: The group includes Shanghai Pudong Development Bank , China CITIC Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Guangfa Bank, and Bank of Ningbo.
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)
: Houses the e-CNY Operations and Management Center, which oversees domestic systems, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory governance. Beijing, Shanghai to Join Wider Testing of Digi...
The 2026 Action Plan introduced several fundamental changes to the digital yuan's functionality:
: 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 : The group includes Shanghai Pudong Development Bank
: Home to the International Operations Center (launched September 2025), which focuses on cross-border use cases and international cooperation. Major 2026 Policy Shifts
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) added a dozen new lenders to the e-CNY ecosystem to enhance service inclusiveness: Key Expansion Details (April 2026) : Houses the
Beijing and Shanghai serve as the primary strategic hubs for the digital yuan's next phase: