Copper prices rose during Friday’s trading amid a decline in the US dollar against most major currencies and ongoing concerns over the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on the industrial metal.

According to a note from ANZ Bank analysts reported by Reuters, they stated that Trump’s announcement of a 50% tariff on copper imports would push the US market to rely on domestic inventories in the short term, which would put pressure on copper prices on both the COMEX and London Metal Exchange.

Data released on Wednesday showed that copper inventories at the London Metal Exchange rose by 10,525 tons to 121,000 tons, as eight Hong Kong-based LME warehouses officially began operations this week.

Protesters in Peru—the world’s third-largest copper producer—ended a blockade of a major copper transport route that had lasted more than two weeks, according to one protest leader speaking to Reuters on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, Rio Tinto announced on Wednesday a 9% increase in its quarterly copper production and projected that its annual output would be at the upper end of its forecast range. Antofagasta also reported an 11% rise in its copper production during the first half of the year.

In another development, the pace of copper inflows into the United States from traders preparing for the tariffs has slowed, following the announcement of a 50% tariff set to take effect on August 1.

On the other hand, the US Dollar Index fell by 0.5% to 98.2 points as of 15:58 GMT, after recording a high of 98.5 and a low of 98.1.

In US trading, copper futures for September delivery rose by 1.2% to $5.57 per pound as of 15:56 GMT.

Ripple’s digital currency rose during Friday’s trading, extending its gains for the third consecutive day and recording an all-time high, amid an unprecedented investment boom in what is now the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency.

This surge follows the US House of Representatives’ approval of the first regulatory law for digital assets in the country, along with positive developments in Ripple’s ongoing legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to Ripple has brought in massive institutional liquidity—exceeding several billion dollars per day—as the currency seeks to obtain more regulatory licenses to expand its services and appeal in global markets.

The Price

• Ripple Price Today: On the Bitstamp exchange, the price of Ripple’s cryptocurrency (XRP) rose by approximately $0.18 or 5.2% to ($3.666)—its highest level ever—from an opening price of ($3.484), after recording a low of ($3.445).

• At Thursday’s settlement on Bitstamp, Ripple prices rose by 14.5%, marking the second consecutive daily gain and the largest one-day increase since March 2, following the passage of the GENIUS Act in the US House of Representatives.

Crypto Market Capitalization

The total market capitalization of digital currencies rose on Friday by about $125 billion to reach $4.033 trillion—its highest level ever—surpassing the $4 trillion mark for the first time in history, amid broad gains in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple prices.

Legislative Support in the United States

The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the GENIUS Act by a vote of 306 in favor, and it has been officially sent to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it without delay.

The bill received broad bipartisan support from both the Republican and Democratic parties, marking a pivotal step in regulating the stablecoin market.

The GENIUS Act mandates that issuers of stablecoins must hold full 100% cash reserves, undergo regular audits, and register with either federal or state regulatory authorities. The law also prohibits algorithmic stablecoins not backed by real assets.

One of the most notable aspects of the law is its dual-licensing framework, granting both federal and state authorities the power to approve issuers and supervise their activities.

The Senate had already approved the bill earlier this month, making the House vote the final step toward enactment.

The Trump administration played a critical role in securing the agreement, amid heightened political tensions throughout the week. The law’s passage came shortly after the House also approved another bill, the CLARITY Act.

Legal Developments

Ripple (XRP) has witnessed increased investment demand in recent weeks, driven by positive legal developments in the ongoing case between Ripple Labs and the SEC.

These developments have raised the likelihood of a favorable court ruling or a final settlement in Ripple’s favor, which has revived investor confidence and prompted greater exposure to XRP, in hopes of strong returns if the legal dispute is resolved positively.

Ripple ETFs

The launch of XRP-linked ETFs, such as the “ProShares Ultra XRP ETF (UXRP),” has led to massive institutional inflows, with daily trading volumes exceeding $12 billion, according to data from CoinUnited.

Simultaneously, major wallets (whales) showed heightened activity, with over 2.2 billion XRP tokens purchased in recent weeks, amounting to more than $7 billion in total value, reflecting growing confidence in digital assets tied to the Ripple network.

Bitcoin rose during Friday’s trading, briefly surpassing the $120,000 mark during Asian hours, heading toward its fourth consecutive weekly gain after the US House of Representatives passed three laws aimed at creating a clearer regulatory framework for digital currencies.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency was last traded at $120,552.8, up 1.7%, as of 01:55 a.m. Eastern Time (05:55 GMT).

Bitcoin had reached record levels above $123,000 earlier in the week, but profit-taking at these historic highs—along with concerns over the final stages of regulatory legislation—limited its gains.

Three Regulatory Bills Pass the US House of Representatives

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives approved three landmark bills that lay the groundwork for a clearer legal framework for digital assets.

The main bill in this package, the GENIUS Act, passed by a vote of 308 to 122, after previously gaining Senate approval in mid-June. It now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.

The GENIUS Act stipulates that:

- Issuers of stablecoins must hold reserves of high-quality assets equivalent in value to the dollar.

- Issuers are subject to regular financial audits.

- Dual oversight will be imposed by both federal and state regulators.

The House also passed two additional bills:

- CLARITY Act: Aims to determine whether digital tokens fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

- Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act: Prevents the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency without explicit congressional approval.

These developments represent a coordinated effort in what Republican lawmakers have dubbed “Crypto Week” to reshape digital asset regulation in the United States. Officials and market participants welcomed the steps as a crucial advance toward stable regulatory foundations.

Political Uncertainty and Democratic Criticism

However, the legislative package still faces hurdles. The two bills not related to stablecoins are still awaiting Senate approval, and markets are watching for final passage before fully reacting to the new regulatory environment.

Skepticism continues to surround the crypto industry. The sector strongly supported President Trump and the Republican Party in last year’s elections, and critics say that political backing is now paying off.

Some Democrats have also criticized crypto-related deals made by Trump and his family, which are said to have generated enormous wealth—at least on paper. The Nation magazine conducted a detailed investigation into a mysterious investor in a Trump-linked cryptocurrency, raising questions about conflicts of interest and undue influence.

Representative Maxine Waters, the ranking Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, stated: “These laws make Congress complicit in the largest crypto fraud in Trump’s history.”

Market Outlook: Bitcoin in an Upward Trend

Nonetheless, many expect Bitcoin to continue rising regardless of political controversy. Analyst Nikolai Søndergaard from Nansen told Bloomberg: “Recent US policy developments—like fiscal expansion and expectations of monetary easing—have undoubtedly created a supportive environment for Bitcoin.”

On Monday, Bitcoin exceeded $122,000, meaning it has more than doubled in value compared to last year—making its anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, one of the richest people on Earth.

This sharp rise is further evidence of the unprecedented boom in the digital asset sector under Trump—a trend that could continue, especially as the House of Representatives prepares to pass additional legislation that could make the United States a global haven for cryptocurrencies.

Oil prices rose slightly on Friday but are heading for limited weekly losses, as investors assess the impact of new European sanctions on Russia.

Brent crude futures climbed by 50 cents, or 0.72%, to $70.02 per barrel as of 09:12 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures also rose by 61 cents, or 0.9%, to $68.15 per barrel.

At these levels, contracts are on track for marginal weekly losses of 0.5% for Brent and 0.4% for WTI.

Investors are evaluating the potential impact on global oil market balances after the European Union approved its eighteenth package of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine, which includes additional measures targeting the Russian oil and energy sectors.

According to Reuters, citing diplomats, the new package will lower the Group of Seven’s price cap on Russian oil purchases to $47.6 per barrel.

UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said: “Neither the Russian oil price cap nor the blacklisting of shadow fleet tankers have so far succeeded in disrupting Russian oil exports, so the market remains skeptical about the impact of these latest sanctions.”

Awaiting US Action and Escalation on the Ground

Investors are awaiting news from the United States regarding possible additional sanctions, after President Donald Trump threatened this week to impose sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Moscow reaches a peace deal within 50 days.

Commerzbank analysts noted in a memo: “Ultimately, the matter now revolves around waiting for major potential changes in US sanctions and tariff policy.”

At the same time, the market continues to react to four consecutive days of drone attacks on oil fields in Iraqi Kurdistan, which led to a halt in half the region’s production and caused prices to rise by one dollar per contract on Thursday.

PVM analyst Tamas Varga said: “These attacks will definitely have an impact, as the region’s output was reduced from 280,000 barrels per day to about 130,000 barrels per day.”

Officials indicated that Iran-backed militias are likely behind the attacks, although no group has claimed responsibility so far.

Despite these developments, the Iraqi federal government announced on Thursday that the Kurdistan Region will resume oil exports through a pipeline to Turkey after a two-year suspension.