About this wallet
Central-bank digital currency issued by the People's Bank of China. Foreigners can open a wallet with a passport; supports Visa/MC top-up and offline NFC pay; merchants cannot refuse it.
!Not a bank. e-CNY is the central-bank digital currency (M0) issued by the People’s Bank of China; it is legal tender, not a commercial-bank deposit, and is not covered by deposit insurance.
Can foreigners or tourists open it?
Foreigners can open. Tier-4 (phone only): ¥2,000/txn, ¥5,000/day, ¥10,000 balance. Tier-3 (passport) higher. Top up via Visa/MC, bank counter, or ATM. Hard wallet at airports with passport.
Advantages
- Legal tender — merchants cannot refuse
- Top up with Visa/MC, no Chinese bank account
- Offline NFC pay works without internet
- Hard wallet issued with passport for tourists
Limitations
- App mostly Chinese (some versions English)
- Tier-4 limits are low
- Some foreign cards declined; use another or bank counter
What you need
- Passport
- Mobile number (some accept intl)
- For upgrade: passport + face verification
No minimum top-up (Tier-4 balance cap CNY 10,000)｜No annual or account fee; top-up via Visa/MC, counter or ATM may incur issuer or channel fees — check at source.
How to sign up
- Download the official e-CNY app (developer: PBoC Digital Currency Research Institute)
- Tap 'Open wallet' and register with passport (Tier-4: phone only; Tier-3: passport verification)
- Complete phone verification and passport entry
- For a hard wallet: get it instantly at airports or BOC with your passport
- Link Visa/Mastercard, or top up with cash at a counter or ATM
- Pay offline via NFC tap or by scanning a QR code
Limits & protection
Tier-4: CNY 2,000/txn, CNY 5,000/day, CNY 10,000 balance. Tier-3 (passport-verified) has higher limits. Hard-wallet limits vary by branch.
FAQ
Can a foreigner or tourist open Digital RMB (e-CNY)?
Foreigners can open. Tier-4 (phone only): ¥2,000/txn, ¥5,000/day, ¥10,000 balance. Tier-3 (passport) higher. Top up via Visa/MC, bank counter, or ATM. Hard wallet at airports with passport.
Do I need a local bank account or a local phone number for Digital RMB (e-CNY)?
Local bank account: Not required. Foreigners open a Tier-4/Tier-3 wallet with a passport and a phone number — no Chinese bank account needed.. Items typically needed: Passport; Mobile number (some accept intl); For upgrade: passport + face verification.
What documents are required to open Digital RMB (e-CNY)?
Typically: Passport; Mobile number (some accept intl); For upgrade: passport + face verification.
How do I sign up for and top up Digital RMB (e-CNY)?
How to sign up: Fully online via the e-CNY app — register with passport and phone number, then verify; a hard wallet is issued instantly at airports or BOC branches with your passport. (5–15 minutes in-app; hard wallet instant at airports or bank counters with passport.). Steps: 1) Download the official e-CNY app (developer: PBoC Digital Currency Research Institute) 2) Tap 'Open wallet' and register with passport (Tier-4: phone only; Tier-3: passport verification) 3) Complete phone verification and passport entry 4) For a hard wallet: get it instantly at airports or BOC with your passport 5) Link Visa/Mastercard, or top up with cash at a counter or ATM 6) Pay offline via NFC tap or by scanning a QR code Fees: No annual or account fee; top-up via Visa/MC, counter or ATM may incur issuer or channel fees — check at source.
Are there limits on Digital RMB (e-CNY)? Is the balance deposit-insured?
Tier-4: CNY 2,000/txn, CNY 5,000/day, CNY 10,000 balance. Tier-3 (passport-verified) has higher limits. Hard-wallet limits vary by branch.
What actually happened
Takes about 30 seconds: approved or not, where it got stuck, how many days. Email is optional, and we never ask for your name.
Ready? Open it officially
E-wallet rules change often — always follow the latest instructions in the official app.
