Tokenized silver volumes explode as metal's price rises to record

Markets Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Tokenized silver volumes explode as metal's price rises to record A sharp jump in tokenized silver trading suggests investors are getting exposure to the metal onchain. By Sam Reynolds | Edited by Sheldon Reback Dec 29, 2025, 8:47 a.m. Tokenized silver is in demand as the metal's price rises. (Scottsdale Mint modified by CoinDesk) What to know : Interest in silver is rising in tokenized markets, with trading volumes increasing alongside futures and ETFs due to recent price volatility. The tokenized version of the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) saw a 1,200% increase in monthly transfer volume and a 300% rise in holders over the past 30 days. Silver's price surge is driven by supply constraints, increased demand from the solar-power industry and macroeconomic factors, with physical markets diverging from paper pricing. Interest in silver is spilling into tokenized markets, with onchain trading volumes rising in parallel with activity in futures and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as the metal experiences volatility after hitting successive record highs all month. Data from RWA.xyz shows the monthly transfer volume for its tokenized version of the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has jumped more than 1,200% over the past 30 days, alongside a roughly 300% increase in holders and a near 40% rise in net asset value. STORY CONTINUES BELOW Don't miss another story. Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today . See all newsletters Sign me up By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . Tokenization involves representing real-world assets, such as private equity, real estate, commodities and more, as digital tokens on a blockchain. The process helps make the assets more easily tradable and divisible, opening up new possibilities for fractional ownership and liquidity. The tokenized silver trust, for example, allows non-U.S. investors to gain exposure to SLV, with the ability to mint, redeem and transfer tokens around the clock. Pricing in physical markets has diverged sharply from pricing of futures, with analysts pointing to premiums in Asia reaching double-digit levels over COMEX, and the London forward curve sitting in backwardation — meaning that at close to $80 an ounce the metal costs more today than in future, a sign of near-term supply stress. Silver’s rally has been driven by a convergence of supply constraints, structural demand and macro tailwinds that have tightened physical markets. Analysts point to China's decision to impose export licensing on refined silver starting Jan. 1 as adding to concerns around supply availability — raising prices — while higher futures margins and year-end positioning have complicated trading in traditional venues. https://t.co/rKwF6Gn56n — Campbell (@abcampbell) December 28, 2025 At the same time, demand from the solar-power industry continues to rise, with silver consumption tied to photovoltaic manufacturing remaining largely inelastic even after prices more than tripled from 2024 levels. Silver's onchain rally in parallel to its TradFi counterpart seems to be another datapoint to demonstrate that tokenized versions of assets are a trend that's here to stay. Silver Tokenized Assets RWA.xyz Real World Assets More For You State of the Blockchain 2025 By CoinDesk Research Dec 19, 2025 Commissioned by Input Output Group L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below. What to know : 2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns. This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026. View Full Report More For You Digital yuan holdings to earn interest under China's new framework By Omkar Godbole , AI Boost | Edited by Sam Reynolds 1 hour ago The new framework due Jan. 1 will let banks pay interest on clients' e-CNY holdings. 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