China's e-CNY Bank Network Expands to 30 Institutions
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has expanded its e-CNY bank network from 10 to 30 institutions in 2026, according to a statement released on August 17. This move follows an earlier expansion in April that saw the number rise from 10 to 22. The addition of eight new banks - Ping An Bank, Hengfeng Bank, Bohai Bank, Shanghai Bank, Hangzhou Bank, Huishang Bank, Changsha Bank, and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Bank - brings the total number of designated bank-class operating institutions to 30.
The expansion is part of a broader policy shift that began on January 1, 2026, when e-CNY moved from being treated as cash-like to digital deposit money. Under this new framework, wallet balances held with authorized commercial banks count toward deposit and reserve metrics, and the e-CNY can bear interest.
China also made progress on cross-border links in mid-2026, with the e-CNY Centre International and CBETS signing up 26 direct participants to support transfer and settlement rails for the digital yuan.