Gold And Silver Both Hits Record High While Bitcoin Struggles

Gold surged to a fresh all-time high of $4,739 per ounce in futures trading as investors rushed into traditional safe-haven assets amid escalating geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

In contrast, Bitcoin slipped to around $90,900, underscoring growing volatility in digital assets following U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats against Europe.

The rally in precious metals has extended well beyond gold. Silver climbed to $94.68 per ounce, notching five record highs in 2026 alone, as investors sought shelter from rising macroeconomic risk. Over the past 12 months, gold has surged more than 81%, marking one of its strongest annual performances on record and reinforcing its long-standing role as a hedge during periods of market stress.

Market anxiety intensified after Trump announced plans to impose 10% tariffs on imports from eight European countries, with the rate set to rise to 25% by June if negotiations fail. The proposed measures—linked to Trump’s controversial push for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland”—have reignited fears of a broader transatlantic trade conflict. European leaders reportedly convened emergency meetings as global markets reacted sharply.

U.S. equity futures reflected the growing unease, with Dow Jones futures pointing to a 378-point decline, S&P 500 futures down 0.9%, and Nasdaq 100 futures sliding 1.1%, signaling a weak start to trading.

The shockwaves extended to bond markets, particularly in Japan, where the 40-year government bond yield climbed above 4%, its highest level since inception. Shorter-dated bonds also sold off, with the 10-year yield rising to 2.3%—levels not seen since 1999—and the 20-year yield jumping to 3.35%, highlighting widespread investor caution.

Ethereum, XRP And Solana All Suffers

Other cryptocurrencies weren't spared from the sell-off. Beyond Bitcoin’s pullback, Ethereum dropped more than 3% over 24 hours, while XRP and Solana declined over 2%, reflecting a broader retreat from risk assets as capital flowed into safer alternatives.

Still, some market observers see a potential silver lining for crypto. Bitcoin investor Lark Davis noted that gold’s momentum toward the $5,000 level, a key Fibonacci extension, could eventually trigger a rotation of capital back into digital assets once precious metals peak.

For now, however, the divergence is clear: gold and silver are once again leading as crisis hedges, while Bitcoin and the broader crypto market grapple with heightened volatility tied to real-world political and trade shocks.