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China Expands Digital Yuan Access with Eight Lenders
The expansion lifts authorized e-CNY operators to 30 as the central bank seeks broader access and more secure, convenient payment options.
On Monday, Aug. 17, the People's Bank of China added eight commercial banks to its digital yuan clearing system, bringing the total number of authorized operators to 30.
Beijing paused expanding its operator list for over two years after Industrial Bank became the 10th clearing member in 2022, resuming in October 2025 before adding 12 lenders in April 2026.
Each institution will roll out digital yuan services after completing technical integrations, according to the central bank. The eight banks include Ping An Bank, Hengfeng Bank, China Bohai Bank, and Bank of Shanghai.
The expansion underlines China's commitment to modernizing its domestic payments infrastructure while embedding the digital currency deeper into regional trade and smaller business ecosystems.
Monetary officials said the central bank will keep adding operators to build an open and competitive market for the digital yuan, expanding access across retail, dining, travel, healthcare, and utility payments.
The People’s Bank of China added eight new financial institutions to the digital yuan network, bringing the number of banks authorized to operate on the central bank’s currency to 30