Silver Rises Over 120% YTD 
When news broke about the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the reaction across social media was immediate—and predictable.
Oil.
Drugs.
Silver shortages.
Depending on who you follow, Venezuela was suddenly “the silver story of the decade” or proof that the U.S. was desperate for raw materials. But as Alan Hibbard explains, most of these takes miss the real point.
This story isn’t primarily about silver at all.
It’s about regime certainty — and gold sits at the center of it.
The Silver Narrative Sounds Good — But It Falls Apart
There’s no question that silver markets are tight. Alan has been clear for years that silver shortages are real and that silver could have a strong run ahead, particularly into 2026.
But tying Venezuela directly to a near-term silver price surge doesn’t hold up.
Much of the online chatter focuses on Venezuela’s Arco Minero region, often described as sitting on massive deposits of silver and other strategic metals. The implication is that the U.S. acted to secure those metals.
The problem?
When you actually look at the geology, silver isn’t the dominant resource.
Gold is.
Silver exists in Venezuela largely as a byproduct, not as a primary driver. If this were really about silver supply, the actions taken — and the policies behind them — would look very different.
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What the U.S. Actually Targeted: Gold, Oil, and Banking
To understand what’s happening, Alan goes back to the source documents most commentators never read: U.S. sanctions policy.
Over the past two decades, the U.S. has imposed a wide range of sanctions on Venezuela. But one moment stands out.
In Executive Order 13850, issued in 2018, the U.S. explicitly names the gold sector of the Venezuelan economy as subject to sanctions. Gold is the only sector called out by name.
Later actions expanded sanctions to include:
- Oil (via PDVSA),
- Banking and financial institutions,
- The central bank and state-owned gold company.
Put together, this forms a clear pattern: gold, energy, and payment systems.
That combination isn’t accidental. It’s the backbone of global power.
Why Gold Matters More Than Headlines Suggest
Why single out gold? Because gold is uniquely effective at moving value outside the dollar-based financial system.
Gold is:
- Portable,
- Difficult to trace,
- Universally accepted,
- Not tied to SWIFT or traditional payment rails.
According to OECD research cited by Alan, gold is a preferred medium for bypassing sanctions and financing activity beyond U.S. oversight. That makes uncontrolled gold flows a direct threat to enforcement credibility.
And if sanctions can’t be enforced, global influence weakens.
From that perspective, Venezuela’s gold production—while not massive compared to China or Russia—is more than large enough to matter. Even tens of tons per year can represent billions of dollars moving beyond surveillance.
Regime Certainty: The Real Throughline
This is where the story comes together.
Alan’s central point is that Venezuela isn’t unique. It’s another example of a recurring global pattern.
Regime certainty requires three things:
- Control over gold,
- Control over energy,
- The real (and perceived) ability to enforce rules.
When any of those leak outside the system, authority erodes.
That’s why gold keeps showing up at the center of geopolitical flashpoints—not because it’s trendy, but because it underpins trust, enforcement, and power itself.
For investors, this isn’t about trading headlines. It’s about recognizing why central banks continue to accumulate gold—and why gold quietly anchors the system, even when it’s ignored in the news cycle.
Watch the Full Breakdown
This article only scratches the surface of Alan’s analysis.
In the full video, he walks through:
- The specific executive orders,
- The sanctions timeline,
- The data on Venezuelan gold flows,
- And why this framework matters heading into the next phase of the monetary cycle.
Watch Alan Hibbard’s full breakdown on Venezuela here
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People Also Ask
Why is Venezuela important for gold investors?
Venezuela matters for gold investors because U.S. sanctions explicitly targeted the country’s gold sector, not just oil or individuals. As Alan Hibbard explains, controlling gold flows is central to enforcing sanctions and maintaining global financial power. Watch the full breakdown on GoldSilver’s YouTube channel for details.
Is the U.S. intervention in Venezuela really about silver?
Despite social media claims, Venezuela’s situation is not primarily about silver. Silver exists largely as a byproduct, while gold is the dominant strategic resource and the only sector explicitly named in U.S. sanctions. Alan explains why the silver narrative falls apart in the full video.
What does “regime certainty” mean in global finance?
Regime certainty refers to a government’s ability to control key assets like gold and energy while enforcing financial rules and sanctions. According to Alan Hibbard, when gold moves outside the dollar system, enforcement weakens and global influence erodes.
Why does the U.S. care so much about gold flows?
Gold can move value outside traditional banking systems and bypass sanctions, making it difficult to track or control. That’s why U.S. policy has repeatedly focused on gold when dealing with sanctioned countries like Venezuela.
What does Venezuela signal about the future of gold?
Venezuela reinforces a long-standing pattern: gold sits at the center of geopolitical power and monetary control. For investors, it highlights why central banks continue to accumulate gold and why it remains critical heading into the next monetary cycle. Watch Alan’s analysis on GoldSilver to see how this fits into 2026 and beyond.
