BRICS Accelerates De-Dollarization Push in 2026 as Local Currency Settlements Gain Traction
The BRICS alliance is intensifying its de-dollarization efforts, with member nations now conducting 90% of bilateral trade in local currencies. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the shift at a recent economic forum, highlighting reduced reliance on USD intermediaries. Russia-China trade now settles predominantly in rubles and yuan, while India maintains its stance against actively replacing the dollar.
Alternative payment infrastructures like mBridge and BRICS Pay are gaining momentum, linking national systems including China's CIPS, Russia's SPFS, and India's UPI. This coordinated MOVE challenges dollar hegemony without establishing a unified BRICS currency—yet.
The development coincides with growing cryptocurrency adoption in emerging markets, where digital assets serve as both dollar alternatives and settlement mechanisms. bitcoin and stablecoins feature prominently in cross-border transactions between BRICS members.