Digital Yuan Welcomes Tourists with Visa, Mastercard

As the People’s Republic of China continues to update the mobile app powering its central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot, tourists can now pre-load their digital yuan purses using Visa and Mastercard payment methods.

The e-CNY application, which is still in its pilot phase, is available to iOS and Google Play Store users in China. Individual users can use e-CNY by opening digital yuan wallets through the application.

The latest version of e-CNY app on the Apple App Store introduces the top-up service for international cards. Source: e-CNY app

According to the latest iOS app update released on September 22, version 1.1.1 supports international card options for its top-up service.

According to several Chinese news agencies, the launch of the Asian Games coincides with the release of the most recent version of the e-CNY app.

China has extensively tested the use of the digital yuan as a payment option for foreign tourists.

A tutorial for foreign users outlining the process of signing up using an international number. Source: e-CNY app.

According to Yicai, the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 signaled the beginning of the CBDC pilot’s availability to tourists as a means of conducting e-CNY transactions with local merchants.

Reportedly, incoming travelers can use foreign mobile numbers to register and open e-CNY wallets and use the wallet recharge feature, which now supports Visa and Mastercard payments.

As recently reported, China is making moves to ensure that the digital yuan is available as a payment option for all retail payment scenarios.

This would make the digital yuan the predominant mode of payment in China for retail users and merchants.