券商中国·2026-01-01 07:51Core 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][5]. Group 1: Announcement from Major Banks - 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][3]. - The current interest rate for current deposits is 0.05% [3]. - 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 anonymous payments, will not [3][4]. 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 [4]. - There are 230 million personal digital RMB wallets and 18.84 million unit wallets opened [4]. - The cross-border payment business using digital RMB has processed 4,047 transactions, amounting to approximately 387.2 billion yuan, with digital RMB accounting for about 95.3% of the transaction volume in various currencies [4]. Group 3: Expansion of Digital RMB Scenarios - 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 [5]. - The plan allows banks to manage digital RMB wallet balances similarly to deposits, providing the same level of security as traditional deposits [5][6]. - The interest payment on digital RMB wallets is expected to increase user willingness to adopt digital RMB and expand its usage scenarios, reinforcing China's leading position in the global exploration of central bank digital currencies [5][6]. Group 4: Implications for Users and Banks - Users will benefit from interest on their digital RMB wallets, similar to current deposits, which is expected to enhance their holding willingness [6]. - The interest incentive and improved ecosystem will encourage more merchants to accept digital RMB, enriching payment scenarios [6]. - For commercial banks, digital RMB deposits can become a source of usable funds, enhancing their promotional efforts and allowing for the development of new financial products [6].