The 2025 Global Major Asset Price Rise and Fall Rankings have just been released, and the results are quite interesting.

Four out of the top five spots are occupied by precious metals—silver, platinum, palladium, and gold in that order. Surprisingly, gold, which was widely favored, did not take the first place; instead, it was overtaken by silver, which has been historically suppressed. Although Bitcoin and Ethereum, representing cryptocurrencies, experienced the most volatility, they ended the year in negative territory.

But what does this really tell us?

**Seeing Through Cycles to Spot Opportunities**

The collective surge of precious metals in 2025 is not entirely unexpected. Looking at gold over a longer period, it has experienced two clear bull markets in the past 20 years—first from 2004 to 2011, followed by a seven-year correction, and then a second wave starting in 2019. The fluctuations in gold prices are closely related to global geopolitical situations and financial security. However, the world will not remain in a state of war forever, crises will not last indefinitely, and peace and recovery will eventually come.

Whether it’s gold, Bitcoin, or real estate, most people make the same mistake—only looking at prices and chasing the trend. When a property rises, they chase real estate; when gold rises, they hoard gold; when cryptocurrencies rise, they chase coins. The result? They all get caught at high prices. The real winners are those who buy when assets are severely undervalued and sell during exuberance. This requires the ability to identify bull and bear cycles.

**Time Compound Interest Is the Breakthrough for Ordinary People**

Looking at a 10-year cycle, investing in gold and Bitcoin in 2015, gold has nearly tripled, and Bitcoin has increased by approximately 402 times. In comparison, someone holding 50,000 yuan and doing nothing not only failed to outperform these assets but might have already gone broke—over these 10 years, many people's lives have changed dramatically: savings depleted, job changes, wages shrinking. Relying solely on employment cannot withstand risks.

So don’t obsess over 1-year returns, and don’t underestimate the power of 10-year compound interest. For an ordinary person to change their destiny, the core formula is simple: choose the right track + continuous learning + time compound interest = wealth leap.