On Friday, global markets moved higher — cryptocurrencies, stocks, and gold futures all gained, while oil headed for its steepest weekly drop since June. The main driver was growing risk appetite amid easing trade tensions between the US and Japan. At the same time, demand for Bitcoin remains subdued, and hedging activity in options markets has increased.

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization rose 3% over the past 24 hours to $3.76 trillion, with altcoins leading the way: Ether gained 7.3% to $3,935, XRP surged 12% to $3.36, Solana added 4.7% to $175.19, and Dogecoin climbed 8.8% to $0.22. Bitcoin rose only 1.9% to $116,781. Analysts warn that BTC is stuck in a $112,000–$120,000 range, while declining network activity and spot ETF inflows indicate market cooling. BTC options show increased protection against a drop below $100,000 by late August, reflecting expectations for a sluggish summer season.