You are currently lucky to buy physical silver anywhere at any price.

They drive SLV down to disincentivise people from buying it at twice SLV price and/or to incentivise people to sell their physical silver back "before the market tanks".

They need to hold on to their stockpiles, and they can't do that if all the rest of the silver in the world is all bought up. They are counting on people equaiting SLV with real silver.

This was expected and part of the war.

You are currently lucky to buy physical silver anywhere at any price. They drive SLV down to disincentivise people from buying it at twice SLV price and/or to incentivise people to sell their physical silver back "before the market tanks". They need to hold on to their stockpiles, and they can't do that if all the rest of the silver in the world is all bought up. They are counting on people equaiting SLV with real silver. This was expected and part of the war.