In July 2025, several significant announcements and developments regarding Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the BRICS nations are anticipated, primarily focusing on the establishment and rollout of new digital currency systems.
One of the key events is the BRICS summit scheduled to occur in Rio de Janeiro. During this summit, member states, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, are likely to discuss the implementation of a proposed common payment platform, which aims to facilitate cross-border trade among the BRICS countries. This initiative is expected to be operational by mid-2025, aiming to enhance financial cooperation and reduce reliance on the US dollar in international trade 2 4.
Additionally, the Russian Central Bank is targeting the widespread use of its digital ruble by July 2025. The plan includes making the digital ruble fully operational for citizens and businesses, with major Russian banks required to support this initiative. The digital currency is positioned as a means to diversify Russia's financial instruments and mitigate the impacts of Western sanctions 5 10.
Brazil is also expected to make significant progress with its own CBDC, named DREX, which aims to be launched in 2025. The Brazilian Central Bank has already conducted successful pilot tests, and the announcement of its general use during the summit could stimulate discussions on digital currencies' roles in the BRICS framework .
Moreover, the BRICS nations are promoting a new blockchain-based payment system referred to as BRICS Pay, designed specifically to challenge the dominance of Western financial institutions. This payment system is likely to draw attention at the summit, emphasizing the bloc’s commitment to increasing its economic influence 3 7.
Overall, July 2025 will be pivotal for the BRICS bloc in solidifying its financial strategies through the integration of digital currencies and payment systems, potentially reshaping global economic dynamics.