Digital yuan app adds offline payment codes at six Chinese banks

The update enables merchant-scanned e-CNY payments in weak or no-network settings for wallets at six banks, with the app generating offline codes automatically and a wider rollout planned.

Summary

China’s digital yuan app has added offline payment code support for wallets at ICBC, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Postal Savings Bank of China, Industrial Bank and China CITIC Bank, broadening e-CNY usability when connectivity is weak or unavailable. The Digital RMB Operations Management Center said the app can automatically generate an offline payment code in no-network or weak-signal settings for merchants to scan, allowing transactions to proceed without a stable connection. The feature is available now at the six banks, with a broader rollout planned as China continues to expand practical payment functions for the digital yuan.

Terms & Concepts
  • digital yuan: China’s central bank digital currency, also known as e-CNY.
  • offline payment code: A payment code that can be generated and used even when a device has little or no network connectivity.
  • e-CNY: The official shorthand for China’s digital yuan used in digital payment services.