WASHINGTON, February 2026 — Just months ago, the global financial discourse was dominated by “de-dollarization,” with BRICS nations seeking alternatives and central banks pivoting toward gold. However, the narrative has shifted overnight. A massive surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment has triggered an “AI Typhoon,” drawing unprecedented capital back into American markets and renewing global faith in the US dollar.
The $1.6 Trillion Capital Stampede
Recent data from the US Treasury reveals a stunning reversal in investor behavior. Foreign net purchases of long-term US financial assets reached $1.55 trillion over the past year—a massive 31.3% jump from 2024.
The breakdown of this influx highlights where the world is placing its bets:
- Equities: $658.5 billion flowed into US stocks.
- Treasuries: $442 billion was invested in government securities.
- Corporate Bonds: Nearly $328 billion moved into high-grade corporate debt.
This surge in equity interest represents a 134% increase in net purchases by non-US investors, suggesting that the feared “exodus” from the dollar has been replaced by an AI-driven homecoming.
AI: The Anchor of US Exceptionalism
The primary engine behind this trend is the massive growth of American AI companies. Over the last two years, roughly 60% of the US stock market’s growth has been fueled by AI giants like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Meta. Nvidia, a key beneficiary of the hardware boom, saw its market capitalization soar past $5 trillion in late 2025.
This trend reinforces “US Exceptionalism”—the perception that the American economy is evolving faster and more robustly than its global peers through technological dominance. While Europe and BRICS nations struggle to build comparable AI infrastructure, the US has become the default destination for global capital.
The Century-Long Debt Bet
To fund the expensive “AI arms race,” US tech leaders are raising record capital via the bond market. Alphabet (Google) recently raised $20 billion in its largest-ever bond sale, receiving an overwhelming $100 billion in orders from eager investors.
In a move echoing the market frenzy of the late 1990s, Alphabet even launched a 100-year bond, signaling that investors are willing to bet on the long-term survival and dominance of American tech for a century. These massive bond raises across the sector provide a stable influx of foreign currency, further insulating the dollar against geopolitical headwinds.
Bottom Line
The era of de-dollarization has met a formidable opponent in Artificial Intelligence. While political tensions and trade wars persist, the “AI Typhoon” has provided a trillion-dollar cushion for the greenback. The message from global investors is clear: the US is the only market capable of hosting the massive scale of the AI revolution, and as long as that remains true, the dollar remains king.
