BRICS is taking steps to reduce reliance on the SWIFT system to enhance financial sovereignty and mitigate U.S. sanctions. This shift matters as it could reshape global financial dynamics and reduce Western dominance.

The BRICS grouping, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is increasingly focused on reducing its reliance on the dollar-dominated SWIFT system. This initiative began with the Fortaleza Summit in 2014, leading to the establishment of the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. The recent Kazan Summit highlighted the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative, aimed at facilitating transactions in local currencies. The unveiling of a BRICS banknote symbolizes the group's intent to challenge Western financial dominance. Despite the enthusiasm for BRICS Pay, individual countries' ambitions and the need for interoperability among their payment systems pose significant challenges. The geopolitical landscape, particularly U.S. sanctions, may accelerate the development of a BRICS-led financial network, although the creation of a common currency remains unlikely due to varying national interests.