---
title: "China expands digital yuan programme with 12 new bank operators"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/281521063.md"
description: "China's central bank has expanded its digital yuan programme by adding 12 new banks as operators, bringing the total to 22. This move aims to enhance the inclusiveness of digital yuan services and meet public demand for efficient payment options. The expansion comes amid a slow rollout since its 2019 launch, contrasting with the U.S. approach to cryptocurrencies. The People's Bank of China plans to continue expanding the number of institutions handling the digital yuan in a market-oriented manner, fostering a competitive environment for its development."
datetime: "2026-04-02T11:50:26.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/281521063.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281521063.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/281521063.md)
---

# China expands digital yuan programme with 12 new bank operators

BEIJING, April 2 (Reuters) - China's central bank has expanded its digital yuan programme by adding a dozen additional ‌banks as operators, confirming a Reuters report last ‌month.

The 12 new banks allowed to handle the digital yuan include China ​CITIC Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Guangfa Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, among others, the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said in a statement.

The move aims to "enhance the inclusiveness of digital ‌yuan services" and meet ⁠the public demand for "safe, convenient and efficient" payment options, the bank said.

Thursday's announcement takes the ⁠total number of authorised banks to handle the digital yuan to 22.

Beijing's push to put the digital yuan into the ​real economy ​has been slow so far ​since its launch in ‌2019, with most retail customers already able to make safe and low-cost transactions via platforms such as Alibaba's Alipay and Tencent Holdings' WeChat Pay.

The strategy comes alongside China's intensifying crackdown on virtual currencies and a ban on stablecoins that ‌highlights the contrast to the U.S., ​where President Donald Trump has ​promoted cryptocurrencies and banned ​a digital dollar.

"The central bank will continue ‌to expand the number of operating ​institutions in ​an orderly manner in accordance with market-oriented and rule-of-law principles," the PBOC said, adding that it seeks to ​build an "open, inclusive ‌and fair competitive environment" for the digital currency's development.

(Reporting ​by Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo, Editing by ​William Maclean and Arun Koyyur)

### Related Stocks

- [03115.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/03115.HK.md)
- [45910.HK](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/45910.HK.md)
- [002833.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/002833.CN.md)

## Related News & Research

- [13:01 ETCuvo Health, the #1 White Label Telehealth Platform, Surpasses 300 Exclusive Providers Serving All 50 States](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295433116.md)
- [Is Bitcoin Ready To Explode? Here's Why Crypto Is at a 'Major Inflection Point'](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295406945.md)
- [Robinhood to launch crypto trading in the UK this week](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295381291.md)
- [Brothers, 44 And 49, Split $4 Million Selling The Family Restaurant Chain — One Wants To Put Their Shared Cut Into Crypto](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295305323.md)
- [Brazil targets crypto fraud with up to 24-hour transfer hold](https://longbridge.com/en/news/295320600.md)