The pilot of digital RMB welcomes further significant progress. On January 4, the digital RMB (pilot version) app was put on the shelves of Android and Apple App Stores. The white list users expanded by the operation organization in the pilot areas and pilot scenarios can register the digital RMB app. Digital RMB (pilot version) app is on the shelves in major app stores. Source: Apple App Store
The “developer” column of the digital RMB (pilot version) app shows that the developer of the digital RMB (pilot version) app is the digital currency Research Institute of the people’s Bank of China. It is the official service platform for the pilot of China’s legal digital currency – Digital RMB to individual users. It provides the opening and management of digital RMB personal wallet and the exchange and circulation services of digital RMB. At present, Digital RMB is still in the routine test stage in the R & D process.
The “privacy policy” column of the digital RMB (pilot version) app shows that the digital RMB operators include 8 banks such as Industrial And Commercial Bank Of China Limited(601398) , Agricultural Bank Of China Limited(601288) , Bank Of China Limited(601988) , China Construction Bank Corporation(601939) , Bank Of Communications Co.Ltd(601328) , Postal Savings Bank Of China Co.Ltd(601658) , Weizhong bank and e-commerce bank. However, after logging in the app, the reporter found that there are 9 optional digital RMB wallet operators on the app, including China Merchants Bank Co.Ltd(600036) in addition to the above 8 banking institutions.
The reporter found that the digital RMB (pilot version) app has added a number of functions, and the registration of new users is more convenient. No name, ID number, bank card number and other personal information are needed. Only by entering the mobile phone number, setting the user name and payment password can you quickly open the anonymous wallet, and you can also choose your own operation organization. After opening, it can be upgraded to a real name wallet as needed, and the bank card can be bound for recharge.
Experts believe that in the previous digital RMB pilot activities around the world, white list users need to install digital RMB (beta) app by obtaining exchange code and installation package. The installation steps are long, the operation is complex and cannot be downloaded and used repeatedly. This time, the digital RMB (pilot version) app was put on the app store, with more humanized functions, improved user experience, promoted the popularization of digital RMB and improved the convenience of using digital RMB.
The reporter combed that since the pilot was opened, the application scope of digital RMB has continued to expand, and the landing scenes have been gradually enriched. In November 2021, Mu Changchun, director of the digital currency Research Institute of the people’s Bank of China, said publicly that as of October 22, 2021, 140 million digital RMB personal wallets and 10 million corporate wallets had been opened, 150 million transactions had been made, and the transaction volume was nearly 62 billion yuan.
In terms of pilot areas, as of October 2021, the number of RMB has increased to six pilot areas: Shanghai, Hainan, Changsha, Xi’an, Qingdao and Dalian. In addition to the previous pilot areas such as Shenzhen, Suzhou, xiong’an new area, Chengdu and Beijing Winter Olympic venue, the digital RMB pilot has formed a “10 + 1” pattern.
In terms of pilot scenarios, according to the reporter’s statistics, there are 52 sub wallets in the current digital RMB (pilot version) app, covering shopping, travel, life, tourism and other five categories. Taking meituan as an example, users in the current digital RMB pilot area can use digital RMB to pay daily meituan takeout orders after adding digital RMB sub wallet to meituan, which is another expansion of digital RMB in the scene of “clothing, food, housing and transportation”.
Industry insiders believe that with the access of more and more UHF livelihood application scenarios, the application ecology and transaction scale of digital RMB are expected to be further improved.
“The digital RMB being piloted is not only an electronic payment tool, but also a digital legal tender, which can make electronic payment more universal and convenient, and make the use of cash more available and inclusive.” Dong ximiao, chief researcher of Zhaolian finance and part-time researcher of the Institute of finance of Fudan University, said that during the pilot process, the three hidden values of digital RMB were gradually recognized, which is also the characteristic of digital RMB different from other electronic payment instruments.
Dong ximiao further explained that first, the amount of information collected by digital RMB is less than that of existing non bank payment instruments, and the storage and use of personal information are strictly controlled, so as to better protect data security and user privacy. Second, compared with RMB notes and coins, digital RMB has low-carbon and environmental protection characteristics, does not need printing and casting, and has no depreciation and wear. By adopting the double-layer operation structure of “central bank commercial bank public”, the energy consumption of issuance and circulation will be greatly reduced. Third, the promotion and use of digital RMB will improve the availability and convenience of the use of RMB, so as to better protect consumers’ choice and maintain the legal status of RMB. With the convening of the Beijing Winter Olympics and the Hangzhou Asian Games, if the digital RMB is used smoothly in the corresponding scenarios, it will help to improve the international image of the RMB.
