Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2026-01-01 08:06Core Viewpoint - The People's Bank of China is officially transitioning the digital yuan from a "cash-type 1.0" to a "deposit currency type 2.0," introducing a historical transformation that enhances its functionality as a financial asset with value storage capabilities [1][2]. Group 1: Mechanism Innovation - The core mechanism innovation of version 2.0 is characterized by the redefinition of liability attributes and the incorporation of a macro framework, allowing digital yuan balances in commercial banks to be classified as "account-based commercial bank liabilities" [3][6]. - The cancellation of the "non-interest" policy for digital yuan enables liquidity to flow directly into the electronic wallet system, marking the end of the cash era [3][6]. - The new framework enhances user willingness to hold and use digital yuan while providing banks with a manageable asset-liability space [6]. Group 2: Technical Architecture - The technical architecture features three major innovations: an account system, a currency string, and smart contracts, which facilitate a digital path for the digital yuan [7]. - The upgrade maintains compliance with existing bank account rules while introducing a "currency string" for value transfer and offline circulation, enhancing verification and system resilience [7]. - Smart contracts embedded in the funding flow can trigger conditions and automate verification in various scenarios, reducing misuse risks and compliance costs [7]. Group 3: Cross-Border Applications - The transition to "digital deposit currency" is reshaping the liquidity foundation and settlement efficiency of the multilateral central bank digital currency bridge (mBridge) [11]. - As of November 2025, digital yuan holds a dominant position in mBridge operations, accounting for 95.3% of transactions, with a total of 4,047 cross-border payments amounting to 387.2 billion yuan [14]. - The introduction of deposit insurance significantly lowers the risk costs for foreign participants holding digital yuan, enabling more robust fund position management [14].