Is Renminbi a (Truly) International Currency? An Evaluation Based on Offshore Foreign Exchange Market Trading Patterns

Abstract

This article provides a new framework to evaluate the status of Renminbi internationalization. It proposes that the trading patterns of a currency in global foreign exchange market embody the currency’s position in the international monetary system. Based on foreign exchange trading data provided by CLS Group, the article constructs a ranking of major international currencies including Renminbi. It finds that Renminbi shares more similarities in foreign exchange trading patterns with the established global currencies like US dollar and Euro than with those regional currencies. The article also explores the policy implications that the new evaluation approach provides.