Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov says BRICS’ doors remain open — and expansion could be on the agenda at the bloc’s 18th summit in New Delhi in 2026. Speaking at the Sherpas’ meeting in New Delhi, Ryabkov confirmed that BRICS is actively discussing enlargement and strengthening cooperation with partner countries. But he was clear there will be no artificial timeline: “We could not and will not set any artificial timeframes or deadlines for such decisions. Countries that want to join the association know this.” Key points - Expansion discussion: BRICS is “in a process of discussing ways of expanding and boosting the format of cooperation with partners,” Ryabkov said, with Sherpas laying groundwork ahead of the 2026 summit. - No set timetable: While expansion is being prepared, Moscow won’t impose a deadline for admitting new members. - Current makeup: BRICS today is an 11-member bloc with 13 additional countries listed as partner nations. - Interest level: Roughly 45 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS or participating in its decision-making. - Recent history: In 2024 BRICS extended invitations to six countries but only four accepted; Argentina declined outright and Saudi Arabia stepped back, citing the need to preserve ties with Western partners amid its Vision 2030 transformation. Why crypto readers should care An expanded BRICS could accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on Western financial systems, reshaping cross-border trade, payments and reserve strategies. That shift can open more room for alternative settlement rails — including national payment systems, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), and cryptocurrency-based tools — to gain traction in member and partner states. Any coordinated move toward non-dollar trade settlement or closer financial cooperation among a larger BRICS could be a major macro tailwind for crypto infrastructure and stablecoin/CBDC experimentation — though outcomes and timelines remain uncertain. Bottom line BRICS expansion is being actively discussed and could feature at the 2026 New Delhi summit, but no firm timetable has been set. Crypto and finance markets will be watching closely for concrete moves toward new members or coordinated financial arrangements that could affect global payment flows and currency dynamics. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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