Trump's customs policy shakes up currency markets - international transactions reach a peak

defi_detective · 2026-01-12T08:08:46+00:00

Global currency market turbulence has intensified due to strict U.S. trade policies, as highlighted by a BIS report. Daily transaction volumes reached $9.5 trillion, surpassing previous records, driven by investor reactions to currency fluctuations and geopolitical tensions.

defi_detective

2026-01-12 08:08:46

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Turbulence in the global currency market has reached a new level with the implementation of restrictive monetary policies by the United States administration. As revealed in the recently published Bank for International Settlements (BIS) report, the impact of this policy direction has been “significant”—not only altering the value of the US dollar but primarily driving unprecedented activity in currency markets.

Record-breaking volumes in response to monetary policy

According to BIS analysis from April of this year, average daily trading volume in the foreign exchange market reached $9.5 trillion—the highest in recorded history. This represents a substantial increase compared to the last comprehensive study in 2022, which showed a growth of over 25 percent from the previous measurement.

A particularly spectacular increase is seen in the over-the-counter (OTC) segment, which during the same period exceeded $1.5 trillion daily. BIS experts indicate that monetary policy has led to an unexpected weakening of the US dollar, prompting investors to increase hedging positions and engage in arbitrage transactions. For traders monitoring such movements, a customs calculator may be useful, allowing quick calculation of potential trading costs.

Comparison with historical crises

To understand the scale of the current movement, it is worth comparing it to previous peaks, such as March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic triggered global financial chaos. At that time, volumes also reached historic highs, but the BIS report indicates that the current level significantly surpasses them.

The quarterly BIS report, based on studies conducted every three years, reveals that currency markets absorb rising geopolitical tensions and changing trade policies through record volatility and volumes. Investors worldwide respond to uncertainty with more intensive currency trading, attempting to protect their portfolios from the consequences of deliberate trade wars.

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