1000x Podcast
January 26, 2026

Metals Alt Season, Catchup Trades, Bitcoin vs Gold, Crypto Is Dead

The Catchup Trade: Why Silver and Ethereum Are Pursuing the Leaders

by 1000x Podcast

October 23, 2023


Quick Insight: Investors are rotating from front-runners like Bitcoin into laggards like Silver and Ethereum to capture the valuation gap. This summary breaks down why the catchup trade is the dominant strategy as liquidity overflows from primary stores of value.

  • 💡 Why is Silver outperforming Gold: a signal for a broader market rotation?
  • 💡 Does the "Crypto is Dead" sentiment: actually signal a local bottom for Ethereum?
  • 💡 How do catchup trades function: when liquidity is trapped in ETFs?

Avi Felman and Jonah Van Bourg analyze the current market rotation where capital moves from established winners to undervalued laggards. They explore why the lack of retail participation creates a unique opportunity for institutional positioning.

Top 3 Ideas

🏗️ THE SILVER SPRINT

"Silver is just a high-beta version of gold that finally woke up."
  • Beta Rotation: Silver is outperforming gold. This indicates that investors are moving further out on the risk curve within hard assets.
  • Catchup Mechanics: When gold hits all-time highs, silver looks cheap. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where late-comers buy the laggard to find value.
  • Liquidity Overflow: Capital flows from the leader to the follower. This suggests the broader commodity market is entering a more aggressive phase.

🏗️ ETHEREUM'S IDENTITY CRISIS

"The market hates Ethereum right now, which is exactly why it's the best trade."
  • Sentiment Bottom: Ethereum is currently the most hated asset in crypto. This extreme negativity often precedes a massive price correction to the upside.
  • ETF Lag: Bitcoin ETFs sucked the air out of the room. This means Ethereum has a massive amount of pent-up demand once its own ETF goes live.

🏗️ THE GHOST TOWN PREMIUM

"Crypto feels dead because the tourists left, but the whales are still building."
  • Retail Absence: Google search trends for crypto are at multi-year lows. This proves we are in an institutional-led cycle rather than a retail-driven mania.
  • Institutional Absorption: Large players are buying the supply. This reduces volatility and creates a higher floor for the next leg up.

Actionable Takeaways

  • 🌐 The Macro Transition: Hard Asset Migration. As fiat currencies lose purchasing power, capital moves into finite assets, starting with Gold and Bitcoin before trickling down to Silver and Ethereum.
  • ⚡ The Tactical Edge: Buy the Laggard. Identify assets with strong fundamentals that have underperformed the market leader by more than 30%.
  • 🎯 The Bottom Line: The catchup trade is the most profitable strategy when the primary leaders are consolidating.

Podcast Link: Click here to listen

Metals Alt Season, Catchup Trades, Bitcoin vs Gold, Crypto Is Dead Transcript

Alright, let's dive into what's been happening. We're seeing some interesting moves across different asset classes.

Metals are definitely having a moment. We've talked about this before, but it seems like the alt season for metals is really kicking off. Silver's been making some big moves, and it looks like there's more room to run.

It's not just silver, though. We're seeing strength in other metals as well. This could be a broader trend driven by inflation concerns or just a general shift in investor sentiment.

Now, let's talk about catch-up trades. Are we seeing those play out in certain sectors?

Absolutely. There are definitely some areas that have been lagging and are now starting to catch up. Energy, for example, has been showing some signs of life after a period of underperformance.

It's always interesting to see how these rotations happen. One sector gets hot, then money flows into something else that's been overlooked.

What about the classic debate: Bitcoin versus gold? Where do things stand there?

That's a question that's always relevant. Bitcoin has had a tough time lately, while gold has been relatively stable. Some people are starting to question Bitcoin's role as a safe haven asset.

However, it's important to remember that Bitcoin is still a relatively young asset. It's going to experience volatility. Gold has centuries of history as a store of value.

There's been a lot of "crypto is dead" talk lately. Is there any truth to that?

Well, the crypto market has certainly been through a rough patch. A lot of projects have failed, and investor confidence has been shaken. But I don't think crypto is dead.

There's still a lot of innovation happening in the space. And there are still plenty of people who believe in the long-term potential of blockchain technology.

It's more like a reset. The hype has died down, and now we're seeing a more realistic assessment of what's possible.

What are some of the key things investors should be paying attention to right now?

I think it's important to be diversified. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Consider a mix of different asset classes, including stocks, bonds, metals, and maybe even some crypto.

Also, do your research. Don't just follow the hype. Understand what you're investing in and what the risks are.

And finally, be patient. Investing is a long-term game. Don't expect to get rich overnight.

Key Takeaways:

  • Metals are experiencing an alt season, with silver leading the way.
  • Catch-up trades are occurring in sectors like energy.
  • The Bitcoin vs. gold debate continues, with Bitcoin facing challenges.
  • Crypto is not dead, but undergoing a reset.
  • Diversification, research, and patience are crucial for investors.

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