Eric Sepanek
SBC Founder
Eric Sepanek is the founder of Scottsdale Bullion & Coin, established in 2011. With extensive experience in the precious metals industry, he is dedicated to educating Americans on the wealth preservation power of gold and silver.
The true weakness of the United States is no secret to the world. With unchecked national debt rocketing past $37 trillion, a debt-to-GDP ratio surpassing 130%, and a bond market that resembles a balloon stuck to an air compressor that can’t be shut off, America’s economic vulnerabilities are laid bare for all to see. So when the world’s most powerful adversaries gathered in one room together, you have got to wonder if this was part of their discussion?
The unprecedented gathering of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un at China’s September 3, 2025 Victory Day Parade likely provided the perfect strategic forum for advancing BRICS+ de-dollarization initiatives. Given the explosive timing, the heavyweight participants, and the charged geopolitical atmosphere, there’s a compelling case that discussions took place regarding viable alternatives to US dollar dominance. Perhaps they have centered on expanding bilateral trade settlements in local currencies and dramatically accelerating digital currency cooperation?
This convergence of key anti-Western bloc leaders in Beijing—occurring immediately after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and amid escalating US trade tensions—created what can only be described as optimal conditions for coordinated discussions on reducing dollar dependency through expanded BRICS payment mechanisms, cutting-edge digital currency initiatives, and strategic commodity trading arrangements.
A Perfect Storm of Motivations
The alignment of interests among these three leaders couldn’t have been more pronounced. China, serving as BRICS chair in 2025, has made financial architecture reform its top priority, especially as it faces renewed US tariff threats under Trump’s second term. The recent Power of Siberia 2 pipeline deal with Russia demonstrates Beijing’s unwavering commitment to non-dollar transactions, while its digital yuan development positions China as the undisputed leader in alternative payment systems.
Russia’s motivations run even deeper. Extensive Western sanctions have not just encouraged but necessitated Moscow’s aggressive de-dollarization efforts. The remarkable success of yuan-ruble trade settlements provides a proven model that could be expanded across the entire alliance. With energy exports increasingly priced in non-dollar currencies, Russia has become the living laboratory for sanction-resistant financial networks.
Even North Korea, despite its complete exclusion from dollar-based financial systems, brings valuable assets to the table. Its experience with cryptocurrency and alternative payment methods could offer crucial technical insights that the larger powers might overlook. More importantly, North Korea’s symbolic inclusion in these major power discussions sends a clear message about the expanding scope of the anti-dollar coalition.
The Moment Was Everything
The timing of this gathering reads like a geopolitical thriller. Trump’s renewed tariff threats against BRICS nations buying Russian energy created immediate urgency, while his recent 50% tariffs on India demonstrated that even traditional US partners weren’t safe from American economic warfare. The SCO summit preceding the parade had already established diplomatic momentum, and China’s largest-ever military parade signaled an unmistakably assertive global positioning.
Historical precedent suggests these weren’t merely ceremonial gatherings. Previous BRICS summits have consistently featured groundbreaking financial cooperation discussions, and Xi-Putin bilateral meetings regularly produce significant currency cooperation agreements.
The pattern is clear: major announcements tend to follow these high-profile diplomatic gatherings like clockwork.
The Infrastructure Was Already There
What makes this potential convergence so significant is that the structural opportunities were already in place. The BRICS New Development Bank expansion is providing alternative lending mechanisms that bypass Western financial institutions entirely. The mBridge central bank digital currency project has been gaining serious traction among participating nations, while existing bilateral currency swap agreements have created a solid foundation for rapid expansion.
The technical infrastructure tells an even more compelling story. China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) offers a fully functional alternative to SWIFT, digital currency interoperability projects are advancing at breakneck speed, and commodity trading platforms are increasingly supporting multi-currency settlements.
The pieces of the puzzle aren’t just scattered on the table—they’re practically assembling themselves.
What They Likely Discussed
Behind the pomp and ceremony of the Victory Day Parade, the real action probably took place in private meeting rooms where the future of global finance hung in the balance. The most pressing topic would have been expanding local currency trading beyond the successful yuan-ruble model to encompass additional bilateral relationships. Standardizing settlement mechanisms across BRICS+ nations and establishing emergency currency support mechanisms would have been natural next steps.
Digital currency coordination likely dominated technical discussions. Accelerating the mBridge project implementation, creating truly interoperable CBDC frameworks, and developing sanctions-resistant digital payment corridors represent the cutting edge of financial warfare.
These aren’t abstract concepts—they’re concrete tools that could fundamentally reshape global commerce.
Commodity market alternatives potentially received serious attention as well. Expanding non-dollar pricing for energy and metals, creating alternative commodity exchanges, and establishing strategic reserve coordination could strike at the heart of American economic influence.
When you control how the world’s most essential resources are priced and traded, you control the global economy itself.
Is the Global Financial Order Being Rewritten?
The convergence of these leaders in Beijing, given the current geopolitical climate and mounting economic pressures, potentially included substantive discussions on dollar alternatives. In my opinion, the question isn’t whether such conversations occurred—the strategic imperatives are too aligned, the opportunities too obvious, and the infrastructure too developed for these discussions not to have taken place.
The real question is the depth and specificity of the commitments made in those private rooms. Did they merely discuss theoretical possibilities, or did they forge concrete agreements that could begin reshaping the global financial order? Given the stakes involved and the personalities present, it’s likely that September 3, 2025, took place not just for China’s impressive military display, but to move forward the world’s most powerful anti-dollar coalition.
The writing is on the wall: the dollar’s dominance is no longer unchallenged, and America’s economic vulnerabilities are creating opportunities that its adversaries are increasingly positioned to exploit.
👉 Related Read: The Dollarpocalypse: When Will the Dollar Collapse?