China Moves Ahead on Digital Yuan Before 2022 Winter Olympics
February 26, 2021 02:54 PM
Age: 3 weeks
Image: A customer checks out using digital yuan during a pilot program last October in Luohu District, Shenzhen (Image source: Shenzhen Government).
Introduction
With the People’s Republic of China (PRC) a frontrunner in the global race towards digital currency, the central bank People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has taken several steps this year to explore the international use of a digital yuan (e-CNY). Although there is no official timetable for the launch of China’s sovereign digital currency, economic planners are reportedly aiming to implement the digital yuan ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing one year from now. Ahead of the Lunar New Year (February 12) this year, pilot programs trialing the nation’s digital currency, formally known as the Digital Currency / Electronic Payment system (DC/EP, 数字货币/电子支付体系,