What is digital yuan (e-CNY) and how to use it

China is fast moving towards a digitised society, and payments are no exception. If you’ve heard of digital yuan (also called e-CNY or digital renminbi) you may be wondering how the currency works and what you can do with it.

This guide walks through what digital yuan is, using e-CNY in China for merchant payments and how e-CNY payments work as a foreigner. We'll also introduce the Wise account, a handy companion to make your money go further with low, transparent fees. Its linked debit card and features for low-cost currency exchange and easy QR payments make it another great option for trips to China.

If you’re planning a trip, you may also find it useful to read our guide to travelling to China from Singapore, which covers transport apps, payments and practical travel tips.

Table of Contents
What is the digital yuan (e-CNY)? How does it work? How payments work Key features of e-CNY Digital yuan vs Alipay vs WeChat Pay Using e-CNY in China Can foreigners use the digital yuan? How to get digital yuan Can I use the digital yuan in other countries? Manage your CNY conversions with Wise

What is the digital yuan (e-CNY)?

The digital yuan is China’s official digital currency, issued and controlled by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).

It is legal tender in China and has the same value as physical cash.

• 1 e-CNY = 1 CNY

In China, digital currency is already a big deal. Up to the end of November 2025, there had been a total of 16.7 trillion CNY (about 2.37 trillion USD) worth of digital yuan transactions. At the end of 2025, a Chinese government announcement¹ heralded an expansion in eCNY features and usage, as part of the move towards increased cashless payments in China.

This includes cooperation with overseas banks such as ICBC Singapore and Bank of China Singapore to allow foreign customers to easily use e-CNY when they travel to China.

How does the digital yuan work?

The e-CNY is one of the first global examples of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

You can download a digital wallet to use for spending e-CNY and make online and offline payments in a similar way to wallets like Alipay or PayNow.

If you're planning to use ride-hailing services while in China, you may also want to check this guide on how to use DiDi in China, as most transport apps rely on mobile payments.

Once you have an e-CNY wallet on your phone, you can:

• Link a bank card (including some international cards for tourists and expats)
• Top up your wallet
• Make payments using QR codes

How payments work

You can pay in China by:

• Scanning a merchant’s QR code
• Letting the merchant scan your in-app QR
• Selecting e-CNY at online checkout

Key features of e-CNY

For many Singaporeans used to PayNow and digital wallets, e-CNY may feel familiar.

Some notable features include:

• No transaction fees from the People’s Bank of China²
• Real-time transaction speed
• Offline payment support

The offline feature uses ‘dual offline technology’, which allows a payment to go through even if neither you nor the merchant has a live internet connection.

Digital yuan vs Alipay vs WeChat Pay

Your e-CNY wallet can work for payments in a similar way to other e-wallets.

However, The Straits Times reports³ that it is different from Alipay and WeChat Pay in that it does not have any foreign transaction fee for spending in renminbi.

As the features of e-CNY wallets are being rolled out on a progressive basis, you may find there are also some other key differences between digital yuan vs Alipay vs WeChat Pay. Not all merchants in China can yet accept e-CNY payments for example, while Alipay and WeChat Pay are very popular.

At this stage, having more than one payment method available can be helpful when spending yuan in China.

Feature	e-CNY	Alipay	WeChat Pay	Wise
Issuer	People’s Bank of China	Ant Group	Tencent	Wise
Type	Central bank digital currency	Mobile wallet	Mobile wallet	Multi-currency account
CNY exchange rate	1:1 with CNY	Card exchange rate	Card exchange rate	Mid-market rate
Merchant acceptance	Growing	Widespread	Widespread	Card acceptance globally
Works outside China	Primarily domestic	Limited	Limited	150+ countries
Holds multiple currencies	No	No	No	40+ currencies

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👀 If you’re planning to use Alipay or WeChat Pay instead, see our complete guide on using WeChat Pay & Alipay.

💳 Click here to order a Wise card

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Using e-CNY in China

Your e-CNY wallet digital yuan payments may be accepted at offline merchants and for online shopping. Not all merchants accept this form of payment as yet - you’ll need to look out for the red and white e-CNY symbol at the payment terminal to know your wallet can be used.

Once you’ve found a merchant which uses e-CNY you can pay by scanning their QR, or having them scan the QR in your own e-CNY wallet.

Can foreigners use the digital yuan?

Yes. A MAS announcement⁴ in December 2025 confirmed that developments to the e-CNY payments system allow Singaporean travellers to China to open and top up e-CNY wallets locally and make payments on arrival.

This trial is being rolled out through ICBC Singapore and Bank of China Singapore.

According to reports, there is no need for a foreign user to upload ID to access the system - but low payment limits can apply if you do not have a verified account.

To register and link your card, you may need to check directly with your bank.

How to get digital yuan

You can start using digital yuan by downloading the official e-CNY app and linking your payment card.

Here’s how to buy digital yuan using the official e-CNY app⁵:

1. Download the official App store⁶ or Google Pay⁷ e-CNY app
2. Tap "Sign up" to register an account
3. Click "Open/Add e-CNY Wallets"
4. Link your preferred bank card - including international cards - following the prompts

You’ll need to register your account using your mobile phone number to set security features, but foreign SIM cards are accepted.

Can I use the digital yuan in other countries?

The digital yuan is currently primarily for domestic use within China.

It’s available for on and offline payments in Mainland China, and is gradually rolling out its user base to allow travellers and expats from countries like Singapore to sign up.

Manage your CNY conversions with Wise

The digital yuan (e-CNY) is expanding, but not every merchant accepts it yet. Access for foreigners may depend on local banking partnerships and wallet limits.

With Wise, you can manage your money in Chinese yuan (CNY) without relying on a local Chinese bank account.

The Wise account is an easy way to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, including SGD, MYR, EUR, CNY, and more. All you need to do is create a free account to get started.

With Wise, you can exchange currencies at the mid-market rate each time, with low, transparent conversion fees from 0.26% and absolutely no markups. Plus, you can order a linked Wise card for convenient spending without any foreign transaction fees, and up to 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 350 SGD when you're overseas. You'll even get 8+ local account details to get paid conveniently to your Wise account in SGD and a selection of other major global currencies.

What's more, you can activate Wise Interest to earn returns* on your eligible balances while keeping your money available to spend.

*Growth is not guaranteed. Capital at risk.

Sending money or making payments abroad? Wise also offers fast, low cost transfers to 140+ countries - you can track your transfer in your account and your recipient will also be notified when a transfer reaches them.

🚀 Get Started with Wise

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Sources:

1. Chinese government announcement - e-CNY expansion
2. DBS - digitisation of CNY
3. Straits Times - e-CNY launch
4. MAS announcement - eCNY
5. Chinese government - e-CNY announcement and guide
6. App store e-CNY app
7. Google Pay e-CNY app