After precious metals like silver and gold exploded to new highs in 2025, many investors feel they missed the big run and are hunting for the next metal story. Metals beyond the usual suspects — from platinum to base industrial metals — are starting to catch attention as supply chains tighten, industrial demand grows, and macro factors push traders toward hard assets. These alt metals attract both speculators and industrial investors, especially as global electrification and decarbonization trends accelerate demand.
Here’s a deeper look at five of the most traded “alt metals” that might be shaping the next wave of commodities interest:
1. Platinum
Platinum’s pedigree goes far beyond its shiny looks. It’s one of the platinum-group metals (PGMs) renowned for rarity and industrial utility.
Platinum’s biggest use is in vehicle emissions control devices — catalytic converters that reduce harmful exhaust gases — where it’s prized for its corrosion resistance and catalytic properties. It’s also used extensively in chemical and petroleum refining, electronics, medical devices, and even emerging clean-energy technologies like hydrogen fuel cells. Platinum’s unique chemical stability and catalytic efficiency support a wide range of high-technology and industrial applications.
In 2025, platinum broke out as traders rotated into industrial precious metals after silver and gold took center stage. Prices saw robust gains as supply remained constrained while demand from traditional and new industrial segments held firm. Analysts noted persistent market deficits and strong interest from both physical buyers and futures markets, driving a dramatic rally in platinum prices throughout the year.
At the start of 2025, Platinum’s price was $930. Around X-mas, it topped at $2513, an amazing run. The last week of the year is experiencing a hefty pullback.
2. Palladium
Much like its PGM cousin, palladium sits at the crossroads of industrial demand and precious metals investment.
The lion’s share of palladium’s use (over 80%) goes into automotive catalytic converters, particularly in gasoline engines, to control emissions. It also finds niche applications in jewelry, dentistry, and electronics where its corrosion resistance and electrical properties make it valuable. Its combination of industrial purpose and rarity has lifted its status among traders seeking exposure to unique market dynamics.
In 2025, palladium experienced a big comeback after earlier years of underperformance. Prices climbed sharply as automotive demand stabilized and concerns about supply tightness lifted sentiment. Some pricing data show that palladium rose well into double-digit percentage gains for the year, making it one of the stronger performing precious metals outside gold and silver.
Similar to Platinum, Palladium started 2025 in the $900 range, to top at $2091 around X-mas. We also see a rough -20% correction at the end of the year.
3. Copper
Copper is often dubbed “Dr. Copper” for its uncanny ability to signal economic health — because it’s used everywhere: power grids, renewable energy systems, electronics, construction, industrial machinery, and electric vehicles.
Unlike precious metals, copper’s value lies in its essential role as an industrial workhorse. It’s vital in electrical systems because of its excellent conductivity, and it’s a core input for the global energy transition — from solar and wind farms to EVs and data centers. Its demand profile makes it a favorite among traders watching global growth dynamics.
In 2025, copper surged dramatically — posting one of its best annual performances in years. Prices climbed above historic thresholds (e.g., over $12,000 per ton) amid supply disruptions, tariff speculation, and fears of long-term shortages. This made copper one of the standout alt metals of the year, drawing attention from traders who had previously focused on gold and silver rallies.
This chart paints a different picture than the previously discussed metals. While the run from $4 to $5.8 is a respectable 45% return, the chart shows this metal tends to have more and deeper dips. This almost looks like a meme coin chart to be honest. Something to note would be not buy dips early.
4. Nickel
Nickel may not be as glamorous as gold, but its role in modern industry makes it crucial for traders looking for differentiated exposure.
Nickel’s largest end market is stainless steel — where it enhances corrosion resistance and strength — but it also plays a growing role in electric vehicle batteries, aerospace alloys, and high-performance engineering materials. Its versatility in alloys and emerging clean energy applications gives it a fundamental demand base that could support future price swings.
In 2025, nickel’s price trend was more mixed compared with other alt metals. While mid-year saw some weakness driven by macroeconomic factors and surplus concerns in certain markets, later in the year nickel found support as traders priced in battery demand and structural uses. Overall, nickel’s price moves were less explosive than copper’s but still meaningful for those tracking long-term industrial demand.
I’ve been seeing Nickel charts in my crypto trading chats for the past week. And it shows in the chart. Nickel was trending down most of the year, but made up for it in the final weeks by gaining 15%.
5. Aluminum
Aluminum is the world’s most widely used non-ferrous metal, prized for its light weight, corrosion resistance, and recyclability. It’s everywhere — from aircraft bodies, automotive components, and building facades to packaging and consumer electronics.
Particularly in transportation and renewable infrastructure, aluminum’s weight-to-strength ratio makes it a go-to material, and the fact that it can be recycled at a fraction of the energy cost of producing new metal adds to its appeal in a sustainability-focused world.
In 2025, aluminum posted solid gains, hitting multi-year highs as markets digested tighter supply conditions and renewed industrial demand. Prices trended upward, driven by both fundamental usage increases and strategic stockpiling by industrial players, making it another alt metal that traders couldn’t ignore.
Aluminum is up around 20% in 2025, but it started heavy. It’s in price discovery now, so worth adding to your watchlist.
Why We’re Looking Beyond Crypto (For Now)
One of our goals this year was to track more macro movements, not just what happens inside crypto. And if there’s one thing that became impossible to ignore, it’s metals. With gold and silver already ripping, it felt natural to zoom out and explore what else is moving in this corner of the market.
The transition from crypto to trading other assets has also become incredibly easy. Platforms like Bybit now offer countless markets beyond just coins and memes. We’ve already been talking about gold and silver for quite a while, so this felt like the right moment to dive a little deeper and explore the wider “alt metals” space.
That said, crypto and airdrop farming remain our highest priority. Nothing changes there. But when it comes to trading, we like to spread a bit wider than just crypto. Markets move in cycles. If crypto cools off or enters a bear phase, we want to be active elsewhere instead of sitting on our hands. Metals, indices, and macro-driven assets give us that flexibility.
We’ll also be honest here. We’re curious how popular this type of content is with our community. If nobody reads it, there’s no point in spending time researching it. Still, we enjoy educating, sharing ideas, and highlighting new opportunities. So we hope you enjoy this deep dive into alt metals, and we’ll let the numbers decide if we take this further.
As always, thanks for being here and staying curious.
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If silver and gold were the big stories of 2025, alt metals might be the breakout narratives of 2026 and beyond. These metals trade at the intersection of industrial demand, supply constraints, and macro forces — much like how altcoins trade at the intersection of tech innovation and investor speculation.
As traders look beyond the traditional safe havens, diversifying into metals like platinum, palladium, copper, nickel, and aluminum offers opportunities rooted in real-world utility. Whether you missed the silver run or just want exposure to the next materials boom, alt metals provide a compelling set of stories worth watching.
If you enjoyed this blog, be sure to check out our recent post on why airdrop farming is replacing altcoin investing.
As always, don’t forget to claim your bonus below on Bybit. See you next time!
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