Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Can the Chinese Yuan Displace the US Dollar?
The US dollar is used by people, companies and countries around the world.
Many trust it because the US economy is large and its financial and legal systems are seen as reliable.
This gives the United States special economic advantages.
China has become a very large economy and is encouraging other countries to use its yuan.
The yuan became the fourth-most-used currency in global payments in July 2024, but later dropped to sixth.
China is also expanding its own payment system, called CIPS.
This could help countries make yuan payments without relying as much on SWIFT.
However, the article says people may not fully trust the yuan because China has less transparency and fewer independent institutions.
For now, replacing the dollar completely appears unlikely.
China’s economic rise has intensified debate over whether the yuan can challenge the US dollar.
The dollar remains dominant, accounting for more than half of global transactions and foreign-exchange holdings.
The yuan’s share of global payments reached 4.7% in July 2024 before falling to 2.75%, making it the sixth most-used currency.
China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System is processing more yuan payments, potentially bypassing the US-dominated SWIFT network.
The article argues that China’s limited transparency, political controls and lack of independent institutions could restrict the yuan’s global appeal.
- Who
- China, the United States, and countries and financial institutions using their currencies.
- What
- The article examines whether the Chinese yuan can rival or replace the US dollar as the world’s main currency.
- When
- During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States; the payment data cited includes July 2024 and later figures.
- Where
- In global trade and financial payment systems, including SWIFT and China’s CIPS.
- Why
- Debate has intensified because of China’s economic growth and concerns about US tariffs, sanctions and the use of the dollar as a policy tool.
Dollar Resilience
Yuan Challenge
Global currency dominance
Dollar Resilience
The US dollar remains far ahead, with close to half of SWIFT payments and more than half of global transactions and foreign-exchange holdings.
Yuan Challenge
China’s economic growth and efforts to promote yuan-based trade give the currency a growing role, particularly among countries concerned about sanctions.
Payment networks
Dollar Resilience
SWIFT remains the global standard for bank payment messages, and the dollar continues to dominate that network.
Yuan Challenge
China’s CIPS is expanding and may allow more yuan transactions to bypass SWIFT, supporting greater financial self-sufficiency.
Trust and institutions
Dollar Resilience
The dollar benefits from confidence in US economic strength, legal rules, transparency and independent courts, despite recent concerns about US policy.
Yuan Challenge
The yuan could become more important, but the article argues that China’s limited freedoms, transparency and institutional independence make it difficult to become the global benchmark.
- US GDP
- Approximately $32 trillion, according to the article.
- China GDP
- Approximately $21 trillion, according to the article.
- Dollar dominance
- More than 50% of global transactions and foreign-exchange holdings are in dollars.
- Yuan payment share
- The yuan reached 4.7% of global payments in July 2024, then declined to 2.75%.
- Yuan ranking
- The yuan moved from fourth to sixth among the most-used global payment currencies.
- Chinese payment system
- China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System settles payments in yuan.
- Main obstacle
- The article identifies concerns about China’s transparency, political controls and institutional independence.