Can cryptocurrencies affect the dollar’s ​​dominance in the international market?

The US dollar, long considered the pillar of the global financial system, now faces significant challenges amid geopolitical shifts and growing twin deficits in the United States. This is the recent analysis released by Wall Street giants Morgan Stanley (MS) and Foreign Policy Research Institute, in reports that raise questions about the future of the world’s reserve currency.

According to the report, cryptocurrencies emerge as protagonists in this evolving scenario. Although still in their early stages, they have the potential to both erode and strengthen the dollar’s dominance in global finance. Andrew Peel, head of department at Morgan Stanley, highlights that the recent growth in interest in digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), coupled with rising stablecoin volumes and the promise of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), could cause significant changes in the global monetary panorama.

“The growing interest in digital currencies reflects not only a search for alternatives to the dollar, but also a response to US monetary policies and economic sanctions,” notes Peel.

This change is evidenced by the search by some countries for alternative means of financial transactions and the growing adoption of digital assets as a store of value.

However, the report highlights that stablecoins, which are pegged to the US dollar, also play a crucial role in today’s financial ecosystem. Peel points out that, far from undermining the dollar, these stablecoins could actually strengthen its position as the dominant global currency. Their continued evolution and growing acceptance by major financial institutions highlights the potential of these digital currencies to shape the future of global finance.

Furthermore, Peel notes that US monetary policy, combined with the use of economic sanctions, has forced some countries to seek alternatives to the dollar. This trend is evidenced by the growing adoption of digital assets, such as Bitcoin, as a store of value, indicating a clear change in the international monetary scenario.

Stablecoins and CBDCs pose a challenge to the economy

The emergence of stablecoins has sparked renewed interest in CBDCs, the digital currencies issued by central banks. As these currencies become more widely adopted and technologically advanced, they have the potential to set a new standard for cross-border payments. This could reduce dependence on traditional intermediaries such as SWIFT and decrease the use of dominant currencies such as the US dollar in international transactions.

Morgan Stanley’s analysis highlights the complexity of the current financial scenario and the need to adapt to new realities. The rise of cryptocurrencies and CBDCs poses a challenge to both policymakers and market participants, requiring a reassessment of traditional strategies.

Furthermore, the report highlights the risks and opportunities associated with this transformation. While some countries may see cryptocurrencies as an opportunity to reduce their dependence on the US dollar and the US financial system, others may fear the loss of control over their monetary policies and financial stability.

However, despite the challenges, the report suggests that change is inevitable. The advancement of technology and the increasing globalization of financial markets make it increasingly difficult for any country to maintain absolute control over the global monetary system.

In summary, the Morgan Stanley report highlights a rapidly changing landscape in which cryptocurrencies and CBDCs are emerging as disruptive agents in the global financial system. As the US dollar faces increasing challenges, digital currencies represent both a threat and an opportunity to redefine the global financial order. The future of money is at stake, and decisions made today will shape the global economic landscape for decades to come.

Cryptocurrencies and their impact on global finance

The Morgan Stanley report highlights that cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are increasingly gaining acceptance as a legitimate form of financial asset. Bitcoin, in particular, has been the subject of growing interest from institutional and individual investors, driving its market value to unprecedented levels.

The renewed interest in cryptocurrencies is not just limited to Bitcoin. Other digital currencies, such as Ethereum, are also gaining prominence, driven by the promise of smart contracts and decentralized applications.

The growth of stablecoin volumes is also a noteworthy phenomenon. These digital currencies, which are pegged to traditional assets such as the US dollar, offer value stability and liquidity, making them attractive to investors and businesses around the world.

On the other hand, the growing adoption of stablecoins has sparked widespread interest in CBDCs. These digital currencies issued by central banks have the potential to combine the characteristics of cryptocurrencies, such as transaction efficiency and security, with the stability of traditional fiat currencies.

FPRI warns of digital threat to the dollar

The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), a think tank specializing in foreign policy, also offers insights into the digital threat to the dollar’s dominance. According to recent analysis from FPRI, the rise of cryptocurrencies and central bank-issued digital currencies poses a significant challenge to the dollar’s position as a global reserve currency.

FPRI highlights that cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin offer an attractive alternative to the traditional financial system, enabling fast and secure global transactions without the need for conventional financial intermediaries. This ability to bypass the restrictions of the US-led financial system poses a direct threat to the dollar’s role as an international reserve currency.

Furthermore, the FPRI notes that CBDCs are being developed by several countries, including China, with the aim of reducing dependence on the dollar in international transactions. By offering a state-issued digital alternative, these currencies could further undermine the dollar’s position as the dominant currency in global trade.

Risks for whom?

As much as several reports from North American institutions point to this threat from the digital economy, the question still remains: for whom does the digital economy pose risks?

It is nothing new that several countries are looking for more sustainable alternatives than the dollar and US economic protectionism. This search for alternatives and solutions parallel to the dollar also makes it clear that the announcements made by the Treasury and North American entities are, for the most part, an unnecessary panic. It is more than proven that not adopting the dollar does not destabilize the world economy. In this case, the most affected is, in fact, the United States economy.

The preference for the dollar in the settlement of international contracts allowed the US to control all countries around the world for a long time. This facilitated, for example, economic blockades based on the judgment of a single country.

Warning about the power privilege of Americans, countries like France and the BRICS have been looking for alternatives in the last 15 years. The intention is not only to stop depending on the North American currency, but also to get rid of third-party government “snooping” in international transactions. All that was needed for this was the existence of blockchains and their stateless stablecoins or CBDCs without any type of tracking.

This switch from the traditional dollar-based financial system to the digital financial system could undermine the dollar’s dominance in the international market and mainly affect the country’s internal economy. Without the great demand for the dollar for transactions or conversions, the currency would become weaker, with increasingly lower values. Furthermore, this exchange would prevent economic blockades in the most diverse places in the world, such as Russia, Cuba and Venezuela.

Can the digital economy help finance terrorist groups?

One of the major global concerns with the mass replacement of dollar transactions for stablecoins would be the financing of terrorist groups around the world. One of the consequences of this lack of US monitoring of transactions would be the breach of two US laws that provide the basis for arbitrary sanctions. These laws create loopholes for “emergency actions”, but leave open the possibility of political and economic blockades.

The digital economy makes definancing actions by the US difficult, which raises a warning for authorities. Binance has already been accused of money laundering for allowing dollar-sanctioned entities to operate in cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, the US makes repeated accusations of financing terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda and Hamas, in addition to financing North Korean programs.

Another constant complaint is about entities based in Chinese space, which supposedly need to report to the Communist Party. However, the financing of these groups already occurs in parallel to the dollar and to date the USA has not presented a truly effective solution.

The United States government also fears that China will make Hong Kong a digital economic center, strongly threatening the dollar’s economic dominance. If realized, the international market would greatly reduce demand for the dollar and its strength, stability, multilateral acceptance, the solidity of American regulators and the ability to police transactions in dollars would be definitively undermined.

Is there a solution?

There is no perfect recipe for the world economy, nor any indication that the United States can stop this new digital era. For now, we only have several economies benefiting from this new era and reports trying to find a solution to the economic protectionism of a single country.

The growing adoption of cryptocurrencies and CBDCs by several countries reflects not only a search for alternatives to the dollar, but also a response to US monetary policies and economic sanctions. This paradigm shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity to redefine the global financial order.

However, the transition to a digital economy is not without risks. The possibility of financing terrorist groups and the lack of adequate regulation raise concerns about the security and stability of the global financial system.

Given this scenario, it is essential that policymakers and market participants are prepared to face the challenges and seize the opportunities presented by the digital economy. Adapting to this new reality will require international cooperation and regulatory innovation to ensure the stability and security of the global financial system.