The Shanghai-to-Hong Kong settlements worth hundreds of millions of yuan bypassed traditional channels and could accelerate Beijing’s broader yuan strategy
2-MIN READ2-MINAlice LiPublished: 2:11pm, 23 Sep 2026Two Chinese state-owned banks and Ant International have trialled cross-border digital yuan transfers worth hundreds of millions of yuan, marking the latest step in Beijing’s efforts to streamline settlements and promote wider international use of the digital yuan.
The Shanghai branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) facilitated its first digital yuan transfer for Ant International to ICBC Asia, its Hong Kong subsidiary. The transaction from Shanghai to Hong Kong was completed within seconds, compared with the several days typically required for large cross-border transfers through traditional channels, domestic media outlet Financial News reported on Tuesday.
Similarly, the Shanghai branch of China Construction Bank (CCB) also facilitated a digital yuan transfer worth hundreds of millions of yuan for Ant International to CCB Asia, the bank’s Hong Kong subsidiary, state-owned China Business Journal reported on Friday.
