Often referred to as “poor man’s gold,” silver has shed that modest title, rising nearly 270% over the past year to hit $118. Green Energy: Solar panel manufacturing continues to consume massive quantities of physical silver. Central Bank Diversification: Central banks across the Global South are aggressively swapping dollar reserves for physical gold to insulate themselves from potential sanctions and dollar volatility. Central banks across the Global South are aggressively swapping dollar reserves for physical gold to insulate themselves from potential sanctions and dollar volatility. While the U.S. Treasury has officially reiterated its commitment to a “strong dollar policy,” the market’s actions suggest a different reality.