How America Lost Its Power. Weaponizing The Dollar. Wednesday’s Edition.

The Long Chain: American Power. Series 31 #2

In April 2026, a payment system most people have never heard of set a record. China’s CIPS, its own network for moving money between banks across borders, pushed a record $178 billion through in a single day. By early 2026, 1,791 banks and financial firms worldwide had joined it. Its busiest days came as conflict in the Middle East pushed oil buyers to …