BRICS countries accelerate gold purchases to reduce global dependence on the US dollar

The BRICS intercontinental bloc has significantly intensified the pace of acquiring physical gold to make up the strategic reserves of its central banks over the last few months. The move aims to consolidate a financial structure that is less dependent on fluctuations and the hegemony of the US dollar in international transactions and value storage. Segundo data monitored by international financial bodies, the group’s share of global gold reserves jumped from 11.2% in 2019 to 17.4% at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

This repositioning of emerging powers occurs in a scenario of profound transformations in monetary geopolitics and the search for safer assets against sanctions and external instability. The movement is led by nations seeking absolute financial sovereignty, using the precious metal as a trust fund for their own national currencies. Atualmente, the total amount accumulated by member countries exceeds the historic mark of 6,000 tons, demonstrating a coordinated effort to balance global economic forces.

• The block now holds 17.4% of all gold stored by central banks in the world.
• More than 1,000 tons of the metal have been acquired annually in the last three consecutive periods.
• In the first nine months of 2025, investment in physical gold reached the mark of 91 billion dollars.
• Rússia and China together concentrate around 74% of all the block’s internal metal reserves.

Concentration of assets among the largest economies in the group

The block’s financial architecture reveals a significant concentration of the precious metal in the hands of three of its main founders, who operate as the supporting pillars of this new arrangement. Rússia leads the internal ranking with an official stock of 2,335.85 tons, followed closely by China, which recorded 2,298.53 tons in its public coffers. Índia also shows constant growth in its positions, currently holding 879.98 tons of gold, which reinforces the country’s role as a major player in the Asian market.

This distribution shows that Eurasian powers are aligned in creating a robust financial shield against possible pressure from the traditional financial system dominated by the West. The massive accumulation of physical gold ensures that these countries have immediate liquidity and an asset that does not have foreign government counterparty risk. Além of national security, the strategy serves to support future plans for common currencies or regional payment clearing systems that do not require the intermediation of third-party currencies.

Strategic movement and the decline of the petrodollar model

The gradual weakening of the petrodollar system has acted as the main catalyst for emerging economies to seek tangible reserve alternatives. Especialistas point out that the transition to a multipolar financial system is no longer just a theoretical projection, but an ongoing operational reality within central banks. The rampant buying of gold reflects the perception that the US currency could suffer from long-term inflation and political use of access to global banking networks.

During the first three quarters of 2025, purchases totaled 663 tons, showing that the bloc’s appetite for the metal remains at historically high levels even with the appreciation in the price per ounce. Esse behavior lastingly alters the balance of the commodity market and forces Western institutions to recalculate the risks of exposure to traditional sovereign debt. Gold thus resumes its historical role as the central reserve asset par excellence for nations that wish to mitigate contemporary geopolitical uncertainties.

Investments supported by monetary autonomy goals

The decision to prioritize gold over foreign debt securities is part of a long-term policy that prioritizes the autonomy of each nation’s internal economic decisions. By converting trade surpluses into physical metal, the bloc’s countries ensure that their wealth remains protected within their own borders and under the direct control of their regulatory bodies. Este The diversification process is seen by analysts as the most significant monetary change in recent decades, directly affecting global liquidity.

• Increased national financial security against external blockades and sanctions.
• Protection of the purchasing power of reserves in the face of the devaluation of fiat currencies.
• Encouraging the use of local currencies in bilateral commercial exchanges between members.
• Creation of a solid foundation for the group’s future financial infrastructure.

The tendency is for other nations that have recently joined or shown interest in joining the group to follow the example of the original members in rebuilding their assets. The entry of new capital flows into the gold market tends to keep demand strong, increasing the block’s relevance in international price negotiations.

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Transition to new models of international trade

Diversifying reserves beyond the dollar allows member countries to explore new transaction settlement mechanisms without relying exclusively on the SWIFT system. Holding large volumes of gold offers the necessary flexibility for central banks to intervene in their foreign exchange markets with greater efficiency and less volatility. The scenario suggests that gold will act as a bridge of trust during the transition period between the unipolar model and the new multipolar arrangement.

Countries like Egito and Irã, which have close trade relations with the bloc’s pillars, are also beginning to look at gold as an indispensable fiscal management tool. The integration of these economies into a system that values ​​real assets over nominal credit strengthens the group’s resistance to external crises. The global financial market closely follows each announcement of new investments, understanding that the movement redefines traditional capital flows between East and West.

Economic sustainability based on real assets of value

The focus on tangible assets represents a return to practices of fiscal conservatism that had been left aside during the height of credit-based financial globalization. The bloc’s leaders argue that long-term stability depends on the existence of reserves that cannot be created artificially by a single country’s monetary policies. Esse thought has attracted investors and sovereign wealth fund managers seeking protection against global inflation and rising debt in major Western economies.

The coordinated strategy ensures that the group has an active voice in discussions on the reform of the international monetary system taking place in global forums. With a 17.4% share of the world’s gold, the bloc’s bargaining power has increased considerably, allowing its proposals for new models of economic governance to be taken seriously. The resilience demonstrated by these economies in the face of recent shocks proves the effectiveness of the diversification initiated in the last decade and intensified now.

Impact on the governance of global financial institutions

The growth of gold reserves in emerging countries is pushing for changes in the voting and decision-making structure in bodies such as Fundo Monetário Internacional and Banco Mundial. The mismatch between the real economic power of these nations and their formal representation in these institutions has generated friction that further drives the search for their own alternatives. The accumulation of gold acts as a test of solvency and strength, demonstrating that the block has the necessary means to operate independently if necessary.

Gold acquisition policies are conducted technically by central banks, which look for moments of price correction to expand their positions without generating excessive inflation in the market. Esta Professional management ensures that stocks grow sustainably, serving as an anchor for national public finances during periods of transition. The role of gold as an economic stabilizer has never been more evident than in the current cycle of realignment of world powers and their respective areas of influence.

Perspectives for the diversification of sovereign reserves

The precious metal’s accumulation trend shows no signs of slowing down as trade and technological tensions between major powers continue to escalate. The bloc projects that asset diversification will remain an absolute priority in the coming years, with the aim of protecting national interests against unpredictable external shocks. Maintaining a robust stock of gold is seen as an insurance policy against systemic failures in the current financial model, ensuring continued economic development.