Sou Hu Cai Jing·2026-01-01 05:16Core Viewpoint - Starting from January 1, 2026, the six major state-owned banks in China will begin to pay interest on the balances in customers' real-name digital RMB wallets at the same rate as current deposit rates, which is currently set at 0.05% [1][2]. Group 1: Digital RMB Overview - Digital RMB is a legal digital currency issued by the People's Bank of China, applicable in various scenarios such as transportation, dining, shopping, and bill payments [3]. - The pilot program for digital RMB has expanded from select cities to provincial levels, including major municipalities and several provinces [3]. Group 2: Implementation Details - The People's Bank of China has released an action plan to enhance the management and service system for digital RMB, effective from January 1, 2026, which includes interest payments on wallet balances [3]. - Digital RMB will be included in the deposit insurance scheme, providing the same security guarantees as traditional deposits [3]. Group 3: Wallet Classification - Digital RMB wallets are classified into four categories based on the level of real-name verification, with categories one to three requiring more stringent identity verification than category four [4]. - The balance limits for different wallet categories are as follows: category one has no limit, category two is capped at 500,000 yuan, category three at 20,000 yuan, and category four at 10,000 yuan [4][5]. Group 4: Banking Institutions - Currently, ten commercial banks are authorized to open digital RMB wallets, including the six major state-owned banks and four other banks [6].