Key Takeaways
- CME Group is launching a new 100-Ounce Silver futures contract on February 9, 2026, as silver hits a record high above $88.
- Silver is up 145% in 2025 and already 20% higher in early 2026, while gold is also setting new all-time highs, now trading above $4,624.
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CME Group will launch a new 100-Ounce Silver futures contract on February 9, 2026, as silver reaches historic price levels. The metal hit a new all-time high above $88 today and is approaching the $90 threshold.
The contract will be financially settled using COMEX’s benchmark silver price and is aimed at expanding access for both retail and institutional traders. Jin Hennig, CME’s Global Head of Metals, said silver is increasingly appealing to retail investors seeking diversification amid geopolitical uncertainty and the energy transition.
The launch comes during silver’s extraordinary run. After soaring 145% in 2025, the metal is already up over 20% in 2026 with fewer than eight trading days on the calendar. Gold is also rallying, setting a new all-time high above $4,624 at press time.
Metals markets are surging as geopolitical tensions rise, with conflicts involving the US, Venezuela, and Iran fueling demand for hard assets. Silver and gold continue to break all-time highs as investors seek safety amid mounting global uncertainty.
CME Group has reported record metals volume in response. In 2025, Micro Gold futures averaged 301,000 contracts per day, Micro Silver averaged 48,000, and the 1-Ounce Gold futures, launched in January 2025, exceeded 6 million contracts traded.
