<p>Several sulfide minerals are of great significance owing to their role as primary sources for the recovery of valuable metals. Compared to traditional pyrometallurgical methods, the hydrometallurgical treatment of sulfide minerals offers notable advantages, including the ability to process increasingly low-grade primary ores and complex sulfidic concentrates. This article discusses the reductive leaching of chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂) in particular, along with other sulfide minerals, which has received less attention than other hydrometallurgical methods. Reductive leaching is an electrochemical process consisting of anodic and cathodic half-reactions, where the anodic component involves the dissolution of a reductant, while the cathodic reaction causes the reduction of the target mineral. In the case of chalcopyrite, reductive leaching can lead to the formation of more reactive intermediate phases (e.g., chalcocite), potentially facilitating subsequent hydrometallurgical processing. Chalcopyrite dissolution is largely influenced by the redox potential, which can alter conditions in such a way that the mineral undergoes reduction. Several strategies exist to manipulate the redox potential and promote the reductive dissolution of chalcopyrite, including the presence/addition of Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ag⁺ ions, and various chloride complexes such as CuCl, [CuCl₂]⁻, [CuCl₃]²⁻, [CuCl₄]³⁻; the presence of other minerals such as pyrite (FeS₂); and the application of an external potential to the solution. Although chalcopyrite leaching and the role of redox potential have been the subject of numerous studies, this article focuses on how adjusting conditions to promote reductive mechanisms may enhance the mineral dissolution process.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>