Digital Gold-Backed Regional/Trading Bloc Settlement Framework: An Alternative Cross-Border Settlement for Developing and Underdeveloped Economies

Digital Gold-Backed Regional/Trading Bloc Settlement Framework: An Alternative Cross-Border Settlement for Developing and Underdeveloped Economies | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 29 September 2025 V2 Latest version Share on Digital Gold-Backed Regional/Trading Bloc Settlement Framework: An Alternative Cross-Border Settlement for Developing and Underdeveloped Economies Author : Christopher Soans 0009-0004-4999-2626 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175873362.28991390/v2 385 views 111 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract This paper explores the feasibility of using gold reserves as a settlement mechanism for regional and international trade among smaller developing and underdeveloped economies. Current global trade systems rely heavily on U.S. dollars, euros, and yen for settlement, creating structural disadvantages for countries with limited access to these reserve currencies. It proposes a Regional/Trading Bloc Settlement Bank (RTBSB) framework, where member central banks deposit part of their gold reserves which is converted to digital form to facilitate trade settlement. This whitepaper proposes the establishment of a novel international settlement system leveraging these digital gold reserves held by a regional/trading bloc settlement bank. The system aims to provide an alternative to traditional, fiat currency-based international trade settlements, particularly benefiting smaller developing and underdeveloped economies seeking reduced reliance on managing liquidity of major reserve currencies like the US dollar and Euro. Transactions, including service fees, would be settled using tokenized gold, whose value is based on a weighted average of major currencies (e.g., US Dollar, Euro, Yen). The system's governance emphasizes equal participation by all member countries, ensuring a balanced and inclusive approach. The proposal outlines the system's operational framework, benefits for member economies, a practical case study, potential benefits, risks, implications for global financial stability and the challenges to its successful implementation. Supplementary Material File (regional trading bloc settlement framework.pdf) Download 257.91 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 24 September 2025 V2 Version 2 29 September 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License Keywords central bank cross-border finance cross-border settlement developing economies gold-backed cross-border settlement underdeveloped economies Authors Affiliations Christopher Soans 0009-0004-4999-2626 [email protected] View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 385 views 111 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Christopher Soans. Digital Gold-Backed Regional/Trading Bloc Settlement Framework: An Alternative Cross-Border Settlement for Developing and Underdeveloped Economies. Authorea . 29 September 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175873362.28991390/v2 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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