BRICS Digital Currency Collaboration: A Step Towards Global Financial Shift?

India's Reserve Bank proposes linking BRICS countries' digital currencies to facilitate cross-border trade and tourism, potentially reducing dependence on the U.S. dollar amid geopolitical tensions. This proposal may be discussed at the 2026 BRICS summit, hosted by India. The plan follows a 2025 BRICS meeting call for payment interoperability.

The Reserve Bank of India is pushing for a significant shift in global financial landscapes by proposing that BRICS nations connect their digital currencies. This move, aimed at easing cross-border trade and tourism payments, could challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar as geopolitical tensions escalate.

The proposal is set to be discussed at the 2026 BRICS summit in India. If adopted, this would mark the first step towards linking the digital currencies of BRICS members, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The initiative might provoke discontent from the United States, which has previously cautioned against actions that bypass the dollar.

While no BRICS nation has fully launched its CBDC, pilot projects are ongoing, with India's e-rupee gaining 7 million users since its late-2022 launch. The RBI is advocating for digital currency linkages, stressing the need for interoperable technologies and governance structures to manage trade imbalances across member countries.

(With inputs from agencies.)