Search Results for: Bank of China

The Bank of China’s investment banking arm, BOCI, has issued tokenized securities on Ethereum in Hong Kong, a first for a Chinese financial institution. This move signifies increased crypto adoption, supports Hong Kong’s ambition to become a key crypto hub, and highlights the need for addressing regulatory and safety challenges.

BOCI, the investment arm of Bank of China, partnered with UBS to issue tokenized notes on the Ethereum blockchain in Hong Kong, marking a significant step towards integrating blockchain technology and tokenized assets into the traditional financial industry. As Hong Kong embraces cryptocurrency regulation, this move signals a positive shift in the digital economy landscape and could inspire further innovation.

“China’s digital yuan experienced increased usage at the Hangzhou Asian Games, where athletes interacted with the new technology. New language features were introduced, and the currency is linked with Hong Kong’s Fast Payment System. Overseas visitors can now open a digital yuan wallet using an overseas mobile phone number, and can ‘top up first, and use later’, for smoother transactions.”

China’s central bank has updated its official CBDC app to allow overseas visitors to purchase digital yuan tokens with foreign credit cards. The update reflects an unprecedented convenience, aiming to push the usage of mobile wallets of the CBDC, providing users with seamless online experiences, including refunds for any unused funds. This move widens the application of e-CNY, promoting its use for online financial exchanges on major platforms.

China’s Minsheng Bank, in alliance with e-commerce giant JD.com, is launching a digital yuan-based payment service. This enables Minsheng customers in the CBDC pilot zone to use digital yuan tokens for platform purchases. Minsheng differentiates as the first Chinese firm predominantly owned by private sector interests to support the nation’s digital yuan pilot.

“The Bank of China tests an offline payment system linked to SIM cards for the digital yuan, marking China’s push towards a cashless society with their central bank digital currency (CBDC). This signals the potential future of centralized digital currencies.”

“China’s financial entities, local governmental bodies and businesses are gradually embracing the digital yuan, China’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), revolutionizing sectors from gold recycling to land registry fee payment. The gold recycling project powered by digital yuan and CBDC-powered land registry adoption in Fuqing highlights the acceleration of the digital yuan in various scenarios.”

“The Chinese financial sector is embracing smart contracts powered by its digital yuan, e-CNY, in a bid to revolutionize businesses. It hopes to incorporate advancements like digital RMB prepayments and smart contract tech from Bitcoin, crypto, and blockchain fields. But centralization may raise trust and security issues.”

“China’s digital currency, the e-CNY, might soon see significant cross-border usage as part of global infrastructure development strategy, the Belt-Road-Initiative. The purpose is to streamline and boost China’s international trade initiatives. However, shifting this primarily domestic project towards cross-border trade is causing concern.”

Thailand’s Kasikornbank (KBank) has launched a $100 million fund targeting Artificial Intelligence (AI), Web3, and global fintech startups. With backing from the Bank of Thailand, the fund aims to drive global innovators to advance finance in the APAC region.

A growing number of Chinese companies are switching to digital yuan for salary payments. The Zhongkai High-tech Industrial Development Zone, in partnership with the ICBC, has become the first city company to pay its employees, including CCP officials, in digital yuan. This initiative encourages digital yuan adoption and broadens its application in the public sector, helping to tackle the longstanding US dollar dominance.

“Project Sela showcases the potential of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), implementing a novel intermediary approach to reduce liquidity risk. Dealing with concerns about cybersecurity and privacy, it signals a future where transactions settle directly on the central bank’s ledger, inspiring global central banks’ digital transformation.”

Chinese scholar, Huang Qicai, suggests digital currencies could stimulate a global transition from USD dependence, potentially leading to a “world currency multi-polarization”. Key nations like China, Russia and Brazil are making significant strides in digital currencies, hinting at a potential change in global monetary governance.

Mu Changchun, the head of a Chinese Central Bank, asserts that the digital yuan could revolutionize retail payments nationwide, potentially outshining cash. He urges banking and e-pay allies to optimize QR Code protocols and encourages merchants to embrace e-CNY as a viable payment mode.

In a pioneering move, the Qingdao Branch of the Bank of Communications in China has launched a rewards program that offers digital yuan for recycling. Partnering with Jiaoyun Beijie, the city’s household waste disposal provider, residents can earn digital currency deposited directly into their digital yuan wallets in return for recycling. This novel approach promotes environment-friendly behavior and integration into the digital economy.

Likou, a town in China’s Jiangsu Province, aims to become a “demonstration town” for the digital yuan, following a pact with the Postal Savings Bank of China. The project’s objective aligns with China’s intent to use the digital yuan to address its unbanked population, with the town also expected to adopt green and smart city technology.

“China is pushing for digital yuan adoption at the upcoming Asian Games. This event aims to showcase the central bank digital currency (CBDC) on an international platform. Attendees within pilot zones can buy tickets using the official CBDC app, marking a first for major sports events in China. This initiative is seen as a potential accelerator for broader digital currency adoption.”

“JD.com and ICBC are developing a digital yuan using smart contract technology for supply chain financing, enhancing verification, risk identification, and credit guarantees for SMEs. The solution, fostering trust among financial institutions, aims for wider digital yuan acceptance and marks a significant moment in streamlining financial processes.”

Zhongshan Jewelly Optoelectronics Technology, a Guangdong-based firm, has secured over $276,000 from China’s first digital yuan-powered green finance loan. Using the digital yuan offers cost-effective, efficiency for enterprises, with real-time fund transfer and no incurring handling and service fees. Meanwhile, its traceability can prevent misappropriation of green funding loans.