Most cryptocurrencies rose during Friday’s trading before facing profit-taking that pushed the total crypto market capitalization above the $4 trillion mark for the first time in history, raising concerns about a potential bubble.

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

Three Regulatory Bills for Digital Assets Pass the US House of Representatives

On Thursday, the US House of Representatives approved three landmark bills that form the foundation for a clear legal framework for digital assets.

The centerpiece of the package, the GENIUS Act, passed with a majority of 308 to 122 votes, after having been approved by the Senate in mid-June. It now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump to become law.

The GENIUS Act mandates that:

- Stablecoin issuers must hold reserves of high-quality assets equivalent in value to the US dollar.

- Issuers must undergo regular financial audits.

- Dual federal and state oversight will be imposed on issuers.

The House also passed two additional bills:

- CLARITY Act: Aims to determine whether digital tokens fall under the jurisdiction of the SEC or the CFTC.

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

These developments represent a unified effort—described by Republican lawmakers as “Crypto Week”—to reshape the regulatory landscape for digital assets in the United States. Officials and market participants welcomed these steps as a decisive move toward stable regulatory foundations.

Political Uncertainty and Democratic Criticism

However, the regulatory package still faces hurdles, as the two bills unrelated to stablecoins await Senate approval. Markets are closely watching for final passage before fully responding to the new regulatory environment.

Doubts continue to surround the crypto industry. The sector strongly supported President Trump and the Republican Party in last year’s elections, and critics say this political backing is now bearing fruit.

Some Democrats have also criticized crypto deals involving Trump and his family, reportedly generating them massive wealth—at least on paper. The Nation conducted an in-depth investigation into a mysterious investor in a Trump-linked cryptocurrency, raising questions about conflicts of interest and undue influence.

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

Bitcoin Outlook: Still on the Rise

After recently hitting a new record, the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency is expected to continue rising in value, potentially surpassing $160,000 in 2025.

Bitcoin (BTC) is forecast to peak at $162,353 this year (€139,148), before settling around $145,167 (€124,418), according to the latest survey by UK-based fintech firm Finder, which compiled price expectations from 24 crypto industry experts.

The projections varied widely. The most optimistic forecast saw Bitcoin reaching a peak of $250,000 this year, while the lowest estimate averaged $87,618, with some analysts expecting a drop to as low as $70,000.

Bitcoin recently jumped to $120,000, up from below $100,000 at the end of last year.

Przemysław Kral, CEO of crypto trading platform Zondacrypto, told Euronews: “Several factors are driving demand for Bitcoin, including clearer and more favorable regulations, increased real-world use cases like payments, and changes in economic conditions.”

He added that regulations such as the EU’s MiCA framework played a significant role in the recent rally. The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation standardizes rules for digital assets across the EU. Along with growing institutional interest—especially through exchange-traded funds (ETFs)—this has made cryptocurrencies more accessible to a wider range of investors.

Crypto ETFs simplify exposure to these assets without requiring direct ownership. These funds have seen growing demand since Bitcoin ETFs began trading in US markets last year.

Is There a Bitcoin Bubble?

Although the integration of cryptocurrencies into the mainstream financial system has strengthened interest in Bitcoin, there remains a risk of a so-called “bubble”—where prices are inflated by investor enthusiasm without strong underlying fundamentals.

According to Ravi Sarathy, professor of international business and strategy and crypto expert at Northeastern University, large institutional investors—including MicroStrategy—have accumulated vast amounts of Bitcoin, possibly contributing to its price surge. MicroStrategy holds an estimated $65 billion in Bitcoin reserves.

Sarathy told Euronews Business: “After previous institutional hesitation, the new US rules allowing Bitcoin ETFs have made it easier and more convenient for both institutional and retail investors to allocate some resources to these high-risk/high-reward assets.”

Bitcoin is capped at a maximum supply of 21 million coins, driving demand amid limited supply. Sarathy noted: “This has also fueled the rise of ‘Digital Asset Treasuries’—institutional strategies that pool investor funds to invest in a range of digital assets including Bitcoin, which accelerates demand and price increases.”

He added that despite the short-term reaction to new US legislation, prices could continue to rise in the long run.

How Is Washington Fueling Bitcoin’s Rally?

Interest in Bitcoin has soared since President Donald Trump launched his campaign to make the United States “the global capital of digital currencies.” Support for crypto from the US government reached its peak this week, with the administration announcing “Digital Assets Week.” Lawmakers in the House are debating a series of bills that may define the industry’s regulatory framework.

John Hawkins, senior lecturer at the University of Canberra, said: “Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general are getting support from the Trump administration—which is ironic, given they were initially conceived as alternatives to government-backed currencies and favored by libertarians.”

Hawkins believes that: “Bitcoin lacks any intrinsic value. After 16 years, it still hasn’t fulfilled its core ambition of becoming a widely-used payment method. It remains a speculative bubble.”

Others, however, see Trump’s backing as a reason to buy.

Desmond Marshall, Managing Director of Rouge International and Rouge Ventures, said: “With Trump backing digital assets, his sons involved in massive crypto projects, and the strength of the US dollar, the US government has started accumulating large Bitcoin reserves. Many companies have supported this move with institutional crypto strategies.”

The most bullish analysts expect a major price rally, with forecasts of Bitcoin reaching $250,000 driven by institutional demand.

Martin Fröhler, CEO of the trading platform Morpher, said: “Institutional and corporate demand hasn’t slowed, while retail investors remain largely on the sidelines. Nation-state adoption is still in its early stages.”

Bitcoin has gained around 25% year-to-date despite ongoing trade tensions, conflict in the Middle East, and the absence of monetary easing from the Federal Reserve.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy Bitcoin?

About 61% of experts surveyed believe now is a good time to buy.

However, caution remains essential, according to Zondacrypto CEO Przemysław Kral.

He told Euronews: “With this massive momentum, restraint is key. No one can predict whether the price will rise or fall. We always recommend thorough research and a solid understanding of Bitcoin before investing.”

Kadan Stadelmann, CTO at Komodo, believes Bitcoin will continue to rise steadily over the next six months before entering a “bear market” (when selling outweighs buying).

Stadelmann said: “Given that Bitcoin has already reached $110,000, and with at least six months left in this upward cycle, I expect a peak in Q1 2026, followed by a bear market.”

When asked about ultra-long-term projections, Finder’s experts predicted Bitcoin could reach $458,647 by 2030 and surpass $1 million by 2035.

How Might Quantum Computing Affect Bitcoin’s Encryption Security?

A vast majority of experts surveyed (79%) believe quantum computing poses a threat to Bitcoin’s encryption security, as quantum computers could potentially break the cryptographic standards protecting cryptocurrencies.

A quarter of experts (25%) think quantum computers could crack Bitcoin within five years, while another 25% believe it may happen within five to ten years. The remaining 29% believe it would take more than ten years.

Only 8% believe quantum computing poses no threat at all, while just one-third of experts feel the Bitcoin community is at least somewhat prepared to face the challenge.

Most US stock indices leaned toward negative territory in Friday’s trading, though they remained near all-time highs as markets monitored corporate earnings results.

The earnings season for companies listed on Wall Street for the second quarter of 2025 has begun, starting with bank earnings, most of which have shown strong figures.

Global markets have been gripped by concerns this week amid uncertainty over the possibility that US President Donald Trump might dismiss Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell from his position.

In terms of market performance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 0.4% (equivalent to 160 points) to 44,326 points as of 16:15 GMT. The broader S&P 500 Index declined by 0.1% (3 points) to 6,293 points, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped by 0.1% (10 points) to 20,874 points.

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.