CME Group plans to launch a new 100-Ounce Silver futures contract on 9 February, expanding its line-up of smaller-sized metals products aimed at retail and active traders.
The contract, which is still subject to regulatory approval, is designed to provide market participants with an additional way to gain exposure to silver with lower capital requirements than larger, traditional contracts.
The futures will be financially settled and based on the daily settlement price of CME Group’s benchmark Silver futures contract. They will be listed on COMEX and subject to its rules.
CME Group cited growing interest in silver among retail traders, driven by factors including geopolitical uncertainty and demand linked to the energy transition, as a reason for the launch.
“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,” said Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group.
“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.”
Leading executives at retail trading platforms Robinhood Markets and Plus500US said the product could appeal to active traders seeking more flexible ways to trade silver.
CME Group reported that retail participation contributed to record trading activity in its metals futures in 2025.
Average daily volume reached 301,000 contracts for Micro Gold futures and 48,000 contracts for Micro Silver futures during the year.
More than 6 million contracts were traded in the 1-Ounce Gold futures contract introduced in January 2025.
CME Group also recently reported that average daily trading volume (ADV) in COMEX E-Mini GOLD in 2025 rose by 249.4% from the previous year. ADV in December alone was up 677.4% from the same month in 2024.
This was among the largest surge among micro and e-mini futures contracts on the exchange, which tend to be favoured by retail investors as they represent fractions of more expensive contracts.
ADV in gold futures, not just micro contracts, rose by 2956.9% to 24,135 last year, from 790 in 2024.
