China has begun to conduct cross-border crude oil settlements in digital yuan. The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has recently bought 1 million barrels of crude oil using the nation's digital currency, according to the Chinese press.
The idea of a digital yuan, or renminbi (RMB), formally known as the Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP), was quietly introduced in 2014, with the Chinese authorities keeping silent about the bold project until 2019. Since 2020 the new digital currency has been tested by several Chinese cities. Thus, in October 2020 Shenzhen issued 10 million yuan worth of digital currency to 50,000 random residents who applied to take part in the experiment.
Despite doubts voiced by skeptics about the project's efficacy, Shanghai Petroleum and Natural Gas Exchange (SHPGX) announced on Friday that the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) had completed a deal which envisaged the purchase of 1 million barrels of crude oil with digital RMB. The deal in question was reportedly carried out with the digital yuan wallet provided by the Bank of Communications.
Chinese media quoted Tu Hong, president of the Bank of Communications Shanghai branch, as saying that cross-border yuan settlements could "reduce the reliance on the current international transaction network, further ensure security, lower costs and simplify the transaction process.".....more here
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