On September 2, 2025, the world’s attention is turning to BRICS, the economic alliance that’s rapidly expanding its influence—and, perhaps unexpectedly, to the digital asset XRP. As African nations and young leaders across the Global South look to BRICS for a louder voice in world affairs, the bloc’s latest moves signal a new era of inclusivity, innovation, and financial transformation. But what does this all mean for the future of global power, and why is the XRP Ledger suddenly in the spotlight?
For many African countries, joining or deepening ties with BRICS has become a strategic priority. According to TV BRICS, Maya Nikolskaya, Acting Director of the Centre for African Studies at MGIMO University, described participation in BRICS as a “statement of intent”—a clear signal that African nations are determined to play a more active role on the global stage. This sentiment has only grown as the alliance has expanded, now boasting eleven member states, including influential newcomers from Africa and the Middle East.
BRICS’s expansion is no small feat. Since its founding in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and with South Africa joining in 2010, the bloc has steadily grown. Invitations extended in 2023 and formal entries in 2024 brought Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran into the fold. By 2025, BRICS represents 46% of the world’s population and 37% of global GDP—a staggering leap from its original footprint, as South African Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike highlighted during the opening of the 2025 BRICS Summer School in Johannesburg.
“BRICS is not just an economic and political bloc. It is a strategic initiative for global transformation, grounded in multipolarity, justice, inclusion, and the self-determination of peoples,” Letsike told attendees. Her remarks, reported by Central News, underscored the alliance’s broader ambition: to challenge old power structures and forge a fairer, more representative global order.
The 2025 BRICS Summer School, running from September 3 to 5 in Johannesburg, is emblematic of this new direction. Hosted by the South African BRICS Youth Association, the event gathers high school students, unemployed graduates, researchers, activists, entrepreneurs, and young professionals from across BRICS and the Global South. Its theme, “Innovatively Inclusive Futures for BRICS and the Global South,” couldn’t be more timely. The program delves into BRICS history, the principles of mutual respect and non-interference, and pressing issues like sustainable development, climate change, artificial intelligence governance, and peace and security.
Letsike’s opening address was a call to action for young people to embrace the bloc’s rich cultural diversity and recognize their role as architects of a more inclusive world. She stressed the importance of intersectionality—accounting for gender, disability, and sexual orientation—so that no group is left invisible or unrepresented. “Erasure is not only about forgetting people’s names. It is about designing economies, policies, and institutions that pretend entire groups do not exist,” Letsike cautioned, drawing on South Africa’s own history of struggle and resilience.
“When people are made invisible, they are made vulnerable. When they are erased from our statistics, from our stories, and from our strategies, their needs remain unaddressed, their struggles remain unacknowledged, and their potential remains untapped,” she said. Letsike urged attendees to see themselves as “authors of history,” not mere spectators—a sentiment that resonates deeply with the Global South’s push for greater agency.
But BRICS’s transformation isn’t limited to social and political spheres. The alliance is making waves in the world of finance, too—and that’s where XRP enters the picture. As reported by Coinpaper, a market analyst predicts that XRP, the digital asset known for powering instant, low-cost cross-border transactions, is poised for a dramatic breakout. The catalyst? An unprecedented $84 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer expected over the next two decades.
Studies cited by Coinpaper show that Millennials and Gen Z—who are set to inherit this vast fortune—are far more open to cryptocurrencies than their elders. As this shift accelerates, capital flows may increasingly favor blockchain-based assets like XRP. The digital asset has already attracted interest from banks, payment providers, and even central banks exploring digital currencies, thanks to its ability to process transactions quickly and securely at a fraction of traditional costs.
Macroeconomic headwinds are also at play. With inflation and rising debt levels eroding confidence in fiat currencies, investors are searching for alternatives with real-world utility. Crypto assets like XRP, which offer tangible benefits in payments and settlements, are well positioned to capitalize on this changing sentiment.
Perhaps most notably, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) was recently cited in an official BRICS report on cryptocurrency development—a revelation that’s sent ripples through the digital asset community. According to crypto researcher SMQKE, the report’s explicit mention of XRPL marks a significant milestone for the blockchain network. The BRICS bloc, long interested in reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar, is exploring the creation of a BRICS-backed digital currency to facilitate trade, improve liquidity, and promote monetary independence. The inclusion of XRP Ledger in their official documentation signals recognition of its potential to provide the infrastructure for such an initiative.
The XRP Ledger’s proven track record—enabling instant, secure, and cost-effective cross-border settlements—aligns closely with BRICS’s goals to modernize and decentralize international payment systems. Whether or not XRPL ultimately forms the backbone of a BRICS digital currency, its recognition by the alliance cements its status as a serious contender in the future of global finance.
Meanwhile, the 2025 BRICS Summer School is fostering the next generation of leaders who will navigate these changes. With Brazil holding the BRICS Presidency this year, the focus is squarely on strengthening Global South cooperation for more inclusive and sustainable governance. Key priorities include global health, trade and finance, climate change, AI governance, peace and security, and institution building—all areas where innovative thinking and cross-border collaboration are desperately needed.
As the world watches BRICS’s evolution, it’s clear that the bloc’s ambitions reach far beyond economics. For African nations, young leaders, and digital innovators alike, BRICS offers a platform to shape history, not just react to it. And with the XRP Ledger now in the conversation, the intersection of generational change, technological adoption, and financial innovation could herald a new chapter in the story of international cooperation.
In a moment defined by both challenge and possibility, BRICS and its partners are betting on inclusion, self-determination, and the transformative power of new voices and new technologies. The world, it seems, is finally beginning to listen.