Top 10 Most Traded Currencies in the World

But it becomes more expensive for people from the United Kingdom to visit the U.S. because the pound will buy fewer dollars at a foreign currency exchange. The AUD-USD trading pair now accounts for 6.37% of global forex volume, beating the dollar pairings for both the Swiss Franc and the Canadian Dollar. The Japanese yen is easily the most traded of Asian currencies and is viewed by many as a proxy for the underlying strength of Japan’s manufacturing and export-driven economy. Switzerland has one of the highest levels of GDP and a strong services sector. This country is very stable and reliable, as it has an advanced banking system, low tax rates, and a lot of money to support the economy from the inside.

  1. Despite being British Overseas Territory, the Cayman Islands Dollar is pegged to the US dollar.
  2. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.
  3. Just west of Vietnam, Laos and its kip have been hit by sluggish economic growth and crushing foreign debt obligations.
  4. Turnover in HKD doubled between April 2016 and April 2019, taking the currency from 13th in the global rankings to ninth.
  5. Its main exports are agricultural products – particularly dairy and meat products – while its main imports are oil, machinery and cars.

The European Central Bank acts as the central bank of the 19 member countries of the euro area and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany. Since then, major countries have adopted a floating exchange rate regime and the Forex market, as we know it today, has been born. As of 1948, the German mark had a fixed exchange rate of 3.33 to the US dollar, while the Swiss franc and the British pound traded at around 4.30 and 0.35 to the US dollar, respectively. Since the United States controlled around two-thirds of the world’s gold reserves, US delegates insisted that international currencies rest on both the US dollar and gold. Born in 1972, the Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD) shed its Jamaican Dollar roots to become a financial force.

The value of this currency has since achieved its top spot due to its rich oil reserves (contributing to 80% of the country’s GDP), zero tax, and relatively low unemployment. Kuwait also has a high number of expatriates, accounting for over 60% of the population. Oman has also made huge efforts in the last few decades to modernise the country, and to diversify the income of the country, transforming it into a strong, developed economy with a very high standard of living. Oil (the commodity responsible for the strength of the top four currencies) since the 1970s, has been bought and sold in dollars.

According to the Bank for International Settlements, the Aussie Dollar is the 5th most traded currency in the world, mostly via the AUD/USD currency pair. The Chinese renminbi (RMB) is the official name of China’s currency; however, the terms Chinese yuan and renminbi are often used interchangeably. The currency is issued and strictly monitored by the People’s Bank of China. Almost 70 percent of banknotes are circulating outside the United States. These features make them a great hedge against commodity positions or even against negative price-moves in other financial markets, such as stocks. Both currencies are also heavily dependent on commodity prices, with Australia being a major exporter of iron ore and New Zealand a major producer of dairy products.

However, in the 1930th the production ceased due to pearl cultivation in Japan. Bahrain is a Persian Gulf island state with a population of just over 1 million people. As with Kuwait, its largest source of income is the global gas and petroleum export.

With the global currency market landscape undergoing a transformation due to the prevalence of ultra-low interest rates, it will be interesting to see whether the Yen can maintain its safe haven status. The US Dollar comes in at number 1 on our list of the most traded currencies in the world, thanks to 87% of all currency trades involving the Greenback. While EUR/USD tops the most traded currency pairs, let’s break things down a little more and individually go over the most “heavily” traded currencies in the world. Regarding forex trading, we know that currencies are all traded in pairs. Also known as the Aussie, the Australian dollar is one of the major currencies of the Asia-Pacific region.

Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)

The New Zealand dollar is rising in spite of the weak manufacturing figures. Created in the 1700s, the US dollar is legal tender in the USA, other US territories and sovereign nations including Ecuador and Zimbabwe. The euro is the official currency of the Eurozone, being 20 out of the 27 countries that form part of the European Union.

US dollar (USD)

Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money. Great Britain has existed for centuries, but the pound sterling was introduced to the country in 1971. The currency is important because its value tends to be stable, which allows investors to have an easier time making decisions as there is little risk involved in trading. Countries around the world tend to hold the pound in high regard, and it is considered a safe reserve currency. Canada is one of Great Britain’s commonwealth countries, but it stopped using the British pound in 1817. This was a reaction to the strengthening ties with the United States and its growing economic power.

Jordan has significant external debt, so it is highly dependent on neighboring countries and the IMF. The Jordanian Dinar was initially pegged to the US Dollar at a higher value. So today, the Dinar has 4th place on the list of the most expensive currencies. This material does not contain https://forex-review.net/ a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. You should not treat any opinion expressed in this material as a specific inducement to make any investment or follow any strategy, but only as an expression of opinion.

How is foreign currency priced?

Participants in the market include banks, commercial companies, and investment management firms. Currencies are traded in pairs, meaning that the price movement of one currency is always relative to another. The foreign exchange market is decentralized, with a global network of brokers and traders linked by technology.

Pound Sterling

The Bahraini dinar is the second-strongest currency in the world, with 1 dinar buying 2.65 dollars (or $1 equals 0.38 Bahraini dinar). Kuwait is located on the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and the country earns much of its wealth as a leading global exporter of oil. The Kuwaiti dinar was introduced in the 1960s and was initially pegged to the British pound before being re-pegged to an undisclosed basket of currencies.

These include manufacturing, logistics and transportation, energy and mining, agriculture and fisheries, and tourism. In the majority of cases, the USD is the common currency unit used to quote, trade, and settle payments for items on the international commodity markets. The US Dollar Index is a crucial tool for determining whether the dollar is strong or weak relative to a basket of six other currencies. The Aussie dollar or Aussie is the official legal tender not only in Australia but in some Pacific island states.

A reserve currency is a foreign currency that a central bank or treasury holds as part of its country’s formal foreign exchange reserves. Countries hold reserves for a number of reasons, including to weather economic shocks, pay for imports, service debts, and moderate the value of their own currencies. Firstly, the US is the world’s largest economy and a powerhouse in international trade. Currencies are traded on the foreign exchange market, which is the largest financial market in the world. The market is made up of currencies from across the globe; the major currencies are the euro, U.S. dollar, Japanese yen, British pound, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, and Swiss franc.

The currency is partially pegged with the four currencies used by the International Monetary Fund as value units. Owing to the US economic leadership, it gained the title of the primary “World Reserve Currency.” It has the highest demand and is involved in more than 85% of daily forex trades. Today, Kuwaiti Dinar is the highest-valued currency in the world, estimating at $3.25 per Dinar.

This exploration into the Top 10 strongest currencies reveals a captivating narrative of economic powerhouses and stability. From the enduring dominance of the Kuwaiti Dinar to the unwavering strength of the Swiss Franc and the widespread impact of the US Dollar, coinjar review each currency’s story reflects unique strengths and influences. Holding the top spot, the Kuwaiti Dinar’s consistent status as the world’s most valuable currency is attributed to Kuwait’s economic stability, driven by oil reserves and a tax-free system.