A dollar collapse is taking place when the value of the U.S. dollar declines. Anyone who holds dollar-denominated assets will sell them at any cost. That includes foreign governments who own U.S. Treasurys. It also affects foreign exchange future traders. Last but not least are individual investors.

When the crash occurs, these parties will demand assets denominated in anything other than dollars. The collapse of the dollar means that everyone is trying to sell their dollar-denominated assets, and no one wants to buy them. This will drive the value of the dollar down to near zero. It makes hyperinflation look like a watching scary movie.

Conditions via-which may lead to the Dollar Collapse:

-There are two conditions must take place before the dollar may collapse: 
First, there must be a fundamental weakness. As of 2017, the U.S. currency was fundamentally weak despite its 25 percent increase since 2014. The dollar declined 54.7 percent against the euro between 2002 and 2012. “Why”? The U.S. debt almost tripled during that period, from $6 trillion to $15 trillion. The debt is even worse now, at $21 trillion, making the debt-to-GDP ratio more than 100 percent. That increases the chance the United States will let the dollar’s value slide as it would be easier to repay its debt with cheaper money.

Second, there must be a viable currency alternative for everyone to buy. The dollar’s strength is based on its use as the world’s reserve currency, as well as the petrodollar phenomenon. The dollar became the reserve currency in 1973 when President Nixon abandoned the gold standard. As a global currency, the dollar is used for 43 percent of all cross-border transactions. That means central banks must hold the dollar in their reserves to pay for these transactions worldwide. As a result, 61 percent of these foreign currency reserves are in dollars. Whereas the next most popular currency after the dollar is the euro, but it comprises less than 30 percent of central bank reserves, also Euro-Zone debt crisis weakened the euro as more acceptable global currency.

China and others argue that a new currency should be created and used as the global currency. China’s central banker Zhou Xiaochuan goes one step further. He claims that the Yuan should replace the dollar to maintain China’s economic growth. China is right to be alarmed at the dollar’s drop in value. That’s because it is the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasurys, so it just saw its investment deteriorate. The dollar’s weakness makes it more difficult for China to control the Yuan’s value compared to the dollar, but now China tries to change the whole story via its initiatives, especially Silk Road Initiative, then G20 and BRICS.

Another important question occurred – Could Bitcoin “the new cyber currency” replace the dollar as the new world currency? 

It has many benefits. It’s not controlled by any one country’s central bank. It is created, managed, and spent online. It can also be used at brick-and-mortar stores that accept it. Its supply is limited. That appeals to those who would rather have a currency that’s backed by something concrete, such as gold. But there are big obstacles. First, its value is highly volatile. That’s because there is no central bank to manage it. Second, it has become the coin of choice for illegal activities that lurk in the deep web. That makes it vulnerable to tampering by unknown forces.

Economic Event to stimulate Collapse:

The above two conditions make a collapse possible. But, it won’t occur without a third condition. That’s a huge economic stimulating event that destroys confidence in the dollar.  Altogether, foreign countries own more than $5 trillion in U.S. debt. If China, Japan or other major holders started dumping these holdings of Treasury notes on the secondary market, this could cause a panic leading to collapse. China owns $1 trillion in U.S. Treasurys. That’s because China connect the Yuan to the dollar. This keeps the prices of its exports to the United States relatively cheap. Japan also owns more than $1 trillion in Treasurys. It also wants to keep the yen low to stimulate exports to the United States. Japan is trying to move out of a 15-year deflationary cycle however the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster didn’t help it to carry out that.

Would China and Japan ever dump their dollars?

Only if they saw their holdings declining in value too fast and they had another export market to replace the United States. The economies of Japan and China were dependent on U.S. consumers. They know that if they sell their dollars that would further depress the value of the dollar. That means their products, still priced in Yuan and Yen, will cost relatively more in the United States. Their economies would suffer. Right now, it’s still in their best interest to hold onto their dollar reserves.

China and Japan are aware of USA vulnerability. They are selling now more to other Asian countries that are gradually becoming wealthier. But perhaps some of their business people think that the United States is still the best market in the world.

When Will the Dollar Collapse?

It’s unlikely that it will collapse currently, that’s because any of the countries who have the power to make that happen (China, Japan, and other foreign dollar holders) don’t want it to occur, as it’s not in their best interest. Thus why bankrupt one of China and Japan best customer currently? Instead, the dollar will resume its gradual decline as these countries find other markets. 
Repercussions of the Dollar Collapse:

A sudden dollar collapse would create global economic turmoil. Investors would rush to other currencies, such as Yuan and euro, or other assets, such as gold and commodities. Demand for Treasurys would plummet, and interest rates would rise. U.S. import prices would skyrocket, causing inflation. U.S. exports would be very cheap, given the economy a brief boost. In the long run, inflation, high interest rates, and volatility would strangle possible business growth. Unemployment would worsen, sending the United States back into recession or even a depression.

Libor Rate and US$:

Also, not to forget that both of USA and Britain still tampering the libor rates to the favor of US$, as they did that in several cases as of Asian Tigers in the end of 1990s, passed by the scandal of 2008 via Barclays Bank that led to a severe recession and destructive repercussions on USA itself, and repeated recently this year with both of Iran and Turkey and maybe Russia, as a punitive tool for their challenge to USA dominance. However, this time it is difficult for USA to tamper again with Libor, thus it shifts with Britain to ignite a cheap media war against Russia and Iran in respect of espionage and tapping.

Protect yourself from dollar decline:

Keep your assets well-diversified by holding foreign mutual funds, gold, and other commodities. A dollar collapse would create global economic turmoil. To respond to this kind of uncertainty, you must be mobile. Keep your assets liquid, so you can shift them as needed. Make sure your job skills are transferable. Update your passport, in case things get so bad for so long that you need to move quickly to another country. These are just a few ways to protect yourself and survive a dollar collapse.

Ahmed Moustafa

Director of Asia Center for Studies and Translation

A Member of the CODESRIA and Group of Strategic Vision 

Russia and the Islamic world