Introduction: Gold Rush Among BRICS Nations
In 2025, a quiet financial revolution is taking place. The BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—are stockpiling gold at record levels US dollar. This surge is more than just a hedge against inflation—it’s a deliberate strategy to challenge the global dominance of the US dollar.
As geopolitical tensions rise and de-dollarization accelerates, this coordinated gold-buying spree signals a deeper shift in the world’s financial order.
BRICS Gold Reserves Surge in 2025
According to the latest World Gold Council data, BRICS central banks have collectively added over 1,200 tonnes of gold in the first half of 2025 alone. This marks a 40% increase from 2024 and is the largest collective accumulation by any economic bloc in modern history.
- Russia: Accelerated purchases following extended Western sanctions
- China: Now the world’s top gold importer for the third year running
- India: Boosting reserves amid a weaker rupee and inflationary concerns
- Brazil & South Africa: Diversifying reserves away from dollar-denominated assets
Why Are BRICS Buying So Much Gold?
This strategic gold accumulation is driven by several key factors:
- De-Dollarization: Reducing dependency on the US dollar for trade and reserves
- Geopolitical Tensions: Growing Western sanctions and trade disputes make gold a safer alternative
- Currency Stabilization: Gold-backed strategies may support the development of a BRICS common currency
- Inflation Hedge: With global inflation remaining sticky, gold provides long-term value protection
South Africa’s Reserve Bank Governor noted in April 2025, “The global south is asserting financial sovereignty—and gold is central to that story.”
Impact on the US Dollar
The BRICS gold push is being closely watched by Western economists. If BRICS introduces a gold-backed trade settlement system or even a currency pegged partially to gold, it could weaken the US dollar’s reserve currency status.
Already, several major BRICS oil and gas deals—particularly between Russia and China—are being settled in yuan or rupees, not dollars. If gold-backed settlement becomes the norm, it could:
- Reduce dollar demand in global trade
- Trigger long-term inflation in the US
- Push more countries to join or align with BRICS currency systems
Could a BRICS Gold-Backed Currency Be Coming?
Speculation around a gold-backed BRICS currency gained traction at the August 2025 BRICS+ Summit in Johannesburg. While no official launch date has been announced, ministers confirmed they are exploring frameworks for a digital currency that uses gold and other commodities as a backing mechanism.
Brazil’s finance minister said, “Our goal is not to dethrone the dollar overnight—but to build a parallel system that serves emerging economies better.”
Conclusion: A New Financial Order Emerging?
The BRICS gold-buying strategy in 2025 is not a short-term market play. It’s a geopolitical move—a slow but deliberate push toward a multipolar financial world where gold, not just dollars, anchors economic trust.
For investors, policy watchers, and business leaders, this signals a need to rethink currency risk, reserve diversification, and the long-term role of gold in global trade.
