India Proposes BRICS Digital Currency Link to Streamline Cross-Border Trade and Tourism
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advanced a proposal to interconnect the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) of BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This initiative, slated for discussion at the 2026 BRICS summit in India, aims to reduce friction and costs in cross-border transactions, particularly for trade and tourism.
Sources indicate the plan remains in early-stage negotiations, with final implementation hinging on multilateral agreements around technology infrastructure, governance frameworks, and settlement mechanisms. The MOVE signals a strategic pivot toward leveraging digital currencies for regional economic integration.