In January 2026, a curious tectonic shift occurred in the financial markets. While crypto enthusiasts were waiting for the next “to the moon” moment, the public’s attention was suddenly captured by traditional safe-haven assets. According to the analytics platform Santiment, precious metals outperformed cryptocurrencies in social media popularity this month for the first time in years.
A Chronology of the “Gold Rush”
The surge in interest didn’t happen in a vacuum—it was driven by assets hitting new All-Time Highs (ATH). The social media buzz throughout January followed a distinct pattern:
- January 8 – 18: Gold dominates the information space. The primary catalyst was gold breaking the psychological barrier of $5,000 per ounce.
- January 19 – 22: A brief return to digital assets. Traders attempted to “buy the dip” during a crypto market correction, momentarily pushing Bitcoin and altcoins back into the spotlight.
- Late January: A second wave of hype surrounded silver. The “Devil’s Metal” hit a new ATH, reclaiming its leadership in terms of social mentions.
Santiment Analysis:
“Crypto traders are notorious for their habit of rotating between different sectors based on the latest hype cycle—whether it’s meme coins, ‘blue chips,’ or AI tokens. Social metrics show that capital and attention are now flowing toward gold, silver, and the stock market, following the latest pumps.”
Red Flags: Silver and the FOMO Trap
On January 27, silver prices updated their historical maximum once again. However, analysts are quick to cool the heels of retail investors. According to social metrics, an aggressive spike in mentions combined with mass FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) often signals a “market top.”
A Tale of Volatility:
Experts pointed to a recent scenario where, at the height of retail hype, silver skyrocketed to $117, only to crash below $102.70 just two hours later, leaving late buyers deep in the red.
| Asset | Status (Late Jan) | Market Psychology |
| Gold | Stable growth above $5,000 | Confidence in the “Safe Haven” |
| Silver | Extreme volatility | Peak FOMO; Risk of correction |
| Crypto | Bottom fishing / Consolidation | Waiting for a new catalyst |
Is Crypto Still in the Race?
Despite the “hype” shifting toward metals, fundamental interest in the blockchain industry remains robust. Google Trends data tells a slightly different story than social media
- On January 25, the search query “crypto” hit a perfect score of 100 points.
- Users remain deeply interested in practical entry points, with top queries including “best crypto,” “what is crypto,” and “crypto price.”
The Bottom Line: We are witnessing a temporary desynchronization. Social media (representing “fast money”) is preoccupied with gold’s record-breaking run, while the average user is still using search engines to study the crypto market, likely preparing for the next cycle.
