How will the precious metals perform in 2026? The complete guide to Gate Gold, Silver, and Perpetual Contract Trading

“Multiple narratives” are dominating the market—analysts point out that the strong performance of precious metals is primarily driven by macroeconomic easing expectations and a shift in the global growth paradigm.

At Gate, investors can participate in this market that combines tradition and innovation through a series of perpetual contracts for precious metals. According to Gate market data, as of January 26, 2026, the latest price of XAUTUSDT is approximately 5,065.3 USDT/ounce, and the silver contract XAGUSDT is about 107.71 USDT/ounce. This price level is significantly higher—about 150%—than the average prices from 2015 to 2019.

Current Market: The Price Code of Gold and Silver

As of January 26, 2026, the precious metals market shows a high-level consolidation. Data from Gate’s precious metals USDT perpetual contracts indicate that the latest price of gold-related contracts XAUTUSDT is approximately 5,065.3 USDT/ounce, up 0.41% in 24 hours. Meanwhile, the XAUUSDT contract is quoted at about 5,050.39 USDT/ounce, with a 24-hour increase of 1.04%. Silver performs even more impressively, with the latest price of XAGUSDT at approximately 107.71 USDT/ounce, with a single-day increase of 3.92%.

Looking back at historical trends, gold prices in 2025 achieved remarkable performance, with an annual increase of over 60%, making it one of the strongest assets in decades. World Bank data shows that gold prices surged nearly 25% in the first half of 2025, reaching a new all-time high.

Analysts point out that this rally is mainly driven by macroeconomic uncertainty, central banks continuously increasing gold reserves, and rising geopolitical tensions worldwide. The silver market exhibits a more complex dynamic. A report from China Post Securities notes that after April 2025, silver outperformed gold, mainly due to the recovery of market risk appetite and greater flexibility gained during physical trading.

It is noteworthy that silver has experienced supply-demand imbalances for five consecutive years, with declining inventories creating a tense spot market, further increasing price elasticity.

Market Dynamics: The Attraction Field of Precious Metals and Digital Assets

Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone, in his 2026 annual outlook on January 25, suggested that under the tightening global financial environment and low volatility, investors may favor safe-haven assets, and he expects gold and silver to trend stronger. As 2026 begins, investors are re-evaluating the value framework of scarce assets. The focus has shifted from simple supply levels to narratives, entry channels, liquidity, and portability.

As a traditional safe-haven asset, gold’s advantages lie in global trust consensus and its stable role as collateral. Silver, due to its dual industrial and investment demand attributes, shows unique market signals. The traditional correlation between gold and Bitcoin is being redefined. The relationship between gold and silver prices is also worth noting, with the gold-silver ratio serving as an important indicator of their relative value.

The 2025 market shows clear differentiation in preferences for different precious metals at various stages. In the first phase (early in the year), gold significantly outperformed silver, while in the second phase (after mid-August), silver notably outperformed gold.

Asset Comparison: Traditional Precious Metals vs. Digital Gold

In the 2026 investment landscape, understanding the characteristics and differences of various scarce assets is crucial. We compare the core features of gold, silver, and Bitcoin in the table below:

There are fundamental differences between precious metals and traditional digital assets, but also similarities. The World Bank report highlights that silver, as an important industrial raw material for renewable energy and semiconductors, has unique support from industrial demand. This characteristic allows silver to play a different role in investment portfolios compared to gold and Bitcoin.

Strategy Construction: Core Logic of Perpetual Contract Trading

Trading precious metals perpetual contracts on Gate allows investors to employ various strategies to capture market opportunities. Unlike spot trading, contract trading enables leverage, two-way trading (long/short), and amplification of capital efficiency through margin, without the need for physical delivery of gold.

Short-term volatility trading is suitable during periods of increased market fluctuations, allowing traders to seize short-term price movements based on technical analysis. Data from Gate shows that as of January 26, 2026, both gold and silver exhibit significant intraday volatility, especially silver with nearly 4% daily gains, providing ample price space for short-term traders.

Medium- to long-term trend following requires macroeconomic analysis. Currently, the market is focused on the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy path, global economic uncertainties, and geopolitical risks. Gate’s perpetual contracts support multiple leverage options, enhancing capital efficiency but also requiring proper risk management.

Risk management is central to contract trading. Investors should understand that while contracts improve capital efficiency and strategy diversity, they also carry volatility and leverage risks. Setting reasonable stop-loss points is fundamental for risk control. For example, some traders on Gate have shared strategies with approximately 0.16% stop-loss levels.

Trading Tools: Practical Guide to Gate Precious Metals Contracts

On the Gate platform, precious metals perpetual contracts offer multiple options. Gold contracts include XAUT_USDT, XAU_USDT, and PAXG_USDT, among others, while silver is represented by XAG_USDT. All these contracts are USDT-denominated, allowing users to participate in long/short trading of gold prices without physical delivery.

Key market events to watch include Federal Reserve rate decisions, US inflation data releases, escalation of global geopolitical tensions, and central bank gold reserve announcements. The World Bank report notes that central banks’ continued gold purchases support gold prices, reflecting changes in reserve management strategies.

Money management is a critical component of successful trading. Gate’s perpetual contracts support various leverage multiples, and investors should choose leverage levels based on their risk tolerance and market volatility. Analysts recommend paying attention to the impact of USD and real interest rate changes on precious metal premiums when trading at new highs.

For investors seeking to optimize strategies further, using silver positions to hedge against gold price fluctuations can be considered. Some analysts suggest that in uncertain short- to medium-term markets, allocating silver positions for hedging can reduce risks triggered by news shocks.

In early 2026, as precious metals prices consolidate at high levels, trading logic is quietly shifting. In McGlone’s outlook, silver and gold are expected to continue strengthening. Facing high-level volatility and structural opportunities in the precious metals market, Gate’s gold and silver perpetual contracts offer investors new ways to participate in this traditional sector. The price of the silver contract XAGUSDT, starting from 107.71 USDT/ounce on Gate’s market page, is backed by five consecutive years of supply shortages and declining inventories. As the market shifts from simple price speculation to a comprehensive consideration of scarcity, liquidity, and multi-narrative factors, the definition of “store of value” is being rewritten.