End of Financial Freedom? Why Owning Gold & Silver Is More Critical Than Ever

Global financial markets are undergoing a profound transformation. In the latest episode of Live from the Vault, John Lee, CEO of Silver Elephant Mining Corp joins Andrew Maguire to examine how central bank digital currencies, programmable money, and digital ID systems are steadily eroding traditional notions of financial freedom. 

Unlike past crises, today’s risks are not primarily inflation or interest rate movements-they stem from an increasing ability of governments and institutions to control money itself. This creates an urgent need for tangible assets that exist entirely outside digital oversight.

See all episodes of Live from the Vault

Silver is entering a rare technical phase, one that could mark a generational opportunity for investors. Historical highs around $50 an ounce, seen in 1980 and 2011, are being challenged once more – but today’s conditions are markedly different. 

Supply remains constrained, global demand is rising, and the macro backdrop, including a rebounding Chinese economy and reflationary policies, supports further upside. Technical patterns suggest silver could surge to $85-$150, representing not speculation, but a revaluation in line with its fundamental scarcity and utility.

Gold has already demonstrated its role as a safe haven, breaking through previous ceilings and accelerating toward new highs. Yet silver remains undervalued relative to gold, signalling a rotation from one precious metal to the other. 

Beyond price movements, the shift is structural: markets are moving away from paper-based contracts toward physical settlement, where ownership of tangible bullion confers security, autonomy, and privacy.

Emerging financial technologies are not neutral. Central bank digital currencies, integrated digital IDs, and programmable money threaten to restrict spending, travel, and access to funds, effectively placing monetary freedom under centralised control. 

Historical experiments, from pandemic lockdowns to social credit systems in parts of Asia, demonstrate how easily technology can enforce compliance. In such an environment, physical gold and silver are no longer just investments – they can act as lifelines for preserving independence.

Markets increasingly favour those close to monetary control, while ordinary citizens face tightening conditions. Billionaires and family offices are quietly stockpiling physical bullion, not for short-term gains, but to safeguard autonomy. For everyday investors, silver coins and gold bars represent financial sovereignty – a form of security that remains outside the reach of digital oversight or policy manipulation.

Investing in physical metals is only part of the story. Strategic exposure to mining companies, especially those producing silver, vanadium, and rare earths, offers additional leverage and security. These resources are increasingly vital for national security and high-tech industries, making them both scarce and strategically significant. Diversifying across jurisdictions mitigates geopolitical risk while maintaining exposure to essential materials underpinning the global economy.

John Lee’s central message is clear: financial freedom is under threat, and traditional paper-based assets may offer little protection. According to the seasoned expert, gold and silver remain some of the most reliable instruments to preserve wealth, liquidity, and autonomy in an increasingly digitised, controlled financial system.