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This is how America is literally selling its blood to make money. In 2023, the US made a staggering $37 billion from blood plasma exports. Yes, more than it made from exporting coal or gold. Why? Because plasma, which makes up about 50% of your blood, is used to create life-saving medicines—and global demand is soaring. But what’s shocking is that the US alone supplies 70% of the world's plasma needs. So the big question is—how did America build a near-monopoly in this life-saving but ethically grey industry? Well, while free blood donation is seen as noble, paying for plasma is controversial. Countries like India, the UK, and most of Europe fear that it may exploit the poor, encouraging them to sell plasma frequently for quick cash, risking long-term health. So, only five countries, including the US, allow paid plasma donations. This loophole has turned the US into a plasma goldmine. Global pharmaceutical companies, even those from countries where paid donation is banned, have built massive plasma collection empires right inside America. Today, plasma centers are popping up in low-income neighborhoods, where people now donate plasma twice a week, earning hundreds of dollars monthly—often treating it like a job. So yes, America is literally selling its blood to the world, not out of nobility, but out of pure business sense. Because in business, controversy is a cost, but monopoly is a profit. → Want more of these raw, real stories that decode business, startups, and growth strategies? Subscribe to my newsletter via the link in the comment.