六大国有行官宣：今日起，实施

Core Viewpoint - Starting from January 1, 2026, six major state-owned banks in China will pay interest on the balances of real-name digital RMB wallets at the same rate as current deposit rates, marking China as the first economy to offer interest on central bank digital currency [1][2]. Group 1: Digital RMB Interest Payment - The six major state-owned banks include Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Postal Savings Bank of China [1][2]. - The current interest rate for current deposits is 0.05% [2]. - Only real-name digital RMB wallets (categories one, two, and three) will earn interest, while category four wallets, which are non-real-name and used for small anonymous payments, will not [2]. Group 2: Digital RMB Usage and Statistics - As of November 2025, digital RMB has processed 3.48 billion transactions with a total transaction amount of 16.7 trillion yuan [3]. - There are 230 million personal digital RMB wallets and 1.884 million unit wallets opened [3]. - The multilateral central bank digital currency bridge has processed 4,047 cross-border payment transactions, amounting to approximately 387.2 billion yuan, with digital RMB accounting for about 95.3% of the transaction volume [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Framework and Ecosystem - The People's Bank of China has introduced an action plan to enhance the management and service system for digital RMB, which will officially start on January 1, 2026 [4]. - Banks will be allowed to manage digital RMB wallet balances as part of their asset-liability operations, with deposit insurance providing the same level of security as traditional deposits [4]. - Non-bank payment institutions will treat digital RMB reserves similarly to customer reserve funds, ensuring a consistent regulatory approach [4]. Group 4: Implications for Users and Banks - The ability to earn interest on digital RMB balances is expected to significantly increase user willingness to hold digital RMB, thereby expanding its acceptance among merchants and enriching payment scenarios [5]. - Digital RMB deposits can serve as a funding source for banks, enhancing their promotional efforts and enabling the development of new financial products around interest-bearing digital wallets [5].