Shanghai and Suzhou, two prominent cities in China, are intensifying their efforts to boost the adoption of the digital yuan, the nation’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). Despite the central People’s Bank of China (PBoC) proudly announcing over $250 billion in CBDC transactions processed within the country, this still represents a modest fraction of the vast Chinese economy. With this in mind, the bustling urban centers are taking proactive steps to encourage their residents to embrace the digital currency phenomenon.
Reports from the Shanghai Securities News unveil that the Suzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce has convened a meeting involving the Special Digital Yuan Promotional Committee and eight major banks. The gathering focused on reviewing the progress made in e-CNY adoption within Suzhou, as well as outlining strategies for the upcoming stages of digital yuan implementation. Among the agreements reached, there was a consensus on the necessity of amplifying public awareness, launching more promotional campaigns, and creating a wider array of practical use cases for the digital yuan.
A significant aspect of this effort revolves around enhancing the whitelisting system for merchants seeking to integrate the digital yuan into their operations. This could entail shifting focus from the retail sector towards wholesale and business-to-business (B2B) domains. The discussions also revolved around expediting the whitelisting procedures for businesses engaging in frequent and bulk payments, highlighting the potential benefits of enhanced organization, coordination, and communication to propel the pilot program forward.
In another development, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a key government body in China overseeing macroeconomic planning, has demonstrated its keen interest in supporting the PBoC, Shanghai, and Suzhou in fostering greater digital yuan adoption. This high-level commission, reporting to the authoritative State Council, recently released a set of policies endorsing and encouraging collaborative digital yuan pilot projects in these cities. The policy directives emphasize the creation of novel usage scenarios and solutions to enhance interoperability.
Meanwhile, not limited to these urban centers, regional Chinese banks are also playing their part in driving digital yuan adoption. In Huai’an, located in Jiangsu Province, the local branch of the Bank of Jiangsu organized various events to promote the digital yuan, including a captivating “night market” experience and a lively fun run. During these events, bank representatives educated participants on utilizing e-CNY and identifying potential financial fraud schemes.
In a related development, Tianjin, a city that joined the digital yuan pilot zone in April 2022, reported that it has successfully processed an impressive $1.76 billion worth of digital yuan transactions. This demonstrates the gradual but steady growth of digital currency utilization in different regions of China.
