Talk:Reserve currency

Number of reserve currencies/years in table

I'd like to trim the number of reserve currencies to the top 5, and also show data for the previous 15 years only. Including the Swiss Frnac, which has a minuscule holding, seems arbitrary. --User:WoodElf 07:16, 8 July 2016 (UTC)

Why would anybody want to do this; do the other reserve currencies not exist? However, the periods for the years 2001-2004 and 2006-2009 could certainly be dropped out. 182.239.152.216 (talk) 04:57, 17 December 2023 (UTC)

Reserve currency rankings: contradiction in article?

The Chinese yuan subsection says it "is the third reserve currency after the US dollar and Euro" whereas the "Global currency reserves" table says it's fifth (following the USD, euro, yen, and pound). Perhaps these sources are talking apples and oranges, but for a casual reader, this is not apparent. How to interpret this? And can someone make this clear in the article? Morgengave (talk) 22:29, 8 April 2021 (UTC)

@Morgengave: The problem was been there for some time but only became obvious when someone carelessly barged a section about Bitcoin into the SDR section, orphaning the [now correctly named] Renmimbi sub-section. I have added an extra sentence that I hope clarifies the point: would you check that it does the needful, please? --𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 10:16, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Yuan is a Reserve Currency

Why is the Yuan not written in as a Reserve currency in your information? 122.11.212.99 (talk) 09:39, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Because the currency of China is the Renminbi, the Yuan is just its primary unit. (Like Sterling is the currency of the United Kingdom and the pound is its primary unit.) These are the only two examples I know of that have this distinction, so a very exclusive club!

The renminbi is listed at Reserve currency#Global currency reserves. --𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 09:49, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

But the section about it was in the wrong place, I have moved it up to where it should have been. The section is very thin so if you can provide any additional material, citing a wp:reliable source, please do so – directly into the article or add it here for an experienced editor to integrate it --𝕁𝕄𝔽 (talk) 10:30, 14 April 2023 (UTC)

Map of Pegged Currencies

The map of pegged currencies is horribly out-of-date to the point of being wrong. For example, it makes no mention of CNY being in a floating peg versus a basket of international currencies (largely USD and EUR); and, there is no mention of the widespread use of USD in Argentina, Bolivia, Panama, El Salvador, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe. Should the map just be removed? Or, does it add value to this article such that it should be redone? Cumulant (talk) 22:23, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

If the map is out-of-date, it should be updated rather than removed. UlyssorZebra (talk) 17:16, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

Proposal for a comprehensive update to the United States dollar section

Hello editors, I would like to propose my intended changes here on the Talk page for discussion, as is the proper procedure.

I believe the current "United States dollar" section has several issues that could be improved: Outdated Data: The main statistic for the dollar's reserve share is from Q4 2022 and is marked as [needs update].

Lack of Context: It doesn't compare the dollar's share to other currencies, making the number hard to interpret. It also contains confusing paragraphs based on very old (2009-2010) sources.

Policy Violation: The final paragraph presents predictions from April 2025 articles about a future scenario as if it were a past-tense, historical fact. This appears to violate WP:CRYSTALBALL (Wikipedia is not a crystal ball).

I would like to propose the following improvements: Update the data using the latest IMF COFER data (Q1 2025) and add the shares of other major currencies for context.

Add a paragraph explaining the role of the petrodollar system and currency pegs as a key reason for the dollar's stability, using sources from the IMF and Brookings Institution. Remove the final paragraph on the grounds that it violates WP:CRYSTALBALL.

I believe these changes would make the section more accurate, up-to-date, and neutral. I have all the sources ready and welcome any feedback on this proposal. Thank you. SkyWatcher789 (talk) 02:55, 13 August 2025 (UTC)

While updating information tagged as "needs update" would be welcome, the last paragraph is not a prediction at all. "Began to rethink" is what was described in the sources provided. It does not mean the US dollar must lose its reserve currency status, but merely reflects the uncertainty brought by a president, causing a changed perception, something that has already happened.

Petrodollar recycling is one factor that affected reserve currency, but its not the sole reason. Other reasons that some might argue would be the military power. In that case would you also take into consideration. And don't forget about the de-dollarization trend in recent years.

More reference:

https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/global-research/currencies/de-dollarization Arutoria (talk) 16:26, 13 August 2025 (UTC)

Leaving one more source behind, just in case I forget about it.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/trump-tariffs-wrecked-partnerships-and-alliances-undermining-dollar-by-jim-o-neill-2025-03 Arutoria (talk) 16:28, 13 August 2025 (UTC)