- Sputnik International, 1920, 24.01.2023
Asia
Find top stories and features from Asia and the Pacific region. Keep updated on major political stories and analyses from Asia and the Pacific. All you want to know about China, Japan, North and South Korea, India and Pakistan, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Chinese E-Commerce Giant to Accept Digital Yuan During Singles' Day Sale in Major E-Currency Test

© AFP 2023 / STRA sign for China’s new digital currency, electronic Chinese yuan (e-CNY) is displayed at a shopping mall in Shanghai on March 8, 2021
A sign for China’s new digital currency, electronic Chinese yuan (e-CNY) is displayed at a shopping mall in Shanghai on March 8, 2021 - Sputnik International, 1920, 11.11.2021
Subscribe
Beijing has been testing a new digital currency that is set to replace coins and banknotes for almost a year now in isolated cases, platforms, and certain regions of the country. However, plans for a nationwide rollout have not yet been announced.
The Chinese e-commerce platform Jingdong (JD) has agreed to accept digital yuan (e-CNY) for purchases during a Singles' Day promotion period, that kicked off on 31 October and will last until the end of 11 November (which is Singles' Day itself).
This is one of the biggest shopping events in China and according to JD, some 100,000 of its customers used the opportunity and paid for their purchases with e-CNY. This makes JD's promotion of the digital currency one of the biggest in China, which still has not released a timeline for its nationwide rollout.
In addition to being allowed to use digital yuan, JD customers without e-wallets had the chance to open one via the marketplace's app and receive a welcome bonus of 15 e-CNY ($2.34), which is equal to 15 regular yuan.
Chinese Yuan banknotes are seen in this illustration taken February 10, 2020. - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.07.2021
World
China's E-Yuan Could Be 'Largest Threat' to West, as US Slow to Develop Digital Dollar - Report
China is one of several countries considering the issuance of a digital currency amid the popularity of Bitcoin and altcoins. The coin is not a cryptocurrency and just a digital analogue of bills and coins held in e-wallets.
Its first massive test was carried out in December of last year on the same platform as that during Singles' Day – JD. Additionally, the Central Bank of China tested the technologies in several cities and incentivised citizens to use e-CNY by giving out the currency via lotteries. Some 100 million e-CNY ($15.6 million) have been used so far by the holders of 450,000 digital wallets.
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала