social media discussions as retail investors show growing interest in precious metals.
- Gold dominated social media between January 8 and January 18 due to its record price surge during the second week of January.
- Silver’s price spike above $117 in late January led to a surge in social media interest, briefly surpassing crypto in discussions.
- Despite the rise in precious metal hype, crypto continues to maintain strong search interest, especially in Bitcoin.
- Retail investors are diversifying their focus, quickly jumping between gold, silver, and crypto based on recent market movements.
Social media discussions surrounding silver and gold have outpaced those of cryptocurrencies, according to Santiment’s market intelligence platform. Retail investors have shown heightened interest in precious metals after recent price increases, especially in January. The surge in attention coincides with gold and silver hitting new highs, while crypto’s spotlight temporarily faded.
Gold Dominates Social Media in Early January
Gold saw a sharp rise in discussions during the second week of January as its price hit new highs. According to Santiment, this surge in attention led gold to dominate social media between January 8 and January 18. The hype surrounding gold surpassed that of cryptocurrencies, reflecting a growing interest in precious metals.
During this period, social traffic centered heavily on gold, with many retail investors discussing the potential for further gains. Santiment’s data suggests that this was a moment of significant enthusiasm for the precious metal, reflecting how investors were gravitating toward gold as it reached record levels. As prices rose, so did online conversations, driving attention away from crypto assets.
😴 Are crypto traders & investors checked out? Based on social data across crypto social media circles, the focus in January has turned from:
💤 Week 1: Minimal discourse as traders return from holidays (Crypto rises while traders sleep)
🥇 Week 2: Gold discussions erupt as the… pic.twitter.com/U5X0VzAGPb— Santiment (@santimentfeed) January 26, 2026
Silver Surpasses Crypto in Mid-January Surge
Silver has recently captured the spotlight, especially after reaching new all-time highs in late January. Santiment reports that silver discussions spiked following its surge above $117, marking a new milestone for the precious metal. This increase in interest led silver to briefly become the most discussed asset between January 19 and January 22.
The price fluctuations in silver have been linked to growing retail interest, with traders jumping on the hype surrounding its rise. Santiment highlighted that silver’s rapid price movements, including a sharp drop after its peak, reflect the typical behavior of retail traders who are quick to react to price surges. Despite this, Santiment analysts pointed out that the fear of missing out (FOMO) often signals that a price top may be near for such assets.
Crypto Interest Remains Despite Precious Metals Surge
Although gold and silver have seen increased attention on social media, crypto remains a strong contender in online discussions. According to Google Trends, search interest in crypto peaked on January 21, with Bitcoin-related queries showing strong engagement. Despite precious metals taking center stage, crypto continues to generate substantial online activity.
Bitcoin saw a surge in search interest on January 22, indicating that crypto enthusiasts remain engaged despite the growing popularity of gold and silver. The data from Santiment and Google Trends shows that while retail investors are diversifying their focus to precious metals, crypto assets are far from being abandoned. Investors seem to be shifting their attention based on market conditions, making the space more fluid than ever before.
Retail traders have become more flexible in their investment strategies, transitioning between sectors depending on the latest trends. This shift shows how quickly market dynamics can change, with investors constantly seeking the next big opportunity.
