数字人民币性质上已等同活期存款
21世纪经济报道·2026-01-30 13:28

Core Viewpoint - The launch of Digital RMB 2.0 marks a significant transformation from a cash-like digital currency to a financial asset that can earn interest, enhancing its appeal and usability for consumers [4][9]. Group 1: Development and Features of Digital RMB - Digital RMB is a central bank-issued legal digital currency that has evolved over ten years from a non-interest-bearing electronic cash to a financial asset with interest-earning capabilities [6][11]. - The Digital RMB 2.0 version introduces a wallet balance that is treated as a liability of commercial banks, aligning it with demand deposit characteristics [11][12]. - The digital currency's trial has expanded from select cities to nationwide coverage, with significant transaction volumes, including 34.8 billion transactions totaling 16.7 trillion yuan by November 2025 [7][6]. Group 2: Challenges and Market Position - Despite its growth, Digital RMB faces challenges in user adoption due to entrenched habits favoring existing payment platforms like Alipay and WeChat Pay, which dominate the market [7][16]. - The initial version of Digital RMB struggled with user retention and engagement, as it was perceived similarly to cash without interest, limiting its long-term appeal [7][8]. - The competitive landscape remains challenging, with Digital RMB accounting for only 0.16% of the total cash in circulation (M0) as of June 2023, compared to the substantial reserves held by existing payment platforms [7][8]. Group 3: Policy and Future Implications - The introduction of interest-earning features is expected to enhance the attractiveness of Digital RMB, potentially transforming it into a robust monetary policy tool and improving financial stability [13][18]. - The policy framework aims to ensure that Digital RMB is integrated into the broader financial system, allowing for effective monetary policy transmission and risk management [13][15]. - Future developments may focus on enhancing the digital currency's role in cross-border trade and internationalization of the RMB, leveraging its interest-earning capabilities to attract foreign users [14][18].