How BRICS Could Deliver a Structural Shock to the US Dollar System

Source: Brasil 247 | Original Published At: 2026-01-16 12:42:52 UTC

Key Points

• BRICS is developing alternative payment systems (BRICS Pay, Unit, mBridge) to bypass US dollar dependence and SWIFT infrastructure
• The New Development Bank (NDB) is positioned as a key node for the BRICS Bridge cross-border payment mechanism
• Proposals include blockchain-based tokens (Unit) and commodity-backed units as alternatives to SDRs/IMF systems
• Analysis highlights Venezuela and Iran as test cases for escaping dollar-based petroeconomics
• Experts suggest creating a new international currency through a weighted basket of BRICS currencies