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For more than half a century, the U.S. dollar has functioned not only as America’s legal tender but also as the world’s reserve currency. While most exports are measured in barrels of oil, tons of machinery, or shipments of airplanes, one of America’s most valuable exports is something far simpler: its banknotes. A small green piece of paper, most famously the $100 bill featuring Benjamin Franklin, has become a store of value and a medium of exchange across much of the globe.

By the first quarter of 2025, the value of U.S. dollar banknotes circulating outside the United States reached $1.05 trillion, accounting for 45% of all U.S. currency in circulation. In other words, nearly half of America’s paper money supply is held abroad. This reflects the unparalleled role of the dollar as a global safe asset, relied upon in regions where local currencies are unstable or where access to international markets requires a trusted medium of exchange.
The historical growth of foreign-held U.S. banknotes is striking. In 1970, overseas holdings amounted to just $5.4 billion. Over the next five decades, that number increased at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1%, outpacing the 7.2% growth rate of total U.S. currency in circulation. Today, the sheer scale of dollar holdings abroad underscores its centrality to global trade, finance, and personal savings.

The largest expansion occurred during the period from 2008 to 2021, when demand for physical U.S. banknotes rose by an extraordinary $700 billion. The 2008 global financial crisis, followed by years of uncertainty in both advanced and emerging economies, reinforced the dollar’s role as a safe haven. This surge culminated in 2020, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when foreign-held U.S. banknotes jumped by $121 billion in a single year—a 15% increase, the largest on record. The unprecedented shock of the pandemic drove households, businesses, and governments worldwide to seek liquidity and safety, with the U.S. dollar at the center.

Since 2022, however, the growth of overseas dollar holdings has plateaued. Despite global inflation and geopolitical tensions, the stock of U.S. banknotes abroad has shown little change through 2025. Several factors explain this shift. First, the explosive growth of digital payment systems—both in the United States and abroad—has reduced reliance on physical cash. Second, the rise of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins has provided an alternative (though still small in scale) for cross-border transactions and digital savings. Third, after years of rapid accumulation, many regions may have simply reached a saturation point in demand for physical dollars.

The long-term implications remain uncertain. On one hand, the dollar’s global role as a trusted currency is unlikely to diminish soon, especially given the lack of credible alternatives. On the other hand, the stagnation in foreign banknote demand may signal a turning point: while the U.S. dollar remains unrivaled in global finance, its most visible export—the paper bill—could be entering a period of slower growth as the world moves further into the digital age.
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Just 30 countries have a geographical area of more than one million square kilometers, led by Russia—the world's largest nation at over 17 million sq km.
Yet when ranked by nominal GDP, the economic output of these geographic giants reveals stark disparities: dense, industrialized powerhouses like the United States and China dominate the top spots, while vast but sparsely populated countries lag far behind.
Converting the top 30 largest countries by geographic size to an isometric treemap, then pulling up columns to represent GDP (compare the vertical heights), we can see a quick overview of contrasting economy size despite an abundance of land.
GDP is taken from World Bank for 3rd week of December 2025 (reflecting the year 2024).
Country size is in square kilometers and includes total area: the sum of land and water areas within international boundaries and coastlines.
Note: Greenland is not technically an independent country, it’s an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland GDP data is from 2023.
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The U.S. debt stands at $37.6 trillion, equal to 125% of GDP.Net interest payments on the debt are set to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030, and $1.8 trillion in 2035.

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Russia and China have each added over 1,800 tonnes of gold to their reserves since 2000, more than triple the next highest country.Gold buying by central banks has surged in recent years as countries diversify away from the U.S. dollar and hedge against geopolitical risk.
Since the turn of the century, central banks have been steadily increasing their gold reserves, a trend that has sharply accelerated in the last few years. As global trust in traditional reserve currencies like the U.S. dollar is being tested by inflation, sanctions, and shifting alliances, many nations are turning to gold as a strategic store of value.
Russia leads all countries with a stunning increase of 1,948 tonnes of gold since 2000, narrowly edging out China’s 1,885 tonnes. Together, these two powers account for more than half of all gold stockpiled by central banks in the period.
Why Are Russia and China Hoarding Gold?
The dramatic increase in gold holdings by Russia and China is part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar. After facing Western sanctions, Russia has accelerated its dedollarization strategy, favoring gold to protect reserves from seizure or devaluation.
China’s motives are also strategic. Amid trade tensions with the U.S. and a growing desire to internationalize the yuan, Beijing has been quietly amassing gold, often through discreet central bank purchases and reported transfers from domestic mines.
Russia and China have even engaged in historic bilateral gold trade deals that bypass the U.S. financial system.
India (+518 tonnes) has boosted reserves in response to currency volatility and inflation concerns.Türkiye (+501 tonnes) has leaned on gold amid economic turbulence and lira devaluation.Poland and Kazakhstan have each added hundreds of tonnes as part of diversified reserve strategies.$BTC $ETH $BNB #CryptoETFMonth

OpenAI is reportedly seeking a massive $100 billion in funding, potentially valuing the company at $830 billion. This comes as talks continue with Amazon for an investment that could exceed $10 billion, which might involve OpenAI using Amazon's AI chips.
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