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U.S. Debt Crisis Erupts as China Ramps Up Massive Selloff

Taylor Kenney - ITM Trading Feb 17, 2026

China Treasury dump accelerates de-dollarization as $9T in US debt nears refinancing. What it means for inflation, the dollar, gold, and silver.

If you think today’s cost of living crisis is painful, just wait until the China Treasury dump accelerates.

For years, China has been quietly cutting its U.S. Treasury holdings. But now something has changed. This is no longer a slow portfolio rebalance — it’s starting to look like a structural shift away from the dollar itself.

And with more than $9 trillion in U.S. debt set to refinance by 2026, the timing couldn’t be worse.

This isn’t just a geopolitical chess move. It directly impacts:

  • Your retirement savings
  • Your bank deposits
  • Your purchasing power
  • The future value of the U.S. dollar
  • And yes — the role of gold and silver

Let’s break down what’s really happening.

China Treasury Dump: A Decade in the Making

Over the last 10 years, China has cut its U.S. Treasury holdings roughly in half.

While China is no longer the largest foreign holder of U.S. debt, it remains the third-largest foreign creditor — meaning its actions still matter enormously.

But this isn’t happening in isolation.

We’re seeing:

  • Growing BRICS coordination
  • Increased trade settlement outside the dollar
  • Public discussions of a multi-polar monetary system
  • Direct guidance from Beijing urging banks to curb U.S. bond exposure

Even more concerning? Reports indicate Chinese authorities have advised private institutions to slow or reduce Treasury exposure entirely.

That’s not portfolio management. That’s positioning.

The U.S. Debt Market Is More Fragile Than It Looks

On the surface, Treasury holdings appear stable. But that stability is misleading.

Here’s why:

  • U.S. debt is exploding — now exceeding $34 trillion
  • Annual deficits are running near $2 trillion
  • Over $9 trillion must be refinanced by 2026 at higher rates

If foreign buyers step back, someone must fill the gap.

And increasingly, that “someone” has been:

  • U.S. allies (Japan, Norway, Canada)
  • Domestic banks
  • Pension funds
  • Social Security trust funds
  • Private investors

But there’s a problem.

The debt is growing faster than the buyer base.

That gap is where the crisis brews.

Private Investors Replaced Central Banks — That’s a Major Risk

In 2022, the Federal Reserve launched the fastest rate hike cycle in modern history.

Suddenly, higher Treasury yields attracted private capital.

Problem solved?

Not exactly.

Central banks buy Treasuries for:

  • Reserve stability
  • Trade settlement
  • Strategic positioning

Private investors buy for one reason:

  • Return

The moment risk outweighs yield, they sell.

That introduces:

  • Volatility
  • Liquidity crunches
  • Rapid funding gaps

And if China’s banking system reduces exposure, private selling pressure could accelerate. This is how a “stable” market becomes unstable very quickly.

Moody’s Downgrade: A Warning Shot

Last year, Moody’s stripped the U.S. of its final perfect credit rating — the first time since 1919.

The reasoning?

  • Massive deficits
  • Exploding interest costs
  • Political dysfunction
  • No credible fiscal repair plan

The U.S. dollar sits at the center of the global monetary system. When confidence in that foundation weakens, it doesn’t go unnoticed. The system runs on trust. And trust is eroding.

Domestic Absorption: The Snake Eating Its Tail

If foreign demand falls, Washington turns inward.

That means more Treasury absorption by:

  • U.S. banks
  • Pension funds
  • Social Security
  • The Federal Reserve

But this diverts capital from productive investment into debt maintenance.

Meanwhile:

  • U.S. banks are sitting on hundreds of billions in unrealized losses from low-yield bonds
  • Selling those bonds exposes balance sheet weakness
  • We already saw how this plays out with Silicon Valley Bank

The system isn’t collapsing overnight. But it’s balancing on a razor’s edge.

The Federal Reserve’s Inevitable Move: More QE

If the funding gap widens, there are limited options.

Raise rates further? Risk recession.
Cut spending? Politically unlikely.
Default? Unthinkable.

That leaves:

Quantitative Easing.

More money printing.
More balance sheet expansion.
More currency debasement.

Every time liquidity dries up, the Federal Reserve steps in.

And every time it does:

  • The dollar loses purchasing power
  • Inflation pressures rise
  • Savers are punished

This is how a China Treasury dump becomes your cost-of-living crisis.

Gold vs Dollar: Wealth Preservation in a Currency Reset

When fiat systems stretch beyond sustainability, history shows they respond with currency debasement.

That’s where physical gold and silver matter.

Unlike dollars:

  • Gold cannot be printed
  • Silver cannot be digitally created
  • Both carry no counterparty risk

During periods of:

  • Inflation
  • Monetary resets
  • Sovereign credit stress
  • Dollar weakness

Gold has historically acted as a wealth preservation tool.

Silver, often more volatile, can amplify moves during monetary disruptions. This isn’t theory. It’s monetary history. As confidence in sovereign debt declines, tangible assets rise in importance.

What Happens Next?

Let’s connect the dots:

  • $9 trillion refinancing wall
  • $2 trillion annual deficits
  • Foreign buyers stepping back
  • Private capital becoming more volatile
  • Banks holding underwater bonds
  • A downgraded credit rating
  • Growing de-dollarization momentum

If even one piece accelerates, pressure builds rapidly.

This isn’t a collapse tomorrow.

But it is a structural shift already underway.

And once confidence cracks, it moves fast.

Conclusion

The China Treasury dump isn’t just a headline.

It’s a signal. A signal that the era of unquestioned dollar dominance is facing serious stress. A signal that refinancing America’s debt mountain will not be painless. And a signal that those holding wealth purely in dollar-denominated assets face increasing risk of silent erosion through inflation and currency debasement.

The question isn’t whether the system changes.

It’s whether you’re positioned before it does.

About ITM Trading

ITM Trading has over 28 years of experience helping clients safeguard their wealth through personalized strategies built on physical gold and silver. Our team of experts delivers research-backed guidance tailored to today’s economic threats.

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