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Analysis of the Impact of the Decline in the U.S. Dollar's Reserve Status on Global Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies

#usd_reserve #de_dollarization #gold_investment #global_asset_allocation #forex_market #investment_strategy #monetary_policy #federal_reserve
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January 16, 2026

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Analysis of the Impact of the Decline in the U.S. Dollar’s Reserve Status on Global Asset Allocation and Investment Strategies
I. Core Data and Trends of Changes in the U.S. Dollar’s Reserve Status
1.1 U.S. Dollar Reserve Share Hits 30-Year Low

According to data disclosed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF),

the U.S. dollar’s share of global foreign exchange reserves has fallen to 56.32% in 2025
, remaining below 60% for 11 consecutive quarters and hitting a 30-year low [1][2]. This data marks that the U.S. dollar’s status as the world’s dominant reserve currency is experiencing structural loosening.

From a historical perspective, the U.S. dollar’s reserve share has declined continuously from its

72.7% historical peak
in 2001, dropping by more than 16 percentage points to date [1][3]. This trend reflects that the global monetary system is shifting from a “U.S. dollar-dominated” structure to a new balanced pattern of “U.S. dollar as the main currency, multi-polar coexistence, and gold as an anchor” [2].

1.2 Formation of a Multipolar Reserve Currency Pattern

The current global reserve system presents the following characteristics:

Reserve Asset 2025 Share Trend
U.S. Dollar 56.92% Sustained Decline
Euro 20.33% Steady Growth
Japanese Yen 5.82% Significant Growth
Chinese Yuan 1.93% Slight Decline
Gold ~24% Sustained Growth
Other Currencies ~20.82% Diversification

Key Changes:

  • Euro
    , as the world’s second-largest reserve currency, maintains a stable status, with a share of 20.33% in Q3 2025 [2]
  • Japanese Yen
    became the single currency with the most significant growth in the quarter, rising from 5.65% to 5.82% [2]
  • Chinese Yuan
    has developed rapidly in international trade settlement, but its reserve share has slightly adjusted [1]
  • Gold
    has for the first time exceeded U.S. Treasuries in its share of central banks’ foreign exchange reserves, becoming the world’s second-largest reserve asset [1][4]

U.S. Dollar Reserve Share Trend Chart


II. Driving Factors for the Decline in the U.S. Dollar’s Reserve Status
2.1 Structural Factors

Concerns Over U.S. Fiscal Sustainability

  • The U.S. federal government debt has exceeded
    $38 trillion
    [1][2]
  • High interest rates combined with high deficits have led to a rapid rise in U.S. fiscal interest expenses
  • Market concerns over the sustainability of U.S. debt continue to spread

Erosion of U.S. Dollar Credibility

  • The U.S. government frequently uses the U.S. dollar as a political tool, abusing its monetary power [1]
  • Financial sanctions against Russia have made countries aware of the potential risks of over-reliance on the U.S. dollar system [1]
  • The “Black 48 Hours” financial turmoil triggered by the 2025 “reciprocal tariff” policy completely shattered the U.S. dollar’s “safe-haven myth” [2]

Turning Point in Monetary Policy Cycle

  • The Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times in 2025, lowering the federal funds rate target range to
    3.5%-3.75%
    in December [2]
  • The interest rate advantage of the U.S. dollar relative to non-U.S. currencies has narrowed significantly
  • Declining real interest rates have reduced the relative attractiveness of holding U.S. dollar assets
2.2 Cyclical Factors
  • The U.S. Dollar Index fell
    10.8%
    in the first half of 2025, marking its worst performance since 1973 [1]
  • Policy uncertainty from trade frictions has risen to a historical high [5]
  • Global economic recovery expectations are divergent, and non-U.S. currencies have strengthened relatively

III. Impact on Global Asset Allocation
3.1 Paradigm Shift in Asset Allocation

Traditional asset allocation models are undergoing fundamental restructuring:

Asset Allocation Strategy Shift

Traditional Allocation Model (U.S. Dollar-Dominated):

  • U.S. Treasuries: 35%
  • Developed Market Equities: 30%
  • Emerging Market Equities: 10%
  • Gold: 5%

New De-Dollarization Paradigm:

  • U.S. Treasuries: 20% (15 percentage point decrease)
  • Developed Market Equities: 25%
  • Emerging Market Equities: 20% (10 percentage point increase)
  • Gold: 15% (10 percentage point increase)
3.2 Reshaping of Gold’s Strategic Status

Gold became the best-performing global asset in 2025, with an

annual gain of approximately 68%
, setting a new historical record 50 times [4][6].

Key Data:

  • The value of global official gold reserves has reached
    $3.93 trillion
    , officially surpassing the scale of overseas official holdings of U.S. Treasuries ($3.88 trillion) [4]
  • This is the first time this has occurred since 1996
  • Global central banks’ annual gold purchases exceeded 1,000 tons for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024 [1]
  • Global central banks’ net gold purchases reached
    634 tons
    in the first three quarters of 2025 [1]

Core Drivers of Gold’s Rise:

  1. Structural Demand from Central Banks
    : Central banks of various countries continue to increase gold holdings to diversify reserve risks [7][8]
  2. Fiscal Concerns
    : U.S. debt expansion drives investors to seek alternatives to U.S. Treasuries [7]
  3. De-Dollarization Trend
    : Gold, as a non-sovereign, credit-risk-free physical asset, has become the preferred choice [7]
  4. Declining Real Interest Rates
    : Federal Reserve interest rate cuts have reduced the opportunity cost of holding gold [6]
3.3 Structural Changes in the Foreign Exchange Market

Major Currencies’ Appreciation Against the U.S. Dollar (2025):

Currency Appreciation Against U.S. Dollar
Swedish Krona +20.2%
Mexican Peso +15.6%
South African Rand +13.8%
Brazilian Real +12.8%
Euro +14%
British Pound +7.68%
Swiss Franc +12.76%

This phenomenon has driven the recovery of “carry trades”, where investors tend to borrow low-interest U.S. dollars to invest in high-yield emerging market currency assets [2].

3.4 Erosion of the U.S. Dollar Asset’s Safe-Haven Attribute

The “Black 48 Hours” event in April 2025 is a milestone:

  • S&P 500 Index plummeted
    10.53%
  • VIX Volatility Index surged
  • U.S. Dollar Index fell
    4.37%
    simultaneously
  • Gold, Swiss Franc, and Japanese Yen became safe havens for capital

This is the first time in history that the U.S. dollar has lost its traditional safe-haven status during a crisis originating in the U.S. itself [2].


IV. Investment Strategy Recommendations
4.1 Gold Allocation Strategy

Long-Term Strategy:

  • Increase the gold allocation ratio to
    10-15%
    of the investment portfolio [7]
  • Gold has a low correlation (approximately -0.15) with equities and U.S. Treasuries, making it an effective risk diversification tool [7]
  • As a physical asset, it can effectively preserve purchasing power and hedge against inflation risks

Short-Term Strategy:

  • Focus on entry opportunities brought by short-term technical corrections [7]
  • Increase holdings of gold and silver mining stocks, which are currently undervalued relative to historical averages [7]
  • Institutional gold price targets for 2026: UBS $4,800-$5,000, Goldman Sachs $4,900, JPMorgan Chase $5,055-$6,000 [9]
4.2 Non-U.S. Dollar Currency Asset Allocation

Traditional Reserve Currencies:

  • Euro
    : The world’s second-largest reserve currency, with a stable share of 20.33% in 2025
  • Japanese Yen
    : The currency with the most significant growth in the quarter, with its safe-haven attribute highlighted

Emerging Market Currencies:

  • Currencies such as the Korean Won, Chinese Yuan, and Brazilian Real offer carry trade opportunities
  • Currencies such as the Mexican Peso and South African Rand performed strongly in 2025
4.3 Bond Allocation Adjustments

U.S. Treasuries:

  • Moderately reduce the allocation ratio from the traditional 35% to around 20%
  • Control duration to
    5-7 years
    to cope with increased volatility in long-term bonds [3]

Asian Local Currency Government Bonds:

  • High-credit sovereign bonds from countries such as South Korea and Singapore have become important tools for portfolio diversification [3]
  • The de-dollarization trend and loose Asian policies create favorable conditions
4.4 Regional Equity Allocation

U.S. Equities:

  • Moderately reduce the overweight ratio, emphasizing geographical diversification [3]
  • Pay attention to valuation risks, as U.S. equities are currently at a historically high level

Asia-Pacific Emerging Markets:

  • Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose
    71.12%
    in 2025 [3]
  • MSCI Vietnam Index rose
    61.08%
    in 2025 [3]
  • Shenzhen Component Index rose
    28.02%
    , CSI 300 Index rose
    17.20%
    [3]

A-Share “Barbell Strategy”:

  • On one end, deploy high-tech growth sectors to capture the upward profit potential driven by AI
  • On the other end, deploy high-yield high-quality value stocks as a downside protection [3]
4.5 Alternative Asset Allocation
Asset Class Allocation Recommendation Rationale
Private Equity Moderately Increase Allocation Improve portfolio diversification
Hedge Funds Focus on Absolute return strategies to cope with volatility
Private Credit Focus on Opportunities in non-public markets
REITs Hold Relative value in a weak U.S. dollar environment
Commodities Moderately Allocate Hedge against inflation risks
4.6 Investment Strategy Timeline
Phase Time Core Strategy
Defensive Phase
2024-2025 Increase gold allocation to 10-15%, reduce U.S. Treasury holdings, increase exposure to non-U.S. dollar currencies
Transition Phase
2025-2026 Increase holdings of emerging market assets, focus on safe-haven currencies, hold U.S. dollars for hedging
Rebalancing Phase
2026-2027 Rebalance equity and bond allocations, increase holdings of Euro-denominated assets, focus on opportunities in the Chinese Yuan
New Normal Phase
2027+ Diversified allocation becomes the norm, maintain strategic allocation of gold

V. Risk Warnings and Outlook
5.1 Key Risks
  1. Increased Volatility
    : The gold market experienced multiple rounds of sharp fluctuations in 2025, and the risk of short-term corrections cannot be ignored [6]
  2. Geopolitical Risks
    : Trade frictions and sanction risks may trigger sharp market adjustments
  3. Liquidity Risks
    : Unwinding of carry trades may trigger a stampede effect
  4. Policy Risks
    : Uncertainty remains regarding the Federal Reserve’s policy path
5.2 Institutional Outlooks

UBS Group
: Expects gold price to reach $5,000 per ounce in the first three quarters of 2026 [9]

Goldman Sachs Group
: Expects gold price to reach approximately
$4,900 per ounce
by the end of 2026 [9]

JPMorgan Chase
: Expects gold price to rise to
$5,055 per ounce
in Q4 2026, potentially further reaching $6,000 [9]

Allianz Global Investors
: The strategic value of gold will persist through 2026 and beyond, and short-term market adjustments may bring entry opportunities [7]

5.3 Long-Term Trend Judgment
  1. De-Dollarization Process Will Continue
    : Fiscal imbalances and geopolitical fragmentation are long-term trends [7]
  2. Multipolar Monetary System
    : The U.S. dollar will remain dominant but its share will continue to decline, forming a “one superpower, multiple major powers” pattern [2]
  3. Consolidation of Gold’s Strategic Status
    : Systematic gold purchases by central banks will become the new normal [8]
  4. Restructuring of Investment Paradigm
    : Diversified allocation has shifted from an “option” to a “must-have” [7]

VI. Conclusion

The decline in the U.S. dollar’s reserve status is a

long-term structural trend
rather than a short-term cyclical fluctuation. This change is profoundly reshaping the global asset allocation landscape and investment paradigm.

Core Conclusions:

  1. Paradigm Shift in Allocation
    : Shift from focusing on single U.S. dollar assets to a diversified, dynamically balanced strategy
  2. Revaluation of Gold’s Value
    : Upgrade from a safe-haven asset to a strategic reserve asset, with the allocation ratio increased to 10-15%
  3. Regional Diversification
    : Reduce over-reliance on U.S. equities and U.S. Treasuries, increase holdings of Asia-Pacific emerging market and Euro-denominated assets
  4. Currency Diversification
    : Increase exposure to non-U.S. dollar currencies, and utilize carry trades to capture interest spread gains
  5. Rising Importance of Alternative Assets
    : Non-traditional assets such as private equity and hedge funds play an enhanced role in the portfolio

Investors should closely monitor changes in the U.S. dollar’s reserve share, global central bank gold purchase dynamics, and geopolitical developments. Adopt defensive strategies during the

defensive phase
, gradually adjust allocations during the
transition phase
, and ultimately achieve
de-dollarization adaptation
of the investment portfolio.


References

[1] Shanghai Securities News - The Global Monetary System Accelerates toward Multipolarization (http://intl.ce.cn/sjjj/qy/202512/t20251223_2659071.shtml)

[2] Sina Finance - 2026 Forex Outlook: Interest Rate Cuts, Deficits, and the Twilight of the U.S. Dollar-Dominated Era (https://finance.sina.com.cn/money/bond/2026-01-05/doc-inhfezix2286668.shtml)

[3] 21st Century Business Herald - 2026 Global Market Outlook: AI Investment Momentum Continues, Gold Maintains Moderate Growth (https://www.21jingji.com/article/20251223/herald/bffd93fc01839dd9a97c4d9ff79b3ce3.html)

[4] Eastmoney - Central Banks Continue to Increase Holdings, Gold Surpasses U.S. Treasuries as the World’s Largest Reserve Asset (https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202601113615115276.html)

[5] Visual Capitalist - The Rise of Major Currencies Against the U.S. Dollar in 2025 (https://www.visualcapitalist.com/rise-of-major-currencies-against-the-u-s-dollar-in-2025/)

[6] Securities Times - The “Story of Joys and Sorrows” of the Gold Frenzy (https://www.stcn.com/article/detail/3561116.html)

[7] Investing.com - Allianz Global Investors: The Strategic Value of Gold is Expected to Persist Through 2026 and Beyond (https://cn.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/article-3141683)

[8] 21st Century Business Herald - China’s Foreign Exchange Reserves Have Remained Above $3.3 Trillion for Five Consecutive Months (https://www.21jingji.com/article/20260107/herald/dcff5d3f8c23895a9f49862552d7dd76.html)

[9] People’s Daily Online - Multiple Institutions Expect U.S. Dollar Assets’ Attractiveness to Weaken and Gold Prices to Continue Rising in 2026 (https://world.people.com.cn/n1/2025/1225/c1002-40632195.html)

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Insights are generated using AI models and historical data for informational purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Past performance is not indicative of future results.