Well, they did it, with every raise in the middle of the night, during the holiday season, forcing computerized SELLS, which forced an artificial drop in the silver market, in the US. There’s still a world wide shortage, but the Trumpies saved their Big Bank buddies BILLIONS of dollars with their market manipulation. And, I’d bet my last dollar they and their pals made YUUUGE profits on the inside information, cuz that’s how these crooks operate.

 AI Overview

The 

CME Group has raised margin requirements for silver futures multiple times recently due to significant market volatility and surging prices, with the initial margin for March 2026 contracts now at $32,500. This is up substantially from around $20,000 earlier in December 2025. 

Details of the Margin Increases

The CME Group, the world's largest commodities exchange operator, implemented several increases in late December 2025 to "ensure adequate collateral coverage" during an historic rally in precious metals. 

• Mid-December: An initial increase was announced.
• Effective December 29, 2025: The initial margin requirement was raised from approximately $22,000 to about $25,000 per 5,000-ounce contract for non-members.
• Effective December 31, 2025: A second, larger increase was implemented, pushing the initial margin to $32,500 per contract. This represents a nearly 30% jump in one move. 

Market Impact and Context

These margin hikes require traders to post significantly more capital to hold their positions, which can lead to forced selling and increased short-term price volatility. 

• Price Reaction: Following the announcements, silver prices fell sharply on days the new margins took effect, as leveraged traders were forced to liquidate positions, costing them billions.