Preparing to show off the capabilities of the digital yuan at the Asia Games is a priority from April to August, despite high possibilities of a delay in the event itself.
See related article: Asian Games set for digital yuan, metaverse pilots, tech firm claims
Fast facts
- China wants to showcase the digital yuan at the Olympic-sized Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou in September.
- Hangzhou was included in a new group of cities named in early April for the digital yuan pilot program.
- Preparations include a large-scale public test of the currency despite Hangzhou not launching any of the digital yuan red packets or coupons to stoke public demand.
- But the games themselves might be postponed as Hangzhou, less than 100 kilometers from Shanghai, faces its biggest wave of Covid-19 outbreaks since 2020.
- China claims game venues have been ready six months ahead of the event, with officials saying they would publish a plan to deal with Covid-19 following the “successful experience” of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
- See related article: Five questions about the digital yuan at the Winter Olympics
