I remember reading about a somewhat similar story concerning Russia and Iran a couple of years back, so I'm assuming that one didn't succeed and now they're trying to build version 2.0 with China in the picture! Let's assume for a second that they'd be using their own CBDCs [or as you said, "Bitcoin without a Bitcoin"] to trade with each other, I don't think that'll end with a different result since, at some point, one of them would probably want more control [based on their true nature] over the other one [I don't think it's going to work in the long run].
- Quote from: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2019-09-16/Why-Russia-and-Iran-are-ditching-the-dollar-K1Sy3yeIak/index.htmlHowever, Russia and Iran are working together to ditch the dollar to weaken the effects of U.S. sanctions.
The two are working to develop a new financial transfer system to replace the U.S.-controlled SWIFT. This system would circumvent third country sanctions, Russian presidential adviser for international affairs Yuri Ushakov told the media.
"In order to protect bilateral trade and economic ties from third country sanctions, measures are taken on the expansion of direct payments, the use of national currencies, the improvement interactions between the Russian financial transfers system and the Iranian Sepam, as an alternative for payments to SWIFT," said Ushakov.