China’s central bank digital currency, known as the digital yuan or e-CNY, has achieved significant growth in usage with transactions surpassing 1.8 trillion yuan ($250 billion) and wallets reaching 120 million, demonstrating growing adoption of CBDCs.
Recent Growth in e-CNY Usage
According to People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Governor Yi Gang, e-CNY transactions totaled 1.8 trillion yuan by the end of June 2023, more than doubling from around 100 billion yuan in August 2022.
Total e-CNY in circulation also increased to 16.5 billion yuan. In addition, more than 950 million transactions have been completed using the digital yuan and 120 million wallets have been opened.
While e-CNY currently accounts for just 0.16% of China’s M0 money supply, the rapid transaction growth showcases the rising popularity and efficiency of central bank digital currencies.
Pilot Trials and Rollout
China launched e-CNY pilot trials in 2019 and has since conducted tests in major cities including Suzhou, Shenzhen, Xiongan and Chengdu.
Expanded use cases have also driven adoption. For example, the city of Jinan began accepting digital yuan for public transit payments.
The Shanghai Clearing House recently enabled e-CNY settlements, integrating the CBDCs into China’s financial system.
The rapid growth of digital yuan usage comes as the PBOC has actively worked to test and integrate e-CNY into various sectors through measures like NFC payments and SIM card integration.
Benefits Driving Adoption
The explosive surge in e-CNY transactions reflects growing acceptance of digital currencies in China.
Advantages like enhanced transaction efficiency, transparency and potential cost savings have made the digital yuan an appealing alternative to physical cash for businesses and consumers.
Increased integration into everyday payment systems points to a promising future for digital yuan as mainstream digital money.
What Lies Ahead
For businesses, accepting e-CNY could improve cash flow and streamline transactions. Consumers also stand to benefit from the convenience and security of digital payments.
However, the PBOC remains committed to ensuring necessary safeguards and stability as the digital yuan continues to expand.
The success of China’s CBDC experiment has garnered international attention and sparked discussions about the future of digital money. Other countries are also exploring potential CBDCs.
As e-CNY footprint expands, it showcases China’s push for financial innovation and digital transformation. With supportive infrastructures and applications, the digital yuan is poised to become an integral part of China’s financial system, providing a glimpse into the future of digital currencies.
In summary, China’s digital yuan has achieved significant adoption milestones with transactions exceeding $250 billion and 120 million wallets opened. The growth comes as the PBOC has worked to integrate and test the e-CNY, driving uptake through use cases like public transit payments. The benefits of enhanced efficiency, transparency and costs have attracted businesses and consumers. As e-CNY continues expanding, the PBOC remains committed to regulatory safeguards while China’s CBDC experiment provides insights into digital money’s potential.
Source: China’s CBDC adoption hits a new milestone figure ↗
