Gold at the Center of BRICS’ Monetary Experiment

Source: Brasil 247 | Original Published At: 2025-12-16 12:28:23 UTC

Key Points

• BRICS developed the Unit prototype – a digital settlement instrument backed by 40% physical gold and 60% national currencies to facilitate trade outside the dollar system.
• Post-2022 SWIFT exclusion, BRICS members (China, Russia, India) accelerated gold accumulation, with central banks purchasing over 4,800 tons globally between 2020-2024.
• China maintains strategic opacity about gold reserves while being the world's largest producer (360-380 tons/year), with parallel state channels acquiring significant volumes.
• Russia reduced US Treasury holdings to near-zero by 2021, increasing gold reserves to over 20% of reserves as financial blockade protection.
• Expanded BRICS+ group controls nearly half of global physical gold production, contrasting with Western derivative-based markets.