VelocityShares 3x Long Silver ETN Linked to the S&P GSCI Silver Index ER (USLV) is an exchange-traded note that provides leveraged exposure to silver prices by seeking three times the daily performance of the S&P GSCI Silver Index Excess Return Index, which tracks long positions in silver futures contracts representing the commodity market. Issued by Credit Suisse AG Nassau Branch, the ETN offers investors a cash payment at its scheduled maturity on October 14, 2031, or upon early redemption, based on the underlying index performance; it features a stated principal value of $50 per note and operates without physical silver holdings or distributions. The product targets sophisticated investors seeking amplified daily returns from silver price movements in the leveraged commodities segment.
Launched on October 14, 2011, and domiciled in Switzerland with Credit Suisse AG as issuer, USLV primarily serves U.S. investors through exchange trading, though it now trades over-the-counter following delisting. The ETN operates globally via its linkage to the S&P GSCI Silver Index ER, which reflects international silver futures markets without geographic restrictions on underlying exposure.
In June 2020, Credit Suisse AG announced its intent to delist USLV from Nasdaq, effective July 12, 2020, and suspend further issuances starting July 3, 2020, as part of a strategic realignment of its ETN suite to focus on broader growth priorities amid low liquidity and market volatility. This move significantly reduced secondary market liquidity, with the ETN continuing to exist outstanding but trading solely over-the-counter; no subsequent accelerations, redemptions, or replacements specific to USLV have been reported as of 2025, preserving its path toward the 2031 maturity date. The delisting aligned with Credit Suisse's broader ETN portfolio adjustments, including similar actions for related leveraged commodity products like the 3x Long Gold ETN.