TLDR:
- Silver crashed 32% in largest intraday drop since 1980, erasing $2.5 trillion as manipulation claims surface.
- JPMorgan issued 633 February silver contracts during crash after $920 million fine for past manipulation.
- Shanghai physical silver traded higher than U.S. futures, indicating paper selling drove collapse not supply.
- Margin hikes forced leveraged traders to liquidate while JPMorgan’s balance sheet weathered the storm.
JPMorgan faces renewed manipulation accusations after silver experienced its largest intraday crash since 1980, plunging 32% and wiping out $2.5 trillion in market value within two days.
The bank’s documented history of precious metals manipulation between 2008 and 2016 has intensified scrutiny over its role in recent market turmoil.
Bull Theory raised questions about JPMorgan’s positioning during the collapse as COMEX data reveals strategic contract activity during the sharp downturn.
Historical Precedent and Current Market Structure
The U.S. Department of Justice and CFTC previously fined JPMorgan $920 million for manipulating gold and silver prices over eight years.
That case involved hundreds of thousands of fake orders designed to move prices before cancellation. Several JPMorgan traders faced criminal convictions for their roles in the scheme.
Modern silver trading operates primarily through futures contracts rather than physical metal transactions. For every ounce of actual silver, hundreds of paper contracts exist in the market. JPMorgan maintains a position as one of the largest bullion banks operating on COMEX.
According to COMEX data, JPMorgan holds substantial amounts of both registered and eligible physical silver. This dual positioning grants the bank influence over both paper markets and physical supply.
The structure creates opportunities for participants with large balance sheets to capitalize during volatile periods.
Bull Theory’s analysis points to this framework as enabling disproportionate advantages for major institutions. Market observers note that leverage-dependent traders are subject to automatic liquidation during sharp price moves.
Meanwhile, institutions with substantial capital reserves can withstand margin calls and acquire positions from forced sellers.
???? IS JPMORGAN MANIPULATING SILVER AGAIN, JUST LIKE IT DID IN THE PAST?
We just the largest intraday crash in silver since 1980 where price fell -32%. In just two days $2.5 trillion was wiped out from silver and are speculating that JPMorgan was behind this crash.
It is the… pic.twitter.com/nOI3GfZzzX
— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) February 1, 2026
Forced Liquidations and Strategic Positioning During Crash
Silver prices were rising rapidly before the crash as many traders held long positions using borrowed capital. When prices reversed, exchanges raised margin requirements sharply. Traders suddenly needed much more cash to maintain open positions.
Most leveraged participants could not meet the increased margin demands. Their positions closed automatically through forced liquidation mechanisms. This created cascading selling pressure as stop-losses triggered across the market.
COMEX delivery reports show JPMorgan issued 633 February silver contracts during the crash period. Issued contracts indicate JPMorgan held short positions on those agreements.
Market participants claim the bank opened shorts near the $120 peak and closed them around $78 during delivery.
The price divergence between U.S. paper markets and Shanghai physical trading reveals additional market dynamics. Physical silver in Shanghai traded substantially higher than U.S. futures prices during the collapse.
Real buyers continued paying premium prices for actual metal while paper prices plummeted. This gap indicates the crash stemmed from paper selling rather than sudden physical supply increases, according to Bull Theory’s assessment on the matter.
