Retail demand is too strong, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange will launch 100-ounce silver futures

On Tuesday local time, CME Group will launch 100-ounce silver futures to meet record retail demand. CME announced that it will introduce the 100-ounce silver futures contract on February 9, 2026, pending regulatory approval.

Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME, stated: "Amid geopolitical uncertainty and the energy transition, silver is increasingly favored by retail traders looking to diversify risk across a broader range of metals. The 100-ounce silver futures will enhance accessibility for more participants, allowing them to benefit from the liquidity and efficiency our futures market offers."

JB Mackenzie, Vice President and General Manager of Futures and International Business at Robinhood Markets, said: "This new futures contract launched by CME aligns with our goal of creating the best active trader platform and provides customers with a way to participate in silver trading with less capital. Consistent with our mission to democratize finance for all, this contract makes it easier to engage in the silver market and offers traders greater flexibility."

Isaac Cahana, CEO of Plus500US, stated: "In the context of strong silver demand, we are pleased to see CME expand its small contract product offerings. This new contract will allow our global customers to seize silver investment opportunities with unprecedented convenience in a flexible and cost-effective manner."

Driven by the sustained growth in retail trading demand, CME's metal futures trading volume reached a record high in 2025. Among them, micro gold futures (with an average daily trading volume of 301,000 contracts) and micro silver futures (with an average daily trading volume of 48,000 contracts) both set annual records. Additionally, in the 1-ounce gold futures contract launched by CME on January 13, 2025, the cumulative trading volume exceeded 6 million contracts