The Investment Ladder Is Built on Metal – Top 5 Future Metals to Invest In

Learning from history is necessary to predict the future and it cannot be truer in the case of investment. At its core, investment is about buying low and selling high, with time being the greatest driver of value. The right time to invest is when you can see that an asset’s value will grow over time. Nothing sparks investment opportunities like a new source of energy. As the world rapidly adopts renewable energy as its next major source, metals are most likely to be a strong investment.

History of Energy?

Energy advancement and wide adoption has revolutionised human society dramatically again and again. Over a million years ago, the adoption of fire for cooking and heating turned wild hunters and gatherers into early humans with control over their environment. Fire was enough for small populations and simple needs, but as societies grew, new sources were required.

Then, around the late 18th and 19th century, coal was discovered and widely used for its burning properties. Wood could no longer meet the rising demand of growing populations and expanding industries, and coal stepped in to drive the Industrial Revolution with steam engines, factories, and railroads.

After that, oil and gasoline became the main energy choice in the late 19th and 20th century. Coal was powerful but heavy and impractical for mobility, while technology was pushing towards cars, airplanes, and global transport. Oil and gasoline fit this demand perfectly, powering internal combustion engines, private cars, planes, and giving rise to 24/7 electricity and modern life as we know it.

Every one of these shifts didn’t just change how we lived—it came when population growth, new technologies, and rising demand pushed past the limits of the old system. Each transition built whole new systems around it and created massive opportunities for those who adapted first.

Why Metals?

Today, we are standing on the edge of another transformation—this time in the realm of power generation. The global shift toward renewable energy, electrification, and sustainable technologies is not just a trend; it is a movement that will redefine economies. As this change accelerates, it will create massive opportunities for those who position themselves early.

And just as the internet era built its fortunes on data and connectivity, this new energy revolution will be built on the backbone of critical metals and resources—the essential elements that make modern technologies possible. From lithium in batteries to rare earth elements in wind turbines and electric motors, these materials will be the foundation of the next wave of global growth.

For forward-looking investors, the message is clear: follow the metals, follow the future.

The energy game will be changed forever from house/office consumption with solar panels to transport transformations with EV. The energy game is sure to change as limited fossil fuel count, geo-politics restriction, unstable situation in every major oil generation country.

If history and technology shifts don’t already convince you that metals are the future’s prime commodity, then consider this: global conflict. As Littlefinger once said, “chaos is a ladder.” And today, that ladder is made of metal.

Most of the fossil fuels that power the world are concentrated in the Middle East and Russia. That’s no accident, and neither are the conflicts there. Nations fight over oil because oil powers the world, and the result is instability that drives up both cost and scarcity. The same story is starting to play out with metals. From the Russia–Ukraine conflict—where rich deposits and U.S. interests collide—to growing competition for critical minerals, the pressure is rising.

Now add the shift to renewable and clean energy. Metals are more vital than ever before. Unlike fossil fuels, they don’t regrow. Some can be recycled, but the supply is still limited. Demand, on the other hand, is exploding.

Battery demand alone is projected to grow by 250% by 2030. Global electricity demand is expected to soar 169% by 2050. In the East, rapid urbanization and industrialization are driving energy use higher every year. In the West, artificial intelligence, data centers, electrification, and reshoring are fueling another surge. Nuclear energy is also entering a new era, with more reactors coming online and record levels of electricity generation expected as soon as 2025.

Metals sit at the heart of all of this. Every new reactor, every data center, every EV battery depends on them. In a world where change brings chaos, metals are the ladder—and the question is, do you want to climb it?

5. Gold

As much as I’d like to sound smart and tell you something you don’t already know, I had to keep gold on this list. Not just because of its unchanged demand and appeal to women (and men who even like decorating their teeth), but because gold still has applications where there’s no real alternative.

Now, the future is uncertain—gold might not always be the style choice of tomorrow, just as it once wasn’t in the past. It could even share the same fate as aluminum, which during the time of Napoleon III of France was considered the most luxurious item and was valued higher than gold.

Still, gold holds its ground. It’s not only a symbol of wealth but also considered a much safer and stronger medium of currency than paper money since it’s inflation-proof. On top of that, it’s also used in modern technology and spacecraft components because of its excellent conductivity.

So why is gold only at number 10? Simply because the price is already very high. Sure, it will most likely keep increasing over time, but not as dramatically as other metals on this list. There’s also the risk of sudden dips, as seen between 2011–2015 when gold fell to around $300 per ounce. That drop was caused by declining inflation, central banks selling reserves, and an improving economy. While such factors are less likely now, they’re still worth keeping in mind.

4. Silver

If gold is the king on the chessboard, silver is the queen. It has similar strength but stretches further in application, thanks to its conductivity, reflectivity, antimicrobial properties, and aesthetic appeal. Silver is used in jewelry, electronics, solar panels, water purification, medical tools, and even as a catalyst in plastics and antifreeze production.

Historically, it was currency and fine tableware. Today, its real value lies in advanced technologies and healthcare. If you’re planning to invest in metals, silver is definitely the trend to hop on.

In 2025 alone, silver has already risen by 30%. Investments in silver have skyrocketed due to the global shift towards solar energy and EVs, both of which heavily depend on it. And here’s the kicker—the price is expected to climb even more because of supply shortages. This is already the fourth consecutive year where demand has far exceeded supply.

So compared to gold, silver is relatively undervalued right now. The current gold-to-silver ratio makes it clear: silver has plenty of room to grow, making it a smart bet for the near future.

3. Copper

Copper prices are projected to keep rising mainly because of the global energy transition. The demand for EVs and renewable energy is climbing fast, and it’s expected to outpace supply from both new and existing mines.

Other factors adding pressure are geopolitical tensions, supply disruptions from top copper-producing countries, high production costs, and the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar. Put simply, tighter supply and higher costs almost guarantee upward momentum for copper’s value in the coming years.

2. Rare Earth Elements (REE)

Despite the name, rare earth elements aren’t really rare—they’re as common as copper and found in many parts of the world. The real challenge lies in extracting them from surrounding materials, which is both complex and costly. What makes REEs especially valuable is their efficiency and unique capability to create powerful permanent magnets—magnets that are lighter, stronger, and more durable than alternatives.

This makes REEs indispensable in modern technology: from wind turbines and clean energy systems to advanced communication, electric vehicles, and even defense equipment. In other words, the backbone of today’s innovation relies on them.

But here’s where geopolitics enters the picture. Around 70% of REEs are produced in China, and nearly 80% of global REE processing happens there as well. That dependency has raised alarm in the West. To counter this, the United States has announced a $200 million investment to strengthen its supply chain and expand rare earth separation and magnet production. As part of this push, America’s sole rare earth miner is guaranteed a minimum price of $110 per kilogram for neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide. For context, that’s nearly double the current China-based market price of $60/kg. This price floor is designed to incentivize domestic production of the super-strong magnets used in EV motors, wind turbines, and defense systems.

So the point is clear: geopolitics isn’t just background noise—it’s one of the key reasons why REEs are a powerful investment opportunity.

1. Lithium

Lithium is the backbone of modern batteries. With innovations like solid-state batteries and silicon anodes on the horizon, lithium-based batteries are only going to get more powerful.

Right now, about 80% of electricity consumption comes from fossil fuels. Power plants generate electricity, push it into the grid, and deliver it to homes and offices. In this system, most households don’t really need batteries—except for backup inverters, which require one.

But the near future looks very different. As the world shifts toward solar and renewable energy, large-scale energy storage will become necessary for cloudy days and nights. Even if there are giant solar plants feeding the grid, people will still prefer their own solar panels at home to save money and have independence. And every home solar system needs batteries.

That means most households and offices—around 80% of today’s conventional electricity users—will require batteries in the future. And for those batteries, lithium is essential. This is why lithium demand is expected to absolutely skyrocket.