Are Threats to the USD's Role as a Reserve Currency Real?
By Bob Iaccino
Loading...

After the U.S.-led sanctions placed on Russia during its invasion of Ukraine – which included effectively removing them from the international settlement system known as SWIFT – many countries have gotten in line to join BRICS, publicly expressing worry about a system dominated by the West that could harm their economies if they don't align politically.

BRICS has also announced its intention to release a currency backed by gold to compete globally with the U.S. dollar, which could turn out to be a stabilizing factor within the bloc if it comes to fruition.

However, the stability, confidence, and economic dominance associated with the dollar are truly unmatched at this point in history. Despite recent concerns, the political stability of the dollar may become a hurdle too high for competing currencies to leap. Take Argentina, for example. They are one of the six countries offered an invitation to join BRICS. Still, according to an article in the Buenos Aires Times, the two leading opposition presidential candidates in the upcoming October elections (Javier Milei and Patricia Bullrich) say they would withdraw the approved application for BRICS membership if elected. This dissent could continue in the BRICS bloc as emerging nations struggle for political, economic and legal stability.

The United States has a solid legal and institutional framework that fosters trust and confidence in the dollar. The U.S. also has the world's deepest and most liquid financial markets, allowing nations to hold and transact large amounts of U.S. dollars with minimal impact on the currency’s value. Transitioning from the dollar to another reserve currency would be a long, complex and risky process. It would require a consensus among many nations and could lead to a period of global economic instability during any such transition.

Loading...

About the author

Bob Iaccino
Bob Iaccino

Chief Market Strategist, Path Trading Partners

 

 

OpenMarkets is an online magazine and blog focused on global markets and economic trends. It combines feature articles, news briefs and videos with contributions from leaders in business, finance and economics in an interactive forum designed to foster conversation around the issues and ideas shaping our industry.

All examples are hypothetical interpretations of situations and are used for explanation purposes only. The views expressed in OpenMarkets articles reflect solely those of their respective authors and not necessarily those of CME Group or its affiliated institutions. OpenMarkets and the information herein should not be considered investment advice or the results of actual market experience. Neither futures trading nor swaps trading are suitable for all investors, and each involves the risk of loss. Swaps trading should only be undertaken by investors who are Eligible Contract Participants (ECPs) within the meaning of Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and swaps each are leveraged investments and, because only a percentage of a contract’s value is required to trade, it is possible to lose more than the amount of money deposited for either a futures or swaps position. Therefore, traders should only use funds that they can afford to lose without affecting their lifestyles and only a portion of those funds should be devoted to any one trade because traders cannot expect to profit on every trade. BrokerTec Americas LLC (“BAL”) is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (www.FINRA.org), and is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (www.SIPC.org). BAL does not provide services to private or retail customers.. In the United Kingdom, BrokerTec Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. CME Amsterdam B.V. is regulated in the Netherlands by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) (www.AFM.nl). CME Investment Firm B.V. is also incorporated in the Netherlands and regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), as well as the Central Bank of the Netherlands (DNB).

©2025 CME Group Inc. All rights reserved