Brazil follows the American cookie and invests in gold: the accelerated de-dollarization by the Central Bank

The Central Bank of Brazil demonstrated this week its determination to move away from dependence on the US dollar. After years of observing the de-dollarization strategy gaining momentum within the BRICS bloc, the monetary authority moved from rhetoric to action: it sold approximately US$ 61 billion in US Treasury Securities, that “American cookie” that has historically dominated Brazil’s international reserve portfolio. Now, the Central Bank is investing this capital in physical gold and in assets denominated in alternative currencies considered more stable and less vulnerable to geopolitical fluctuations.

Central Bank executes the largest reconfiguration of international reserves in recent times

The maneuver carried out by the Central Bank this week is one of the most significant moves in its recent history in terms of external asset management. The dramatic reduction of Treasuries is not merely a technical financial reallocation decision but a clear strategic stance. By directing capital toward gold—an asset recognized worldwide for its protective qualities—and toward other strong currencies, Brazil is following the same path as superpowers that have long seen precious metals as a hedge against exchange rate volatility and global political uncertainty.

The numbers are impressive: US$ 61 billion is a substantial volume enough to reconfigure the reserve composition and signal to the global market that Brasília is determined to reduce its exposure to dollar-denominated assets. Gold, by its nature, does not depend on any specific monetary policy and is unaffected by unilateral decisions of foreign powers—characteristics that make it especially attractive during times of geopolitical tension.

De-dollarization accelerates within the BRICS agenda

Brazil’s de-dollarization strategy does not emerge in isolation. It is part of a broader movement coordinated by the BRICS bloc, which has been discussing mechanisms for years to reduce dependence on the US currency in international trade. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa see diversification of reserves as a way to strengthen their economic autonomy and build a financial system less vulnerable to the geopolitical pressures imposed by dollar hegemony.

The Central Bank’s move this week is, therefore, more than just a technical rebalancing: it is a concrete step toward a less dollar-centric international financial architecture. The federal government, aligned with these strategic discussions within BRICS, signaled its commitment to de-dollarization as a priority in foreign policy. And the Central Bank, by selling billions in Treasuries and buying gold, translates this political will into real action in global markets.