The U.S. dollar was the most common currency in foreign exchange reserves in 2023, comprising more than three times the amount of the euro in global reserves that year. This total peaked in 2015, partly due to the strength of the dollar during the Eurozone crisis. The share of the U.S. dollar has lost since to the Japanese yen and euro, as well as other currencies. Why do foreign exchange reserves matter? When countries with different currencies export goods, they must agree on a currency for payment. As a result, countries hold currency reserves worth trillions of U.S. dollars. After World War II, the U.S. dollar itself became the international currency in the Bretton Woods Agreement and is thus the most common currency for international payments. The United States Treasury is also seen by most as risk-free, giving the country a low-risk premium. For this reason, countries hold U.S. dollars in reserve because the currency holds value relatively well eventually. China and currency reserves Since 2016, the International Monetary Fund has included the Chinese renminbi (yuan) as part of the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket. This decision recognized the influence of the renminbi as a reserve currency, particularly in several Asian countries. China also holds significant foreign exchange reserves itself, funded by its large positive trade balance.

United States - Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Transactions was 73136.00000 Mil. of $ in October of 2021, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Transactions reached a record high of 147444.00000 in July of 2020 and a record low of -34308.00000 in January of 2000. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Transactions - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on April of 2025.

The DXY exchange rate fell to 98.9672 on June 9, 2025, down 0.15% from the previous session. Over the past month, the United States Dollar has weakened 1.61%, and is down by 5.87% over the last 12 months. United States Dollar - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on June of 2025.

A graphic that displays the dollar performance against other currencies reveals that economic developments had mixed results on currency exchanges. The third quarter of 2023 marked a period of disinflation in the euro area, while China's projected growth was projected to go up. The United States economy was said to have a relatively strong performance in Q3 2023, although growing capital market interest rate and the resumption of student loan repayments might dampen this growth at the end of 2023. A relatively weak Japanese yen Q3 2023 saw pressure from investors towards Japanese authorities on how they would respond to the situation surrounding the Japanese yen. The USD/JPY rate was close to ***, whereas analysts suspected it should be around ** given the country's purchase power parity. The main reason for this disparity is said to be the differences in central bank interest rates between the United States, the euro area, and Japan. Any future aggressive changes from, especially the U.S. Fed might lower those differences. Financial markets responded somewhat disappoint when Japan did not announce major plans to tackle the situation. Potential rent decreases in 2024 Central bank rates peak in 2023, although it is expected that some of these will decline in early 2024. That said, analysts expect overall policies will remain restrictive. For example, the Bank of England's interest rate remained unchanged at **** percent in Q3 2023. It is believed the United Kingdom's central bank will ease its interest rate in 2024 but less than either the U.S. Fed or the European Central Bank. This should be a positive development for the pound compared to either the euro or the dollar.

The USD/CNY exchange rate fell to 7.1809 on June 9, 2025, down 0.13% from the previous session. Over the past month, the Chinese Yuan has strengthened 0.27%, and is up by 1.18% over the last 12 months. Chinese Yuan - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on June of 2025.

The euro and U.S. dollar made up more than ***** of 10 SWIFT payments worldwide in 2024, outperforming many other currencies. This is according to a monthly report meant to track the market share of China's yuan renminbi within the international bank transfer system SWIFT. Although China holds the largest forex reserves in the world, the yuan ranked as the ******-used currency in international payments. The figures concern customer-initiated and institutional payments and exclude trade. Discussions on the potential weakening role of the U.S. dollar especially touch world trade and forex. For example, the share of the USD in forex reserves declined visibly against the euro and Japanese yen in 2023. What sparked this de-dollarization trend, and will it continue? Trade sanctions and de-dollarization De-dollarization in 2023 is mentioned mostly alongside trade and the BRICS countries - an informal name given to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The combined GDP of BRICS is about ** percent of the world's economy. After the start of the Ukraine war and Russia received economic sanctions, the BRICS slowly evolved into a trading bloc. The group increasingly wanted its own currency to settle payments within the trade bloc, to avoid using the U.S. dollar. In August 2023, BRICS will gather in South Africa to discuss the creation of such a new joint currency. Additionally, ** countries - including Argentina, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Yemen - expressed interest in joining the BRICS group. CBDC, or projects into a digital payment settlement A factor of future uncertainty for the U.S. dollar is how central bank digital currencies (CBDC) develop in emerging countries. Several projects exist between individual countries that specifically target cross-border interbank payments. A cooperation between Thailand and Hong Kong, Inthanon-Lionrock, ranks as the most advanced of these projects. CBDC does not require the U.S. dollar to function. Tangible such as commodities or gold can back them. The value of transactions processed with CBDC is to grow by ******* percent between 2023 and 2030.

Graph and download economic data for Currency in Circulation (CURRCIR) from Aug 1917 to May 2025 about currency and USA.

One United States dollar was worth over ****** Indonesian rupiah in May 2024, the highest value in a comparison of over 50 different currencies worldwide. All countries and territories shown here are based on the Big Mac Index - a measurement of how much a single Big Mac is worth across different areas in the world. This exchange rate comparison reveals a strong position of the dollar in Asia and Latin America. Note, though, that several of the top currencies shown here do not rank among the most traded. The quarterly U.S. dollar exchange rate against the ten biggest forex currencies only contains the Korean won and the Japanese yen.

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Foreign Exchange Market Size 2025-2029

The foreign exchange market size is forecast to increase by USD 582 billion at a CAGR of 10.6% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the global trend of increasing urbanization and the 24x7 trading opportunities it affords. The digitalization of financial services has enabled seamless transactions across borders, making foreign exchange more accessible than ever before. One significant trend is the increasing use of money transfer agencies, venture capital investments, and mutual funds in foreign exchange transactions. However, this market is not without challenges. Regulatory hurdles impact adoption in some regions, with stringent regulations and compliance requirements adding complexity to market entry. Furthermore, the uncertainty of future exchange rates poses a significant risk for businesses engaging in foreign exchange transactions.
Navigating these challenges requires a deep understanding of market dynamics and a strategic approach to risk management. Companies seeking to capitalize on the opportunities in the market must stay informed of regulatory changes and adopt advanced risk management techniques to mitigate the impact of exchange rate volatility. By doing so, they can effectively capitalize on the growth potential of this dynamic market.

What will be the Size of the Foreign Exchange Market during the forecast period?

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The market, also known as FX, plays a crucial role in global business operations and finance. FX market liquidity is essential for effective portfolio management, mitigating interest rate risk, and facilitating cross-border transactions. FX analysis involves various tools and techniques, including technical analysis using moving averages, chart patterns, and stochastic oscillators, as well as fundamental analysis focusing on economic indicators and sentiment. Interest rate differentials drive currency appreciation and influence FX trading, with foreign exchange swaps enabling the exchange of principal and interest between two different currencies. Market orders facilitate instant execution, while trading platforms offer advanced features such as automated trading robots and AI-driven systems.
FX market impact is a critical consideration, with operational risk and compliance essential in managing currency exposure and hedging strategies. Currency risk and FX forward rates are vital components of FX risk management, while FX trading apps and discipline help maximize profit and minimize psychological biases. FX trading systems employ various tools like FX charts, indicators, and exchange-traded derivatives to analyze trends and forecast future movements. Cryptocurrency trading has also emerged as a significant component of FX markets, adding complexity and volatility to the market structure. FX trading Blockchain Technology offers potential benefits, such as increased transparency and reduced counterparty risk.

How is this Foreign Exchange Industry segmented?

The foreign exchange industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Type

  Reporting dealers
  Financial institutions
  Non-financial customers


Trade Finance Instruments

  Currency swaps
  Outright forward and FX swaps
  FX options


Trading Platforms

  Electronic Trading
  Over-the-Counter (OTC)
  Mobile Trading


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    Germany
    Switzerland
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Type Insights

The reporting dealers segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

In het market, dealers manage risky inventory positions during the maturity period, earning returns through liquidity provision. These returns reflect the risk premium associated with non-diversifiable risks. Dealers employ trading strategies using customer trade information to generate higher-than-expected returns. Competition among liquidity providers is expected to maintain stable pricing during the forecast period. Reporting dealers offer inter-day liquidity, buying and selling foreign exchange at posted bids while providing quotes throughout the trading day. Trading in the market involves various financial instruments and tools. Market orders are executed at the prevailing market price, while limit orders are executed at a specified price.

Forex brokers facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers, providing access to various trading tools such as currency baskets and exchange-traded derivatives. Cross-currency pairs are used for hedging and speculation, with the value of one curre

The USD/BRL exchange rate fell to 5.5594 on June 6, 2025, down 0.52% from the previous session. Over the past month, the Brazilian Real has strengthened 3.23%, but it's down by 4.03% over the last 12 months. Brazilian Real - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on June of 2025.

Interactive chart of historical data showing the broad price-adjusted U.S. dollar index published by the Federal Reserve. The index is adjusted for the aggregated home inflation rates of all included currencies. The price adjustment is especially important with our Asian and South American trading partners due to their significant inflation episodes of the 80s and 90s.

Graph and download economic data for Nominal Broad U.S. Dollar Index (DTWEXBGS) from 2006-01-02 to 2025-05-30 about trade-weighted, broad, exchange rate, currency, goods, services, rate, indexes, and USA.

United States - Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Level was 1048018.00000 Mil. of $ in October of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Level reached a record high of 1051663.00000 in July of 2024 and a record low of 0.00000 in October of 1946. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Rest of the World; Currency; Asset, Level - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Real Broad Effective Exchange Rate for United States (RBUSBIS) from Jan 1994 to Apr 2025 about broad, exchange rate, currency, real, rate, indexes, and USA.

Abstract

Currency exchange rate is an important metric to inform economic policy but traditional sources are often produced with delay during crises and only at an aggregate level. This may poorly reflect the actual rate trends in rural or poverty-stricken areas, where large populations reside in fragile situations. This data set includes currency exchange rate estimates and is intended to help gain insight in price developments beyond what can be formally measured by traditional methods. The estimates are generated using a machine-learning approach that imputes ongoing subnational price surveys, often with accuracy similar to direct measurement of prices. The data set provides new opportunities to investigate local price dynamics in areas where populations are sensitive to localized price shocks and where traditional data are not available.

Geographic coverage notes

The data cover the following sub-national areas: Yangon, Rakhine, Shan (North), Kayin, Kachin, Shan (South), Mon, Tanintharyi, Mandalay, Kayah, Shan (East), Chin, Magway, Sagaing, Market Average

Graph and download economic data for Exchange Rate to U.S. Dollar for Vietnam (FXRATEVNA618NUPN) from 1970 to 2010 about Viet Nam, exchange rate, currency, rate, and USA.

Bangladesh: Exchange rate regimes: The latest value from 2022 is 6 index points, an increase from 5 index points in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 5 index points, based on data from 186 countries. Historically, the average for Bangladesh from 1999 to 2022 is 5 index points. The minimum value, 3 index points, was reached in 1999 while the maximum of 6 index points was recorded in 2008.

The composition of official foreign exchange reserves grew by three percent between 2022 and 2023, after a sizable decline in 2022. Forex reserves refer to foreign-currency deposits held by monetary authorities and governments. Most of these reserves are made up of the U.S. dollar, although the euro and the Japanese yen did gain more prominence recently. In 2023, global currency reserves amounted to over 12.3 trillion U.S. dollars.

Syria: Exchange rate regimes: The latest value from 2022 is 6 index points, unchanged from 6 index points in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 5 index points, based on data from 186 countries. Historically, the average for Syria from 1999 to 2022 is 5 index points. The minimum value, 3 index points, was reached in 1999 while the maximum of 6 index points was recorded in 2009.

Graph and download economic data for Exchange Rate to U.S. Dollar for Ethiopia (FXRATEETA618NUPN) from 1950 to 2010 about Ethiopia, exchange rate, currency, rate, and USA.