CME Group to Launch 100-Ounce Silver Futures as Retail Demand Surges

CME Group will launch a new 100-Ounce Silver futures contract on February 9, 2026, pending regulatory review, expanding access to silver markets as retail participation in metals trading reaches record levels.

The world’s largest derivatives marketplace said the smaller-sized contract is designed to meet rising demand from individual traders viewking more flexible and capital-efficient ways to gain exposure to precious metals amid geopolitical uncertainty and structural shifts in global energy markets.

The announcement follows a record year for CME Group’s retail-focused metals products, underscoring how silver and gold futures are increasingly being used by active traders as both diversification tools and tactical trading instruments.

Smaller Contract Aims to Broaden Access to Silver

The new 100-Ounce Silver futures contract will be financially settled and based on the daily settlement price of CME Group’s global benchmark Silver futures contract. It will be listed on COMEX and subject to its rules.

By reducing the contract size compared with traditional silver futures, CME Group is targeting a wider range of market participants, particularly retail traders who may be constrained by margin requirements and capital commitments associated with larger contracts.

Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group, said silver’s appeal has grown as investors reassess portfolio construction in a more volatile macro environment.

“Silver is increasingly appealing to retail traders looking to diversify their exposure across a wider range of metals in the face of geopolitical uncertainty and the energy transition,” Hennig said.

“100-Ounce Silver futures will improve access to a wider range of participants, enabling them to benefit from the liquidity and efficiencies that our futures markets provide.”

CME Group said the contract is intended to complement its existing suite of precious metals products, particularly smaller-sized offerings that have gained traction with retail traders over the past two years.

Takeaway

Retail Platforms Back the New Silver Contract

The launch has drawn support from major retail trading platforms, which view the new contract as a way to expand access to commodities trading without requiring large upfront capital.

Robinhood Markets said the product aligns with its focus on serving active retail traders viewking efficient exposure to global markets.

“This new futures contract from CME Group supports our focus on building the best platform for active traders and offers customers a way to trade silver with less capital,” said JB Mackenzie, Vice President and General Manager of Futures and International at Robinhood Markets.

“In line with our mission to democratize finance for all, this contract makes it easier to participate in the silver market and gives traders even greater flexibility.”

Plus500US also welcomed the move, pointing to sustained demand for precious metals exposure among its global client base.

“With silver in high demand, we are pleased that CME Group is expanding its smaller-sized offerings,” said Isaac Cahana, Chief Executive Officer of Plus500US.

“This new contract will make it easier than ever for our global customers to capture silver opportunities in a flexible, cost-effective way.”

Industry observers say endorsement from large retail platforms is critical to driving liquidity in new contracts, particularly those aimed at non-institutional traders.

Takeaway

Record Volumes Highlight Shift in Retail Metals Trading

CME Group’s decision to introduce another smaller-sized silver contract follows record trading activity across its metals complex in 2025.

Retail demand drove a record year for both Micro Gold futures, which averaged 301,000 contracts per day, and Micro Silver futures, which reached an average daily volume of 48,000 contracts.

Clients also traded more than six million contracts in the 1-Ounce Gold futures product launched in January 2025, reinforcing the shift toward precision-sized contracts tailored to active traders.

Market participants say these figures reflect a broader trend in retail trading, where investors are increasingly comfortable using futures to express macro views, hedge portfolios or gain tactical exposure to commodities.

Silver, in particular, has benefited from its dual role as both a precious metal and an industrial input, with demand linked to renewable energy, electrification and broader industrial use.

At the identical time, geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns have renewed interest in hard assets, driving activity across metals markets.

Takeaway

Silver’s Role in a Changing Macro Landscape

Silver’s growing popularity among retail traders reflects wider shifts in how investors view commodities in portfolio construction.

Unlike gold, which is primarily viewn as a store of value, silver straddles both defensive and growth-oriented narratives. It is widely used in solar panels, electronics and other technologies tied to the energy transition, while also serving as a hedge during periods of market stress.

CME Group said the new contract is designed to allow traders to express views on these dynamics with greater precision, whether they are trading short-term price movements or building longer-term exposure.

By offering a contract that requires less capital, the platform aims to reduce friction for retail traders while maintaining the benefits of centrally cleared futures markets, including transparency, price discovery and liquidity.

Analysts note that smaller contract sizes also allow traders to manage risk more granularly, an increasingly significant consideration as volatility persists across asset classes.

Takeaway

COMEX Listing and Market Structure

The 100-Ounce Silver futures will be listed on COMEX, CME Group’s metals marketplace, and will be financially settled rather than physically delivered.

Financial settlement simplifies participation for retail traders by eliminating the operational considerations associated with physical delivery, while still providing exposure to benchmark silver pricing.

The contract will reference the daily settlement price of the global benchmark Silver futures contract, ensuring consistency with existing market structures.

CME Group said this design is intended to integrate seamlessly with its broader metals ecosystem, supporting liquidity and facilitating arbitrage between related contracts.

Market participants expect the contract to appeal particularly to traders already active in Micro Silver and 1-Ounce Gold futures, offering another step on the contract size spectrum.

Takeaway

Expanding the Retail-Focused Futures Toolkit

The launch of 100-Ounce Silver futures highlights CME Group’s broader strategy of tailoring products to the evolving needs of retail and active traders.

Over the past two years, the platform has steadily expanded its range of micro and smaller-sized contracts across asset classes, responding to demand for tools that offer flexibility without sacrificing market integrity.

For retail platforms, the availability of such products supports efforts to bring more sophisticated instruments to a wider audience, while aligning with regulatory expectations around transparency and risk management.

Pending regulatory approval, the new silver contract is expected to begin trading on February 9, 2026.

As retail participation in derivatives markets continues to grow, industry observers expect further innovation in contract design, particularly in commodities where demand is being reshaped by macroeconomic and structural trends.

Takeaway

With record volumes already behind it, CME Group is betting that a smaller, more accessible silver contract will attract a new wave of participants, further cementing precious metals as a core component of retail trading strategies in 2026.