Is Silver Selling for $130 USD in Japan? Fact & Fiction.

I posted a comment showing that silver was selling for roughly $130 in Japan. The next thing I know, I’m seeing headlines from numerous sources worldwide parroting this information without understanding the underlying basis. Since these headlines are still making the rounds, I thought–as the original poster–I should provide some context that those outside of Japan might not understand. Please note that I am not a silver dealer nor am I affiliated with the Japanese silver dealers I will mention herein. Explanatory links in the article body are provided for informational purposes only, not as promotion or stealth marketing.

The Post that Started It All & My Comment

Honza Černý posted about Korean silver prices as follows:

On a more private account where I do not want followers (follow https://x.com/necroliciouseng instead), I posted the following comment:

Please further note that I have actually rounded the total price down a bit because there is a 220 yen shipping fee on top of the price of the silver. This further does not account for currency exchange fees in the event that this is purchased using a non-Japanese credit card. All accounted for, everything is roughly $130 as I stated.

I just wanted to provide some additional context since Korea is a neighbour. I didn’t expect this off-hand comments to get a single like or gain any traction at all but it unexpectedly blew up–gaining nearly 200,000 views already & inspiring headlines worldwide.

Netizens Scream Fake, But is It True?

While headlines run rampant, silver influencers & no name crypto-bro accounts alike are screaming fake.

Firstly, is it true? It absolutely is true. Here is a direct link to this listing that anyone can verify. Note that, as with all silver listings everywhere, the price will be manually adjusted by the seller as they see fit based on market fluctuations. The price you see now upon checking the link may be higher or lower than when I screenshotted it.

While bitter crypto-bros are baselessly screaming fake on priciple alone. Silver influencers, including Bruce Ikemizu & James Anderson, alike are also getting this wrong.

They claim that this is a secondary seller an a secondary marketplace where anybody can price anything as they please & they are assuming this is just a random guy seeking exorbitant profits.

This is I believe where they are mistaken, simply due to not having reviewed the actual link directly as well as having no understanding of the policies which the marketplace has.

Who is the Seller?

There are indeed unverified sellers selling silver for higher prices & lower prices than what I commented but, again, they are not verified as Mercari Shop sellers. The seller of this silver round is ゴールド市場ドットコム (translation: Gold Marketplace). This is not some random fly-by-night greedy individual pricing things wantonly in order to fool people for unwarranted profit. This is one of the most widely recognized precious metal dealers in Japan. As an official affiliate of Scottsdale Mint, when I contacted Scottsdale Mint to get some limited edition pieces, this is who Scottsdale Mint directed me to contact.

Apart from their shop on Mercari, they have their own official website: https://gold-ichiba.com/en/.

Compare & contrast the pricing from their website to the pricing on Mercari, & you’ll notice a disconnect.

This is because Mercari charges a 10% transaction fee to sellers. In order to compensate for that fee, ゴールド市場 bullion prices on Mercari are likewise raised by 10%.

Japanese market spot price may be near US spot price, but when it comes to actual retail, there is a 10% consumption tax as well as a 10% platform fee & we haven’t even accounted for profits yet!

Despite what may be described as extra premiums on top of already expensive silver, they seem to be moving more silver on Mercari than their official website.

Why?

This is conjecture on my part, but I assume that this is because anybody can buy on Mercari, whereas a purchase direct from their website has only one possible payment method: bank transfer. Therefore, if you are not a Japanese resident–a requirement to open a Japanese bank account–there is no possibility for you to make a bullion purchase directly from the ゴールド市場 website (or any other bullion dealer that I am aware of). If you want to purchase using a credit card, convenience store payment or cash on delivery, Mercari & similar resale platforms are therefore your only options whether you are a resident of Japan or not. This is not all that strange considering that the price spread on even western bullion dealers is dramatically different when the payment method is check vs cryptocurrency vs credit card.

Arbitrage Trap

So now we’ve established how & why silver has a running price of about $130 in Japan. The sheer number had many looking for arbitrage profits foaming at the mouth, but I don’t think that will work out for 99.9% of the people who were speaking about it.

Again, if you are not a resident of Japan, you cannot open a Japanese bank account.

If you are not a resident of Japan, you cannot submit the government-issued Japanese ID necessary to withdraw money from a Mercari account into your Japanese bank account. It will remain on platform where you can only use it to purchase other things. If your goal is to purchase more silver, you will actually come out of this at a further loss since the prices & premiums are higher than where you are coming from.

I am aware of no bullion dealer that will buy any amount of bullion from anybody without government-issued Japanese ID. Even if you were able to sell to a Japanese bullion dealer directly, they are offering lower than retail price.

As seen here: https://www.material.co.jp/market.php.

I do not know why they have not updated this list since December 26, 2025, but let’s go with it:

Start with the given price: 402.05 JPY/gram.
Use the precise conversion factor: 1 troy ounce = 31.1034768 grams.
402.05 × 31.1034768: First, 402.05 × 31 = 12,463.55
Then, 402.05 × 0.1034768 ≈ 41.60
Total ≈ 12,505.15 JPY

12,505.15 JPY is approximately $79.80 USD as of January 2, 2026.

& there you have it. The majority of your arbitrage has just disappeared. You are out of flight & accommodation money, not to mention currency exchange fees, meaning you have likely come out of all this at a loss.

What If I’m Already in Japan?

Some have pointed out that Apmex ships to Japan. You’re still likely to see little, if any, profit in this scenario.

This is because there is a minimum shipping fee of $50 USD. Additionally, you will be assessed a 10% consumption tax on the total value of your purchase, which you must pay the mailman upon delivery or they will not give you your package.

The only scenario I can see in which an arbitrage opportunity actually exists is if a resident of Japan personally makes a physical trip outside of the country to pick up bullion to sell upon return. However, even then they must account for flight, accommodations, food, etc. & depending on this person’s employment, they may be subject to additional taxes on the bullion at customs. Furthermore, 10% of any transaction on Mercari or other site is going directly to the platform, not that person’s pockets. Mercari & other platforms offer introductory deals where perhaps your initial sale is not subject to their 10% fee but, without a solid reputation established, you are unlikely to make that sale in the first place because nobody wants to risk buying fake bullion from an unknown seller.

In closing. Yes, silver is retailing for over $130 with units moving at that price. In Japan.

This is not some greedy seller artificially hiking the price. It is a well known & respected Japanese bullion dealer merely accounting for platform fees.

Anybody outside of Japan seeking to leverage this opportunity to arbitrage is unlikely to find success in doing so.

I hope this information has helped set the record straight for everyone involved. I firmly believe silver is headed much higher & the squeeze is only just beginning. In the near future, we may look back at today’s prices & wish silver were still only $130. That said, as an individual—& specifically the one partly responsible for the “$130 Silver in Japan” headlines that have circulated—I wanted to offer some accountability & clarification. This experience also highlights exactly why I distrust the AI-generated “Asian Guy” silver influencer. As a fabricated entity, it can provide no such accountability. Anyone can replicate such that AI avatar to make it say whatever they want. Moreover, this “Asian Guy” operates through countless accounts, with the creator(s?) somehow proudly claiming ownership of them all. I don’t understand how anyone could place genuine trust in such a construct. I strongly advise caution: the kind of personal accountability I’ve just provided is simply impossible from an easily replicable, anonymous AI account.

I’m not a financial advisor & this is not financial advice, I’m just heavily invested in silver.

As I stated, I am not affiliated with the Japanese bullion dealers or listings above, but if you want to start investing in precious metals & want a FREE half-ounce of silver, sign up for Kinesis using my link!

Share this:

After Allegedly Investing $702M in AI Weaponry for israel While Claiming to Have No Money to Pay Musicians, Spotify’s Entire Catalogue Gets Scraped by Hacktivists & Made Free to the World

@necroliciouseng

After Allegedly Investing $702M in AI Weaponry for israel While Claiming to Have No Money to Pay Musicians, Spotify’s Entire Catalogue Gets Scraped by Hacktivists & Made Free to the World #Spotify #spotifyhack #spotifyleak #nomusicforgenocide #creatorsearchinsights

♬ оригинальный звук – MUSIC 90-2010s – JUST GOOD MUSIC

Spotify—the global music streaming giant—faces an unprecedented crisis. With a reported $1.33 billion profit in 2024, CEO Daniel Ek diverted $702 million to Helsing, a defence tech firm developing AI-powered weaponry. Allegations of ties to israeli military technology have fuelled a fierce Spotify boycott, amplified by the “No Music for Genocide” movement, which sees artists withdrawing their catalogues in protest. Meanwhile, artists fume over payments as low as fractions of a cent per stream. In a stunning twist, activist group Anna’s Archive scraped Spotify’s entire 300TB catalogue—86 million tracks—releasing it free for all. This bold move exposes the chasm between corporate greed & artist welfare.

Spotify’s Pitiful Payouts—Artists Left Penniless

Spotify’s payment model is a scandal, leaving most artists unpaid. The platform’s 1,000-stream minimum threshold excludes the majority, meaning countless musicians receive $0 for their contributions. For those who qualify, payouts average a meagre $0.0018 translating to $1,800–$3,000 for 1 million streams, far below a living wage for full-time professionals. Touring, a common survival tactic, is cost-prohibitive for most, with travel, equipment & promotion costs often exceeding earnings, particularly in high-cost markets. Spotify cites costs like taxes & fees as justification, but this rings hollow against its billion-dollar profits, sparking outrage among creators worldwide. As someone who has known & worked with a large number of musicians, I can say most are not rich. Those that can afford to have pulled their music, but many cannot. Even among those who can’t afford to, all who have chosen to leave their music on the platform in hopes of generating any sort of income are strongly against their songs being used to generate investments in killer machines rather than contributing to the music industry.

Nearly a Billion Dollars Diverted to Weaponry While Artists Starve

While Spotify claims financial constraints, its actions tell a different tale. Daniel Ek’s $702 million investment in Helsing, crafting lethal AI drones, dwarfs the pittances paid to artists and has drawn ire from the “No Music for Genocide” movement, which links it to alleged support for israeli weaponry. This massive investment in a single entity, made via his personal fund Prima Materia, contrasts sharply with the $11.7 billion paid to rights holders in 2024, of which its estimated 15,000,000 musicians see mere crumbs. The hypocrisy is glaring, as Ek’s war tech investment in a single entity matches 6% of that sum, prompting accusations of prioritising destruction over the livelihoods of those who fuel Spotify’s success. Saab’s supply chain links to israel, as a Helsing partner, further stokes speculation, intensifying the boycott.

The Activist’s Defiant Strike—Free Music for All

On December 20, 2025, Anna’s Archive, a pirate group famed for book digitisation, struck back. They scraped Spotify’s full catalogue, extracting 86 million audio files and 256 million metadata rows via public APIs, bypassing DRM. Released as a 300TB torrent, this “preservation archive” offers free access, challenging Spotify’s profits & future weapons investments. Prioritising 99.6% of popular streams, the scrape includes detailed artist data & audio features, now circulating on P2P networks. This empowers fans but threatens Spotify’s legal & financial stability, with supporters hailing it as a stand against greed & critics warning of piracy’s legal fallout. Timed with the boycott’s peak, this act amplifies the call for fairness.

The Fallout—Will Spotify Reform or Collapse?

Spotify confirms the scrape and investigates, hinting at tighter security measures. The boycott, backed by the “No Music for Genocide” movement & artists like Massive Attack, risks eroding its 600 million-plus user base. For fans, the 300TB torrent offers free music, though downloading invites legal risks. Musicians, especially in Japan, push for higher royalties, while competitors like Tidal gain traction. Searches for “Spotify boycott 2025,” “free music torrent,” and “Spotify artist pay” spike, boosting this topic’s relevance. The industry holds its breath, wondering if Spotify will raise payouts or lose ground in the face of this dual challenge.

Spotify’s saga, marred by a boycott over alleged israeli weaponry funding and a massive scrape, marks a turning point. The “No Music for Genocide” movement highlights the betrayal as billions fund war tech, while its 15,000,000 musician, particularly in Japan, languish on fractions of cents if they receive anything at all. Anna’s Archive’s free catalogue offers a defiant alternative, forcing a reckoning. The future of music streaming hangs in the balance.

What’s your stance? Should Spotify prioritise artists over weaponry or is the activist scrape justified? Share below & subscribe for more news!

Unless otherwise noted, image assets above are NOT original content & are shared under fair use doctrine with NO claims to authorship or ownership.
Contact necrolicious@necrolicious.com for credit or removal.


This post was sponsored by…ME! If you’d like to support, please buy my original meme merch from Necrolicious.store or check out my affiliate links to get yourself some other cool things. Additional affiliate links may be contained in the above article. If you click on an affiliate link & sign up/make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This does not increase the price you pay for the product or service, so it helps support this website at no cost to you.

Buy on SUZURI
Share this:

Are MicroSD Card Slots Poised for a Smartphone Comeback Amid Rising Storage Costs?

It’s nearly 2026, but my 2019 Samsung Galaxy S10 remains in daily use. Why? It was part of the final mainline Galaxy S lineup to ever include a microSD card slot. For me & countless other Android enthusiasts, this single feature represented genuine freedom: expandable storage that could be upgraded or replaced for pennies compared to the ever-escalating cost of built-in memory. When Samsung dropped the slot with the Galaxy S20 in 2020 & every flagship since, many of us felt the industry was simply copying Apple’s long-standing refusal to offer expandable storage on any iPhone. We warned that removing this incalculably beneficial feature would be bad for business – & now, in late 2025, it appears that prediction is proving more correct than ever. Soaring DRAM prices are pushing manufacturers to the limit, & the latest supply-chain intelligence strongly suggests that microSD card slots are being seriously reconsidered for future flagship devices. The feature we refused to surrender may be on the verge of a full-scale return.

In an era where smartphone storage demands continue to escalate, the prospect of expandable memory options returning to flagship devices has sparked considerable interest among consumers & industry observers alike. Recent reports suggest that surging prices for DRAM – the core component in device memory – may compel leading manufacturers to reinstate the microSD card slot, a feature absent from premium handsets for over six years. This potential revival could alleviate the financial burden on buyers facing ever-higher costs for internal storage upgrades, offering a more flexible & cost-effective alternative.

The Surge in DRAM Prices: A Catalyst for Change

Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) forms the backbone of smartphone storage, enabling the seamless multitasking & high-resolution media handling that modern users expect. However, global supply constraints have driven DRAM prices to unprecedented levels, with shortages projected to endure until at least the fourth quarter of 2027. Analysts note that prices for 12GB LPDDR5X components – essential for contemporary flagships – have more than doubled, climbing from $33 at the year’s outset to $70 per unit.

This escalation stems from broader semiconductor challenges, including production bottlenecks & heightened demand from data centres & AI applications. Even established players like Samsung have prioritised profitability over internal supply chains, reportedly declining bulk memory requests from their own mobile division in favour of quarterly contracts. As a result, manufacturers face mounting pressure to maintain competitive pricing without eroding margins, prompting a reevaluation of longstanding design choices.

Buy on Rakuten Japan

Why a MicroSD Comeback Makes Strategic Sense Now

With DRAM costs showing no signs of abating through 2026, reinstating microSD slots emerges as a pragmatic response for manufacturers. By enabling consumers to purchase entry-level storage models & augment them with high-capacity cards, brands can mitigate the need for across-the-board price hikes. This strategy not only preserves shipment volumes but also appeals to value-driven buyers, fostering loyalty in a saturated market.

Emerging standards like microSD Express further bolster the case, promising read & write speeds exceeding 800 MB/s – on par with internal SSDs. Samsung’s own 512 GB P9 Express card, available for around $75, exemplifies this evolution, delivering rapid transfers without the performance bottlenecks of older formats. Chinese supply chain whispers indicate that new flagships slated for the latter half of 2026 could integrate these slots.

Such a revival would democratise access to ample storage, empowering photographers, videographers, & power users to sidestep the escalating cost of built-in memory.

Looking Ahead: A More Inclusive Storage Landscape

Your trusty Galaxy S10 might soon stop being the last of its kind. As smartphone innovation accelerates, the rumoured return of microSD slots signals a potential recalibration towards consumer-centric design. The flexibility many of us miss may soon enhance the devices of tomorrow.

Unless otherwise noted, image assets above are NOT original content & are shared under fair use doctrine with NO claims to authorship or ownership.
Contact necrolicious@necrolicious.com for credit or removal.


This post was sponsored by…ME! If you’d like to support, please buy my original meme merch from Necrolicious.store or check out my affiliate links to get yourself some other cool things. Additional affiliate links may be contained in the above article. If you click on an affiliate link & sign up/make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This does not increase the price you pay for the product or service, so it helps support this website at no cost to you.

Buy on Suzuri
Share this:

I Told You So: How I Identified the Best Weekend to Buy Silver in Recorded History (So Far)

People who listen to me always benefit greatly, while people who ignore me always later weep & wail in regret wishing they had listened to me. Which type of person are you?

On 1 February 2025, I published an certain article. The headline read:
“With New 25% Tariffs Going Into Effect Monday – Is This the Best Weekend Ever to Buy Silver?”

I shared it across social media & declared without hesitation:
This weekend – 1 & 2 February – is the final opportunity to acquire silver at pre-tariff prices.

On Monday, 4 February 2025, the 25% tariffs on imports from Canada & Mexico took effect.
Silver never traded at those $30 levels again.

The Figures Speak for Themselves – I Pinpointed the Precise Low

  • My recommended purchase window (1–2 February): Spot silver settled the previous Friday between $31.80 & $32.40 per ounce. Physical bullion remained available at $33–$35 all-in from weekend dealers.
  • Nine months later: Silver reached an all-time nominal high of $54.47 on 17 October 2025.
  • Return for those who followed my advice: +67% to +75% in fewer than 300 days.
    → A $10,000 position acquired that weekend grew to $17,500 by late October.

I did not rely on fortune. I recognised that Mexico accounts for 44% of United States silver imports & Canada another 18%. I understood that markets would be closed all weekend, preventing institutional front-running & delaying premium increases.

I instructed readers to act while the COMEX was dark. Anyone who listened to me secured considerable gains.

The Two Strongest Consecutive Quarters in Over a Decade

The two quarters immediately following my article – Q1 & Q2 2025 – produced the most powerful sustained advance silver has recorded in the modern era.

PeriodAdvantage of My TimingOutcome
Q1 2025 (Jan–Mar)Purchased immediately before 4 February tariffs+15% quarter; high $34.21
Q2 2025 (Apr–Jun)Tariffs fully absorbed + industrial supply shock+28% quarter; 14-year highs near $37
Combined Q1–Q2Entry during my weekend window+48% in six months

No comparable two-quarter period in the past fifteen years delivered equivalent consistent gains without a subsequent 30–50% retracement.

  • The 2020 COVID rally achieved +85% across two quarters, followed by a 35% collapse.
  • The 2016 post-Brexit recovery managed +33%.
  • The 2011 pre-peak surge produced one exceptional quarter, then a multi-year bear market.

My recommendation delivered a clean, tariff-catalysed ascent to record territory – without interruption.

Evidence That I Issued the Call First – & Most Decisively

The original article remains live, exactly as I published it on 1 February 2025:
👉 https://necrolicious.com/with-new-25-tariffs-going-into-effect-monday-is-this-the-best-weekend-ever-to-buy-silver/

Timestamped. Unaltered. No retrospective revision.

The Final Assessment

History now confirms 1 & 2 February 2025 as the single most advantageous weekend to acquire physical silver in the modern era.

I identified the impending tariff impact.
I specified the precise 48-hour window.
I watched likeminded investors convert thousands of dollars into tens of thousands of dollars while mainstream analysts continued forecasting $28 silver.

Therefore, I claim this victory with justification.

To those who acted on my article – well done; your silver holdings have appreciated in value by more than 70%.
To those who did not – you missed this cycle, but you’re not too late. Silver price has been suppressed for 150 years & has a lot of upward action to make up for. Many say silver’s price could even quadruple within the next 2 quarters.

Don’t miss out.

Yours in silver,
– Necrolicious
The analyst who identified the silver price bottom on 1 February 2025 & can prove it.

I’m not a financial advisor & this is not financial advice, I’m just heavily invested in silver.

If you want to start investing in precious metals & want a FREE half-ounce of silver, sign up for Kinesis using my link!

Share this:

American SEC Ends Its Lawsuit Against Ripple, XRP Price Shows Little Reaction

The American Security Exchange Commission finally ended its lawsuit on 8/8 by dropping any further attempts at appealing the case.

One might rightfully expect major upward price action for XRP following such a landmark occasion. However, as of this writing, the price is only up 9%, at $3.33 USD. While a 9%-10% asset appreciation would be welcome in nearly any sector of finance, this is a far cry from the $100 per XRP the proponents have long said would be the immediate result of the lawsuit ending, let alone the $589 per XRP that maximalists have sworn would happen.

Meanwhile, Stellar XLM prices are up 25% more than XRP, appreciating 12%, for no particular reason as it was not directly subject to the SEC lawsuit.

Will we ever see $100, $589 or $1000 XRP prices?

I’m not a financial advisor & this is not financial advice, I’m just invested in XRP.

If you want to start investing in cryptocurrency & want a FREE half-ounce of silver, sign up for Kinesis using my link!

Share this:

Nintendo Switch Price Hikes in America: A Gaming Sector Symptom with Wider Tech Implications

In a groundbreaking move, Nintendo has raised prices for its original Switch consoles in the United States, defying the industry norm of reducing last-generation console prices until they’re phased out. This unprecedented shift, currently limited to America, signals broader economic pressures that could soon impact Japan & the entire tech sector, from computers to smartphones. With potential price hikes looming for both older & next-generation tech, buyers in Japan should act swiftly to secure their purchases.

Nintendo Switch Price Hikes: Old vs. New Prices in the US

Product                 Old Price (USD)  New Price (USD)  Price Increase (USD)
Original Nintendo Switch  $299.99          $339.99          $40.00
Nintendo Switch OLED      $349.99          $399.99          $50.00
Nintendo Switch Lite      $199.99          $229.99          $30.00
Alarmo                    $99.99           $109.99          $10.00
Switch 1 Joy-Cons (Pair)  $79.99           $89.99           $10.00

Notes:
- Prices for the Nintendo Switch 2 console and all Switch games (physical and digital) remain unchanged.
- The price hikes reflect “market conditions” and new tariffs, including a 20% levy on goods from Vietnam.
- While Japan is currently unaffected, global economic trends suggest potential future increases for both legacy and next-generation tech.

A Historic Price Increase in Gaming

The original Nintendo Switch, priced at $299.99 since 2017, now retails for $339.99 on Nintendo’s US online store. The Switch OLED has climbed from $349.99 to $399.99, & the Switch Lite has risen from $199.99 to $229.99. Accessories like the Alarmo ($109.99, up $10) & first-generation Switch Joy-Cons ($89.99, up $10) are also affected. However, the Switch 2 console & all Switch games—physical or digital—remain unchanged. This marks an industry first. Typically older console prices get marked down as new models launch, so Nintendo’s decision to increase them instead is a bold departure. With the Switch OLED now just $50 less than the $449.99 Switch 2 (which lacks an OLED display), the newer console may draw more buyers. The Switch 2 has sold over 6 million units despite supply challenges.

A Symptom of Broader Tech Trends

Nintendo attributes the hikes to “market conditions,” announced after similar increases in Canada on 1 August 2025. This follows President Donald Trump’s new “reciprocal” tariffs, including a 20% levy on goods from Vietnam, where Nintendo manufactures most products. These economic pressures aren’t unique to gaming—computers, smartphones, & other tech could soon see price increases, whether for last-generation models or cutting-edge releases.

Japan & the Global Outlook

While Japan is currently unaffected, global supply chain issues & tariffs could drive up costs for Japanese consumers, impacting not just legacy devices like the Switch but also upcoming tech like next-gen consoles, laptops, & phones. Waiting may mean paying more.

Buy Now to Stay Ahead

This gaming sector price hike is a warning sign for the broader tech industry. Whether you’re after a Switch Lite, an OLED model, or accessories, purchasing now could save you from future increases.

Unless otherwise noted, image assets above are NOT original content & are shared under fair use doctrine with NO claims to authorship or ownership.
Contact necrolicious@necrolicious.com for credit or removal.


This post was sponsored by…ME! If you’d like to support, please buy my original meme merch from Necrolicious.store or check out my affiliate links to get yourself some other cool things. Additional affiliate links may be contained in the above article. If you click on an affiliate link & sign up/make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This does not increase the price you pay for the product or service, so it helps support this website at no cost to you.

Share this:

What is the #Silversqueeze?

The Silver Squeeze (#silversqueeze) is heating up again, with prices now closing in on $40 (approximately 6,000 yen)/per ounce. However, since many people are unaware of what the Silver Squeeze is let alone how to profit from it, I continue to seek new and better ways to explain it so everyone can profit together.

Financial expert Michael Maloney has significantly simplified the concept in a video he posted back in March.

I have also translated this video into Japanese with the help of AI.

In the video, Maloney explains that a short squeeze occurs when entities & individuals borrow silver ETFs with the expectation that the price of silver will drop. They sell the shares they borrow, planning to buy back the shares at a lower price before returning them, so they can profit from the difference. This practice suppresses the true price of silver because they are trading silver contracts for which no physical silver exists. Currently, the COMEX allows approximately 400 paper contracts for every one ounce of physical silver they hold. Furthermore, each of those 400 contracts can also be leveraged up to 100 times–meaning the true value of silver is somewhere between 400x-4000x the current price. However, many individuals &, more importantly, entire nations within the BRICS bloc, have identified this scam & are calling the bluff. They are buying up all of the physical silver supply. Since there is not enough physical silver to back the ETF contracts, this action breaks the scam of the entities leveraging the criminally lax policies of the COMEX. It paves the way for true price discovery. The price of silver has been suppressed since the Coinage Act of 1873. Therefore, when true price discovery occurs, silver may jump in price anywhere between $1,200 per ounce to $12 million per ounce. Even by the lowest estimates, these are astronomical numbers, considering the current price is still under $40. With profit potential this massive, it can only be compared to buying Bitcoin when it was first released.

Step-by-Step Guide to Short Selling

Short selling is a trading strategy where an investor sells a security they do not own, with the expectation that its price will decline, allowing them to buy it back at a lower price to return to the lender and pocket the difference. Here’s how it works:

  1. Identify a Security to Short:
    • The investor identifies a security (e.g., a stock or, in this case, silver ETFs) that they believe will decrease in value. This could be based on fundamental analysis, technical indicators, or market sentiment.
  2. Borrow the Security:
    • The investor borrows the security from a broker or another investor who owns it. This borrowing is typically facilitated through a margin account, which allows the investor to borrow securities against the value of other assets in their account.
    • The broker will charge a fee or interest for lending the security, and the investor must maintain a certain level of margin (collateral) in their account.
  3. Sell the Borrowed Security:
    • The investor immediately sells the borrowed security on the open market at the current market price. This sale generates cash, which is held by the broker as collateral.
  4. Wait for the Price to Drop:
    • The investor waits for the price of the security to decline, as anticipated. During this period, they monitor the market and may use stop-loss orders or other risk management tools to limit potential losses if the price moves against them.
  5. Buy Back the Security (Cover the Short):
    • Once the price has dropped to a level the investor finds favorable, they buy back the same amount of the security they sold. This is known as “covering” the short position.
    • The investor returns the borrowed securities to the lender, and the difference between the sale price and the buyback price (minus borrowing fees and interest) is their profit.
  6. Return the Security:
    • The investor returns the exact number of shares (or units of the security) to the broker or lender, closing out the short position.

Example:

  • Suppose an investor shorts 100 shares of a silver ETF at $40 per share, receiving $4,000.
  • If the price drops to $30 per share, they buy back 100 shares for $3,000.
  • They return the 100 shares to the lender and keep the $1,000 difference as profit (minus any fees).

Risks of Short Selling:

  • Unlimited Losses: Unlike buying a security (where the maximum loss is the initial investment), short selling has theoretically unlimited loss potential because there is no cap on how high the price can rise.
  • Margin Calls: If the price of the security rises significantly, the investor may face a margin call, requiring them to deposit additional funds or close the position at a loss.
  • Short Squeeze Risk: If the price rises sharply, the investor may be forced to buy back the security at a higher price, leading to substantial losses.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Short Squeeze

A short squeeze occurs when the price of a heavily shorted security rises sharply, forcing short sellers to buy back the security to cover their positions, which in turn drives the price even higher. Here’s how it unfolds:

  1. Heavy Short Interest:
    • A security (e.g., silver ETFs) has a high number of shares sold short, meaning many investors are betting on a price decline. This creates a large short interest ratio, indicating that a significant portion of the float (shares available for trading) is shorted.
  2. Price Begins to Rise:
    • For various reasons (e.g., increased demand, positive news, or coordinated buying by long investors), the price of the security starts to rise. This could be due to fundamental factors, market manipulation, or a combination of both.
  3. Short Sellers Face Losses:
    • As the price rises, short sellers begin to incur losses because they must buy back the security at a higher price than they sold it for. This creates pressure on them to cover their positions to limit further losses.
  4. Covering Positions Drives Price Higher:
    • To cover their short positions, short sellers must buy back the security on the open market. This buying activity increases demand, which further drives up the price. This creates a feedback loop where the rising price forces more short sellers to cover, exacerbating the price increase.
  5. Panic Buying and Exponential Price Increase:
    • As more short sellers rush to cover their positions, the demand spike can lead to an exponential increase in the price. This is the essence of a short squeeze, where the price can rise dramatically in a short period.
  6. Long Investors Profit:
    • Investors who anticipated the short squeeze (often called “long squeezers”) benefit from the price increase. They may have bought the security at a lower price and are now selling at a much higher price, realizing significant profits.

Example:

  • Suppose 50% of a silver ETF’s float is shorted, and the price is $40 per share.
  • A group of investors (e.g., BRICS nations or retail investors) starts buying physical silver en masse, pushing the price to $45.
  • Short sellers, facing losses, begin to cover by buying back shares, which pushes the price to $50.
  • The increased demand from covering short positions continues to drive the price higher, potentially reaching $60 or more, causing severe losses for short sellers and massive gains for long investors.

How a Short Squeeze Breaks Short Selling (i.e. The Goal of the #Silversqueeze Movement)

  1. Forced Buy-Back to Exit with a Massive Short Position and Severe Supply Shortage:
    • Short sellers must return the borrowed securities to the lender by buying back the exact number of contracts they sold short. In the case of silver, the total short position is a staggering 882 million ounces, as reported in the COT (Commitments of Traders) data from July 8, 2025. However, the critical issue is the extreme imbalance between paper contracts and physical supply: the COMEX currently allows approximately 400 paper contracts for every one ounce of physical silver, meaning there is only enough silver inventory to fulfill 1 in 400 contracts, possibly only 1 in 4000 contracts.
    • To exit their positions, short sellers must purchase these 882 million ounces on the open market. With only a fraction of this amount (approximately 2.205 million ounces of physical silver available if we assume 882 million ÷ 400 = 2.205 million ounces of backing), the demand triggered by a short squeeze far exceeds the available supply. At the current price of approximately $40 per ounce, the theoretical cost to buy back 882 million ounces is $35.28 billion. If the squeeze drives the price to $60 per ounce due to the supply shortage, the cost would rise to $52.92 billion, resulting in potential losses of $17.64 billion for short sellers who sold at the lower price. This lack of physical silver to meet the demand makes the buy-back process catastrophic, breaking the short selling strategy.
  2. Loss of Control Over Exit Timing and Price Due to Supply Constraints:
    • Normally, short sellers can choose when to buy back the securities based on their market analysis. However, with only 1 in 400 contracts backed by physical silver, a short squeeze triggers a rapid price increase as demand outstrips the minuscule 2.205 million ounces of available inventory. This forces short sellers to act quickly to limit losses, stripping them of control over the timing and price of the buy-back.
    • Margin calls become inevitable as the value of the shorted contracts soars, compelling short sellers to buy back at exorbitant prices in a market where physical silver is virtually unobtainable.
  3. Increased Demand from Covering Positions Exacerbated by Supply Shortage:
    • As short sellers rush to buy back the 882 million ounces to exit their positions, their buying activity collides with a market where only about 2.205 million ounces of physical silver can theoretically back the contracts. This demand surge, far exceeding the available supply, drives the price exponentially higher, creating a feedback loop that intensifies the squeeze. The more short sellers attempt to cover, the more they contribute to the price increase, making it nearly impossible to exit without massive losses.
  4. Exponential Losses Due to Price Escalation and Supply Scarcity:
    • The necessity to buy back at higher prices, compounded by the lack of physical silver, results in exponential losses. For example, if a short seller sold contracts representing 100,000 ounces at $40 per ounce and the price rises to $60 due to the squeeze and supply shortage, they must buy back those 100,000 ounces at $60 each, incurring a $2 million loss. Scaled to the 882 million ounces, with only 2.205 million ounces available, the losses could escalate to billions as prices could theoretically soar to hundreds or thousands of dollars per ounce in a full squeeze scenario.
  5. Market Manipulation and Coordinated Buying Amplify the Supply Crisis:
    • Coordinated buying by long investors, such as nations within the BRICS block demanding physical delivery, intensifies the squeeze by further depleting the already scant 2.205 million ounces of physical silver. This makes it nearly impossible for short sellers to source the 882 million ounces needed to exit, exposing the scam of leveraging 400:1 paper contracts and forcing buy-backs in a market with no adequate supply.
  6. True Price Discovery and Long-Term Impact Driven by Supply Reality:
    • The short squeeze leads to true price discovery, where the market price reflects the actual supply (a mere 2.205 million ounces against 882 million ounces of short interest) and demand dynamics, rather than being suppressed by short selling activities. For short sellers, this means their strategy of betting on a price decline is obliterated, as the market corrects to a valuation reflecting the severe supply shortage.
    • The long-term impact is a potential deterrent for short sellers in markets with such a dramatic imbalance, especially as the physical silver shortage becomes undeniable.

Comparison and Connection

  • Short Selling vs. Short Squeeze: Short selling is a strategy to profit from a price decline, while a short squeeze is a market phenomenon that occurs when the price rises sharply, undermining the short selling strategy. The short squeeze breaks short selling by forcing short sellers to act against their original plan, often at great financial cost.
  • Silver Specifics: In the context of silver, the short squeeze is particularly impactful because of the high ratio of paper contracts to physical silver (400:1 on the COMEX). When investors demand physical delivery, it exposes the lack of physical silver, triggering a squeeze that can lead to exponential price increases.
  • Historical Context: The suppression of silver prices since the Coinage Act of 1873 sets the stage for a potential massive price jump during a squeeze, similar to early Bitcoin adoption, where early investors saw exponential returns due to underestimated value and growing demand.

TLDR

In poker terms, short sellers are bluffing & silver investors are calling the short sellers’ bluff.
When the short sellers lose, silver will be repriced between 400-4000 times the current price.

I’m not a financial advisor & this is not financial advice, I’m just heavily invested in silver.

If you want to start investing in precious metals & want a FREE half-ounce of silver, sign up for Kinesis using my link!

Share this:

Has the Gold-to-Silver Ratio Peaked at 107? A Return to the 50-Year Average Could More Than Double Silver’s Price While a Return to the Lows Could Triple It!

Recently, the gold-to-silver ratio has hovered between 100 and 107 ounces of silver equaling the cost of one ounce of gold. However, data from the past 50 years shows that the average ratio is significantly lower, lingering in the low 50s. A return to this average could more than double silver’s price.

Delving deeper, the ratio’s most recent low was in 2011, at just 32 ounces of silver equaling one ounce of gold. A return to this level would mean approximately a tripling of silver’s current price. Moreover, historical analysis beyond the past 50 years shows that the gold-to-silver ratio has varied between 2:1 and 15:1, averaging around 7:1. Current mining ratios align with this, as 7 ounces of silver are mined for every 1 ounce of gold.

Additional arguments highlight silver’s unique dynamics. While gold is primarily stored in vaults, silver is consumed in various industries, including medicinal, energy (solar and battery technologies), coinage, and jewelry. Some believe the real gold-to-silver ratio could be as low as 1:1, awaiting price discovery and revaluation based on inflation, scarcity as well as other factors.

All these logistics suggest silver may represent one of the safest investment opportunities. For reference, here are charts based on today’s prices can illustrate potential silver prices if the gold-to-silver ratio reverts to historical averages or even approaches a 1:1 valuation against gold. Note that even the 85-1 ratio. currently exceeds the spot price as of this writing. In my non-professional opinion, this is further indication of silver’s unnatural price manipulation, which cannot continue infinitely for a commodity with a finite supply & average annual deficits of nearly 200 million ounces for the past 5 years running.

USD

Gold-to-Silver RatioSilver Price ($ per troy ounce)
103:1$32.36
75:1$44.44
60:1$55.55
50:1$66.66
40:1$83.33
30:1$111.10
20:1$166.65
10:1$333.30
1:1$3,333.00

JPY

Gold-to-Silver RatioSilver Price (JPY per troy ounce)
103:14,628.40
75:16,355.99
60:17,944.99
50:19,533.99
40:111,917.49
30:115,889.99
20:123,834.98
10:147,669.96
1:1476,699.59

I’m not a financial advisor & this is not financial advice, I’m just heavily invested in silver.

If you want to start investing in precious metals & want a FREE half-ounce of silver, sign up for Kinesis using my link!

Share this:

The Economic Toll of Tariffs on Indie Gaming: A Sector Under Siege

As trade wars escalate, tariffs on imported goods have sent shockwaves through global markets, with the gaming industry emerging as an unforeseen casualty. Independent game developers—the lifeblood of innovation within this sector—are grappling with unprecedented challenges. Operating on limited budgets & reliant on international supply chains, these creators face mounting pressures that threaten their sustainability. This article examines the far-reaching impact of tariffs on indie gaming, analysing rising production costs, shifting price dynamics, adaptive strategies, & the broader implications for the industry’s future.

Escalating Costs: A Barrier to Creativity

For indie developers, affordable hardware is essential. Graphics processing units (GPUs), development kits, & other critical components, often sourced from tariff-targeted nations like China, have seen price surges—sometimes exceeding 30%. Such increases strain the finances of small studios, which lack the reserves of larger firms. The consequences are severe: projects may be deferred, features scaled back, or, in extreme cases, abandoned entirely. As one industry observer noted, “These costs are inevitably passed on to consumers, & this is going to make your games more expensive,” highlighting the direct link between tariffs & the economic pressures facing developers.

Price Sensitivity & Consumer Response

Rising production costs inevitably affect game pricing, a sensitive issue for indie titles traditionally positioned as budget-friendly alternatives to AAA offerings. As developers pass on these expenses, consumers—already navigating tariff-driven inflation in other sectors—may resist higher prices, potentially reducing sales volumes. Compounding this, the uncertainty of ongoing trade disputes fosters market instability, prompting gamers to delay purchases. This hesitancy risks further eroding the revenue streams that indie studios depend upon, amplifying the tariffs’ disruptive impact.

Strategic Adaptations: Resilience in Adversity

In response, indie developers are deploying innovative strategies to mitigate these pressures. A shift towards digital-only releases leverages platforms like Steam & itch.io, circumventing the tariff-related costs of physical production & distribution. However, even this approach cannot fully insulate developers from rising hardware expenses. Some are exploring alternative suppliers or localised manufacturing, though such transitions demand time & resources that many lack. Larger players, such as Nintendo, have adjusted by delaying product launches—such as the anticipated Switch 2 preorders in the US—to assess tariff implications, a tactic smaller studios may struggle to emulate.

Long-Term Horizons: Transformation or Decline?

Should tariffs persist, the indie gaming landscape could undergo profound changes. A reduction in new releases seems likely as funding dwindles, though a pivot towards less resource-intensive games—such as narrative-driven or retro-style titles—might emerge as a cost-effective alternative. This shift could spark a wave of creative innovation, redefining the sector’s output. Concurrently, regions less encumbered by trade disputes may witness a rise in local gaming industries, diversifying the global market. However, these potential benefits hinge on developers’ ability to weather immediate financial challenges.

Preserving a Vital Ecosystem

The indie gaming sector stands at a critical juncture, its vibrancy imperilled by tariffs yet buoyed by its inherent adaptability. Community support remains a lifeline—crowdfunding & early access models offer avenues to offset costs, while player advocacy can sustain demand. The cultural stakes are high: a diminished indie scene risks stifling the creativity & diversity that define it. By prioritising indie titles, the gaming community can bolster this resilient ecosystem, ensuring that tariffs do not extinguish the innovative spirit that colours the industry’s future.

Unless otherwise noted, image assets above are NOT original content & are shared under fair use doctrine with NO claims to authorship or ownership.
Contact necrolicious@necrolicious.com for credit or removal.


This post was sponsored by…ME! If you’d like to support, please buy my original meme merch from Necrolicious.store or check out my affiliate links to get yourself some other cool things. Additional affiliate links may be contained in the above article. If you click on an affiliate link & sign up/make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This does not increase the price you pay for the product or service, so it helps support this website at no cost to you.

Share this:

Mark Your Calendars: The Next #SilverSqueeze Raid Day is March 31, 2025

A striking post on X by user @TheSqeakyMouse reignited a financial movement that first gained traction in 2021: the #SilverSqueeze. The post called for a coordinated effort to “take back price control & break the banks” by buying silver on 31 March. The message quickly garnered attention, sparking replies from users pledging to join the movement, with many committing to purchase physical silver in significant quantities. But what exactly is the #SilverSqueeze, & why is it making waves again in 2025? Let’s delve into the history, motivations, & potential implications of this movement for investors & the silver market.

The #SilverSqueeze movement initially emerged in early 2021, following the infamous GameStop short squeeze orchestrated by Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets community. As detailed in a post from r/SilverSqueeze on 16 February 2021, the aim was to target the silver market, which many believed to be manipulated by large financial institutions through short positions. The strategy was simple yet ambitious: encourage retail investors to buy physical silver—whether coins, bars, or silver-backed ETFs—to drive up demand & force a short squeeze. This scenario would compel short-sellers to repurchase silver at inflated prices to cover their positions. The movement gained traction on platforms like Reddit, Twitter, & TikTok, with users sharing images of their silver purchases & rallying others to join.

Fast forward to 2025, & @TheSqeakyMouse’s post suggests the #SilverSqueeze is far from over. The billboard image shared in the post—representing a powerful visual of grassroots activism—underscores the movement’s persistence. Replies to the post indicate growing momentum.

@TheSqeakyMouse emphasised the importance of focusing on physical silver, stressing the value of tangible investments over paper assets like ETFs or stocks. This focus aligns with the original ethos of the 2021 movement, as physical purchases directly influence supply & demand dynamics in a way that paper trades often fail to achieve.

Silver’s market dynamics make it an ideal candidate for such a movement. According to a 2024 report from Sprott, the global silver market is relatively small, valued at approximately $30 billion annually—dwarfed by larger commodities like gold or copper. This smaller market size allows even modest shifts in demand to result in significant price volatility. The report also highlighted that global silver demand in 2024 was projected to reach 1.21 billion ounces, marking the second-highest level on record, driven by industrial applications in green technologies like solar panels & heightened investment interest amidst economic uncertainty. Yet, supply struggled to keep pace, with inventory depletion on exchanges such as the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) signalling potential price increases.

Historically, silver has been a volatile asset. Hero Bullion notes that silver prices have ranged from a low of $5.84 to a high of $49.45, with significant crashes, such as the 2013 drop from $27 to $18 per ounce. However, as Blackwell Global points out, silver’s dual role as both an industrial metal & a safe-haven investment makes it sensitive to a broad array of factors, including geopolitical tensions, regulatory changes, & the gold-silver ratio—a metric traders use to gauge relative value. In 2024, silver’s price trends continued to reflect this volatility, with Live Mint reporting a price of ₹77,800/kg in Delhi on 31 March 2024—a slight uptick that might foreshadow further movement if the #SilverSqueeze gains traction.

What does this mean for investors in 2025? The #SilverSqueeze taps into a broader sentiment of distrust towards financial institutions, echoing the anti-establishment fervour of the 2021 GameStop saga. For those considering participation, the emphasis on physical silver offers a tangible way to engage, though it also carries risks. Silver’s inherent volatility presents opportunities for gains but equally leaves room for dramatic price swings.

The #SilverSqueeze is more than just a financial strategy—it represents a call to action for retail investors to challenge the status quo. Whether it will succeed in “breaking the banks” remains uncertain, but as 31 March 2025 approaches, the silver market may be bracing for a turbulent ride. Are you ready to join the squeeze?

I’m not a financial advisor & this is not financial advice, I’m just heavily invested in silver.

If you want to start investing in precious metals & want a FREE half-ounce of silver, sign up for Kinesis using my link!

Share this: