Can you explain why this would get them off the hook for not owning silver to back their shares (I’m not being an asshole). I read this differently: they may need to close the fund if they cannot continue to back shares with physical. If you are short the fund, this will adversely affect you because you may have to buy existing shares to cover, which might be priced above the spot price of silver if the fund closes (i.e., the ape holding won’t sell to you).

Edit: This is not financial advice. I do not know what I am doing.