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As of 2025, the proposed BRICS currency — a collaborative effort among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — is still in its early development stage and not yet a fully tradable currency like the U.S. dollar or euro.
However, interest in gaining exposure to BRICS economies and reducing reliance on the dollar is growing rapidly.
While you can't directly buy a unified “BRICS currency” today, there are several practical ways to invest in the currencies and economic strength of BRICS nations — whether through individual forex trades, ETFs, or international investments tied to these markets.
Best Ways to Invest in BRICS Currencies
Whether you're a cautious investor or willing to take on more risk, here are the top ways to gain exposure to BRICS currencies and the economies backing them:
1. Invest in Emerging Market Currency ETFs
There aren’t ETFs focused solely on a BRICS currency (since one doesn't yet exist), but several currency ETFs offer exposure to individual BRICS nations or a basket of emerging market currencies.
- How to invest: You can buy these ETFs through any standard brokerage account, similar to purchasing a stock or mutual fund.
- Benefits: Diversified exposure to multiple currencies; avoids active forex trading.
- Risks: Returns depend on economic trends in emerging markets and relative currency strength; may be affected by geopolitical tensions or inflation in BRICS countries.
ETF Name | Focus | Currency Exposure |
|---|---|---|
WisdomTree Emerging Currency Strategy Fund | Basket of emerging currencies | Includes BRL, INR, CNY, ZAR |
VanEck JP Morgan EM Local Currency Bond ETF | Emerging market government bonds | Bonds denominated in local EM currencies |
iShares JP Morgan EM Bond ETF | EM sovereign debt | Mostly USD-denominated, but EM credit exposure |
Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt | USD-denominated sovereign bonds | Exposure to BRICS nation economies |
SPDR Bloomberg EM Local Bond ETF | Local-currency bonds from EMs | Currency fluctuations tied to local units |
2. Trade Individual BRICS Currencies on Forex Platforms
If you're comfortable with active trading, you can directly trade the currencies of BRICS nations (like the Brazilian Real, Russian Ruble, Indian Rupee, Chinese Yuan, or South African Rand) via forex platforms.
- How to invest: Sign up with a forex broker like FOREX.com, IG, or OANDA and trade specific currency pairs (e.g., USD/INR, USD/CNY).
- Benefits: Full control over trades; access to leverage and high liquidity.
- Risks: BRICS currencies can be highly volatile due to domestic policies, capital controls, and political factors. Forex trading also requires skill and active monitoring.
3. Use Mutual Funds or Global Macro Hedge Funds
Some professional funds specialize in emerging markets and take positions in BRICS currencies based on macroeconomic forecasts. These may be mutual funds with currency exposure or global macro hedge funds.
- How to invest: Accessible via major brokerages (mutual funds) or, for hedge funds, through accredited investor platforms.
- Benefits: Managed by professionals; may offer upside from currency shifts tied to BRICS policy developments.
- Risks: High fees and limited access; performance depends heavily on fund manager skill and BRICS economic stability.
Fund Name | Manager | BRICS Exposure |
|---|---|---|
Templeton Global Bond Fund | Franklin Templeton | High in Brazil, India, and China |
PIMCO Emerging Markets Currency Fund | PIMCO | Local BRICS currencies exposure |
GMO Emerging Country Debt Fund | GMO | Focus on local-currency EM bonds |
BlackRock Emerging Markets Fund | BlackRock | Invests in BRICS equity + FX dynamics |
4. Buy BRICS-Denominated Bonds or Assets
Another indirect way to gain currency exposure is to invest in government or corporate bonds issued by BRICS nations. These bonds are often denominated in local currency, meaning your returns are tied to that currency's performance.
- How to invest: Look for international bond ETFs or access global securities through brokerages offering international reach.
- Benefits: Steady income potential; a longer-term way to benefit from rising BRICS currencies.
- Risks: Local currency depreciation or default risk from specific countries may reduce returns. Not all BRICS markets have the same credit quality.
Bond ETF / Asset | Type | Currency Denomination | Key Countries Included |
|---|---|---|---|
iShares India Bond ETF (INDA) | Sovereign bond ETF | Indian Rupee (INR) | India |
VanEck China Bond ETF (CBON) | China corporate/government | Chinese Yuan (CNY) | China |
iShares JP Morgan EM Local ETF (EMLIC) | EM bond ETF | Local currencies (BRL, INR…) | Brazil, South Africa, India |
South Africa Government Bonds (direct) | Individual bonds | South African Rand (ZAR) | South Africa |
Brazilian Sovereign Bonds (via ETF) | Emerging market debt ETF | Brazilian Real (BRL) | Brazil |
Alternatives to Direct Currency Investing
If you prefer a simpler or lower-risk approach, here are other ways to indirectly gain exposure to BRICS currencies and economies:
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Invest in BRICS Multinational Companies
Companies headquartered in BRICS nations — such as Petrobras (Brazil), Tata Consultancy (India), or Alibaba (China) — generate local currency revenues. Their performance often correlates with the strength of their home currency.
This gives you indirect exposure without needing to trade currencies directly.
ETF Name | Ticker | Focus | BRICS Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | EEM | Broad EM equity | High exposure to China, India, Brazil, S. Africa |
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | VWO | Diversified emerging markets | BRICS countries make up a major portion |
iShares MSCI BRIC ETF (if reinstated) | BKF | BRIC-only focus | Direct exposure to Brazil, Russia, India, China |
SPDR S&P Emerging Markets ETF | GMM | Smaller-cap EM companies | Some BRICS holdings plus other EMs |
Schwab Emerging Markets Equity ETF | SCHE | Cost-efficient EM fund | Tracks large and mid-cap BRICS equities |
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Explore International Emerging Market ETFs
ETFs like the iShares MSCI BRIC ETF (if available) or iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) include companies from BRICS economies. These funds inherently provide exposure to both the equity and currency risks of those markets.
Some funds are currency-hedged; others are not — so be sure to check the fund’s structure.
Company Name | Ticker / Exchange | Country | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|
Petrobras | PBR (NYSE) | Brazil | Energy (Oil & Gas) |
Tata Consultancy | TCS.NS / TCS.BO | India | IT Services |
Alibaba Group | BABA (NYSE) | China | E-commerce/Cloud |
Nornickel | GMKN.MM | Russia | Metals & Mining |
Naspers Limited | NPSNY (OTC) | South Africa | Media & Internet |
Vale S.A. | VALE (NYSE) | Brazil | Mining (Iron, Nickel) |
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Consider Gold and Commodities
Many BRICS nations are large commodity exporters.
Investing in gold, oil, or raw materials can provide indirect exposure to BRICS currency strength, especially since commodities are often seen as hedges against dollar weakness — a key motive behind the BRICS currency idea.
FAQ
No, a unified BRICS currency doesn't exist yet. Investors can only gain exposure to the individual national currencies of BRICS countries.
The proposed BRICS currency aims to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar in global trade and strengthen economic ties among member countries.
Due to sanctions, investing in the Russian ruble may be restricted or unavailable through U.S.-based platforms. Always check current regulations before trading.
These currencies can be highly volatile due to political instability, inflation, and capital controls in some BRICS countries. Long-term holders face both economic and currency-specific risks.
Yes, some BRICS countries like China and India have capital controls that can affect currency flow and limit convertibility for investors.
There is no official BRICS stablecoin, but some crypto projects claim to offer emerging market currency exposure. These are high risk and often unregulated.
No, BRICS currencies are not traditionally viewed as safe havens. They are more volatile and influenced by domestic policy shifts than currencies like the Swiss franc or U.S. dollar.
Higher interest rates in BRICS countries can attract foreign capital and strengthen their currencies, but inflation or instability can cancel out those effects.
Most U.S. banks don’t offer accounts in foreign currencies like the rupee or real. However, some international banks or forex brokers allow multi-currency accounts.
A default can trigger a sharp drop in the value of that country’s currency and ripple effects across BRICS-related ETFs, bonds, and investments.
