I believe they'll lock gold and silver to a new digital currency to replace fiat. That way they have ultimate control to slowly debase it's value over time. Mines will slowly go to care and maintenance and profitable companies will diversify if they can into other metals over time in the next commodities boom. A banking debt moratorium at the same time will wash away their collective fiat debasement and try to save a total explosion of their house of cards by re-shuffling the deck chairs. The householder with a mortgage will not be so lucky. I also think the inflation genie has come out of the oil lamp a bit too early for them in their planning so PMs can still be a profitable trade for the time being - depending on when you bought in and when you exit. Gold is not a forever hold for me.