
Silver exchange-traded products, or ETNs, offer a unique way to invest in silver. They're designed to track the price of silver and can be traded on major stock exchanges.
One of the benefits of ETNs is that they can be used as a hedge against inflation. This is because silver tends to increase in value when inflation rises.
ETNs are also known for their liquidity, making it easy to buy and sell them on the market. This is because they're traded on major stock exchanges.
Investors can also use ETNs to diversify their portfolios. By adding silver to their investments, they can reduce their risk and increase their potential returns.
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What is SLV?
SLV is the symbol for the iShares Silver Trust ETF, which began trading in April 2006 on the New York Stock Exchange Arca.
This ETF was designed to give investors a cost-efficient and simple way to gain access to the silver market without worrying about storage and other issues associated with purchasing physical silver.
SLV currently has about $6.5 billion in net assets and holds over 325 million ounces of silver in its trust.
The fund is designed to mimic the price of silver minus fees and expenses, and each share owned by an investor represents a fractional beneficial ownership in the trust.
One may potentially profit from a rising silver price by buying shares of SLV, but may stand to lose money if silver prices fall.
To take delivery of the actual physical silver, one must be an authorized participant and deal in 50,000 share blocks, which is a large amount of shares.
Investing in SLV
Investing in SLV can be done through Silver ETFs, which are a cost-efficient way to invest in silver without the risks of impurities, maintenance, and storage costs.
The Silver ETF is listed on the stock exchange and can be traded like shares of listed companies, allowing you to buy or sell at market prices through your Demat and trading account.
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To invest in Silver ETFs, you need to have a Demat and trading account, and you can buy or sell them on the stock exchange through your stockbroker.
You can also buy Silver ETF units directly from the Asset Management Company (AMC) at prevailing Net Asset Value (NAV), but you'll need to purchase in lot sizes (creation units) as specified in the Scheme Information Document (SID).
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How to Invest?
To invest in Silver ETFs, you need to have Demat and trading accounts. These accounts will allow you to buy and sell Silver ETFs on the stock exchanges through your stockbroker.
You can buy Silver ETF units on the stock exchanges through your Demat and trading account at prevailing market prices. The market prices may differ from the actual NAV, but for actively traded or liquid Silver ETFs, the difference will be minimal.
There is no minimum investment amount in Silver ETFs, so you can buy one unit or more depending on your needs.
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Why Invest in It as an Asset Class?
Investing in SLV as an asset class makes sense due to its potential to retain purchasing power over the long term, making it a safe investment option.
Silver is used in various industries, including solar panels, smartphones, and electric vehicles, and its demand is expected to rise as new technologies develop. This limited supply and growing demand can lead to higher returns over long investment horizons.
Investing in silver can also help diversify your portfolio by reducing risk, as it has low correlation with equities. This means that silver can make your portfolio more stable during times when equity valuations seem over-stretched.
Spreading your investments over different asset classes, also known as asset allocation, is a prudent approach to reducing portfolio risk. Both gold and silver can be used for asset allocation, bringing stability to your portfolio in different investment cycles.
Silver usually outperforms gold in bull markets due to the growing demand for industrial use, adding further diversification to your investment portfolio.
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SLV Overview
The Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV) is a closed-end trust that invests in unencumbered and fully-allocated London Good Delivery silver bars. It provides a secure and convenient investment alternative for investors who want to hold physical silver.
Investing in PSLV offers several compelling reasons, including fully allocated silver bullion, potential tax advantages, and the liquidity of your investment. You can easily purchase, sell, and own physical silver through this trust.
The Sprott Physical Silver Trust allows you to benefit from the value of silver without having to store and protect it yourself, making it a great option for those who want to invest in physical silver but don't have the resources or expertise to do so safely and efficiently.
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Location of GLD Gold
Gold is held in the form of 400 ounce London good delivery bars. These bars are a standard size in the gold industry.
The location of these bars is the HSBC USA, NA Bank vault in London, where they are securely stored. I've heard that London is a very secure place for storing valuable assets like gold.
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How to Sell
To sell Silver ETFs, you can use your Demat and trading account to sell units in the stock exchange at prevailing market prices.
You can sell units at the bid price, which may differ from the NAV. The lot sizes of ETFs are quite large compared to average investment size of retail investors.
You can also redeem your ETF units with the stock exchange at prevailing NAVs, but only if you're transacting in lot sizes specified in the SID.
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Overview
The Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV) is a closed-end trust that invests in unencumbered and fully-allocated London Good Delivery (βLGDβ) silver bars.
Investing in PSLV offers several compelling reasons, including the benefit of fully allocated silver bullion.
You can redeem your investment in PSLV for actual metals, giving you tangible ownership of silver.
This trust provides secure storage you can trust, which is a major advantage over storing physical bullion yourself.
Investing in PSLV may also provide potential tax advantages, which is a significant consideration for many investors.
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One of the most appealing aspects of PSLV is its ease of purchase, sale, and ownership β making it a convenient option for those who want to invest in physical silver.
Here are some key benefits of investing in PSLV:
- Fully allocated silver bullion
- Redeemable for actual metals
- Secure storage you can trust
- Potential tax advantages
- Convenient purchase, sale, and ownership
Taxation of ETF
Taxation of ETF can be a bit complex, but don't worry, I've got the lowdown.
The minimum holding period for long-term capital gains tax for Silver ETFs is 3 years.
For investment periods of less than 3 years, profits from sale of Silver ETF will be added to your income and taxed as per your income tax rate. This means you'll pay the standard rate on your gains.
Long-term capital gains tax applies for investment periods of more than 3 years.
Long-term capital gains in Silver ETFs are taxed at 20% after allowing for indexation benefits.
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Performance
Silver exchange-traded products (ETPs) have shown impressive performance in the past year, with some products delivering returns of over 40%. The Xtrackers Physical Silver EUR Hedged ETC topped the list with a 1-year return of 44.07%.
The table below shows the top 5 performing silver ETPs in terms of 1-year returns.
However, it's essential to consider the historical performance of these ETPs, as shown in the return comparison table. The Xtrackers Physical Silver EUR Hedged ETC has delivered a cumulative return of 118.80% over the past three years.
SLV Comparison
If you're looking to invest in silver, you've got plenty of options with Silver ETFs/ETCs. These products track the price of silver, making it easy to invest in this precious metal.
The best Silver ETFs/ETCs vary in terms of size, with the iShares Physical Silver ETC having a fund size of 2,358 million EUR. In contrast, the Xtrackers IE Physical Silver ETC Securities has a much smaller fund size of 64 million EUR.
TER, or total expense ratio, is another important factor to consider. The iShares Physical Silver ETC has a TER of 0.20% p.a., while the Xtrackers IE Physical Silver EUR Hedged ETC Securities has a TER of 0.73% p.a.
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If you're looking for a Silver ETF/ETC with a high return, the Xtrackers Physical Silver EUR Hedged ETC is a top performer, with a 1-year return of 44.07%. The Xtrackers IE Physical Silver EUR Hedged ETC Securities is another strong contender, with a 1-year return of 43.45%.
Here are the top 3 Silver ETFs/ETCs by 1-year fund return as of September 30, 2025:
Keep in mind that past performance is not a guarantee of future results, and it's essential to do your own research and consider your individual financial goals before investing in any Silver ETF/ETC.
SLV Details
One unit of the PSLV silver exchange-traded product equals one ounce of silver.
If you're interested in investing in the PSLV, know that it's a convenient option that allows you to buy and sell silver with ease.
The PSLV is a popular choice among investors looking to diversify their portfolios with a precious metal.
Metal Per Unit

Metal per Unit is a key aspect to understand when investing in SLV. One unit of CEF is equivalent to 1 ounce of gold or 1 ounce of silver.
In contrast, PHYS represents 1 unit equal to 1 ounce of gold.
If you're interested in silver, PSLV is the way to go, with 1 unit equal to 1 ounce of silver.
SPPP is a bit more complex, representing 1 unit equal to 1 ounce of platinum or 1 ounce of palladium.
For those interested in uranium, U.U is a good option, with 1 unit equal to 1 pound of uranium in US dollars.
Lastly, COP represents 1 unit equal to 1 pound of copper.
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Largest by Fund Size (EUR)
If you're looking for the largest Silver ETFs/ETCs by fund size in EUR, the iShares Physical Silver ETC takes the top spot with a massive 2,358 million euros in fund size.
The second largest is the WisdomTree Physical Silver, with a fund size of 2,197 million euros.
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Invesco Physical Silver comes in third, with a relatively smaller fund size of 681 million euros.
Here is a table summarizing the top 3 largest Silver ETFs/ETCs by fund size in EUR:
Physically Backed Funds
Physically backed funds have become a popular way for investors to gain exposure to precious metals like silver. The Central Fund of Canada and Silver Bullion Trust are closed-end funds created by Canadian founders to hold a mix of gold and silver, or only silver, respectively.
The Central Fund of Canada was launched in 1961, while the Silver Bullion Trust made its initial public offering in 2009. This means that both funds have a long history of investing in precious metals.
One notable example of a physically backed fund is the iShares Silver Trust, which was launched in April 2006 and is the largest silver ETF on the market, holding over 335 million troy ounces of silver in storage.
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Other notable physically backed funds include ETFS Physical Silver, ZKB Silver ETF, Claymore Silver Bullion Trust, Julius Baer Physical Silver Fund, and Sprott Physical Silver Trust. Each of these funds has its own unique characteristics and investment strategies.
Here are some of the key features of these physically backed funds:
- Central Fund of Canada: holds a mix of gold and silver
- Silver Bullion Trust: holds only silver
- iShares Silver Trust: largest silver ETF on the market, holding over 335 million troy ounces of silver
- ETFS Physical Silver: backed by allocated silver bullion, held with a custodian, HSBC Bank USA, and audited twice a year
- ZKB Silver ETF: invests exclusively in physical silver
- Claymore Silver Bullion Trust: closed-end fund created by Claymore Investments
- Julius Baer Physical Silver Fund: launched by Swiss & Global Asset Management in January 2010
- Sprott Physical Silver Trust: closed-end fund created by Sprott Asset Management in November 2010
SLV Risks
Owning shares of silver-based ETF like SLV involves some degree of counterparty risk, which could entail accounting problems or liquidity issues.
The delivery process of SLV bullion can be a challenge, and in a time of economic or geopolitical crises, one may not be able to exchange shares of SLV as they would physical bullion.
Investing in SLV comes with fees associated with it, which can be compared to the fees of owning physical bullion.
One important consideration is that owning physical silver is not the same as owning shares of a paper silver product or derivative, just like with GLD.
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SLV Products
SLV Products offer a convenient way to gain exposure to silver prices.
SLV is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the price of silver.
The fund holds physical silver bullion, which is stored in a secure facility.
Each share of SLV represents a small portion of the total silver held by the fund.
This allows investors to buy and sell silver without having to physically store it.
SLV is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and is available to trade during regular market hours.
Investors can buy and sell shares of SLV through a brokerage account.
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