Beijing and Shanghai serve as the primary strategic hubs for the digital yuan's next phase:
The 2026 Action Plan introduced several fundamental changes to the digital yuan's functionality:
: Home to the International Operations Center (launched September 2025), which focuses on cross-border use cases and international cooperation. Major 2026 Policy Shifts Beijing, Shanghai to Join Wider Testing of Digi...
: Houses the e-CNY Operations and Management Center, which oversees domestic systems, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory governance.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) added a dozen new lenders to the e-CNY ecosystem to enhance service inclusiveness: Beijing and Shanghai serve as the primary strategic
In April 2026, China significantly expanded its digital yuan (e-CNY) program by authorizing to act as operators, bringing the total number of authorized banks to 22. This expansion is part of a broader "Action Plan" launched on January 1, 2026, to transition the digital currency from a cash substitute to a more mature "digital deposit money". Key Expansion Details (April 2026)
: The group includes Shanghai Pudong Development Bank , China CITIC Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Guangfa Bank, and Bank of Ningbo. This expansion is part of a broader "Action
: By including national joint-stock and regional city commercial banks, the PBOC aims to leverage their large customer bases and local government resources to drive adoption. "Two-Winged" Architecture in Beijing and Shanghai