A Currency No One Wants To Use?

China’s ambitious plan for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-CNY or digital yuan, is facing a test of adoption. While the government boasts billions of dollars in transactions and enthusiastic city trials, a closer look reveals a hurdle – a lukewarm reception from the very people it’s meant to serve.

Digital Yuan: Early Adopters Turn Away

A recent report by the South China Morning Post throws cold water on the e-CNY’s immediate success. State employees in some cities, receiving a portion of their salaries in digital yuan, are quickly converting it back to cash. The reasons? A lack of incentive and practicality.

Sammy Lin, an account manager at a Chinese state bank, said:

“There’s no interest if I leave it there […] there aren’t many places where I can use it.”

This sentiment echoes concerns about limited use cases. Unlike established digital payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay, the e-CNY seems to lack widespread merchant adoption, both online and offline.

Privacy Concerns Cloud the Picture

Adding to the apprehension is the specter of government surveillance. China’s digital ecosystem is already closely monitored, and citizens are wary of the potential for intrusive tracking with the e-CNY.

“Paper currency offers anonymity,” says Ye Dongyan, a researcher at Beijing’s Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. “The boundaries between information tracking and security need more clarification.”

The government, however, maintains that the e-CNY prioritizes privacy through “controllable anonymity.” This system, according to Yi Gang, the former governor of the People’s Bank of China, protects small transactions while monitoring larger ones to prevent financial crimes.

But can this appease citizen anxieties?

Total crypto market cap currently at $2.2 trillion. Chart: TradingView

Numbers Tell A Different Story?

Despite the reported low usage among initial recipients, China boasts a different narrative. Yi points to over $250 billion worth of e-CNY transactions conducted as of July 2023.

This suggests some level of adoption, but the details remain unclear – is it organic growth, or a result of government-led initiatives?

Incentivizing The Switch

China is actively promoting the e-CNY. Several cities have conducted trials, handing out millions in digital yuan subsidies and consumption coupons. This approach aims to encourage people to experiment with the new currency and potentially discover its benefits.

The Road Ahead

The future of the e-CNY remains uncertain. While the government pushes for wider adoption, user behavior suggests a need for more than just financial incentives. Addressing the limited use cases and building trust around privacy protection are crucial steps.

China’s digital currency project may yet see widespread adoption, but for now, it seems to be stuck in a conversion cycle – from digital yuan back to cash.

Featured image from VCG via Getty Images, chart from TradingView