Only a Matter of Time

Until you need a UnionPay card to travel internationally.

Reuters: Russian banks rush to switch to Chinese card system

You might think who cares, but when push comes to shove, nations will be forced to choose which system they will use. If a nation knows it will lose tourist money one way or another, it will choose to lose the least amount. There will be outliers. Perhaps Vietnam will choose the West, even if it is the worse economic choice, because they value sovereignty more. Maybe Thaliand can remain independent and doesn't have to choose. Otherwise, I expect much of Asia will be closed to Westerners who don't have UnionPay cards. Should the U.S. dollar collapse, much of the world may be closed to Visa and Mastercard.