Digital RMB to undergo plan upgrade in 2026: balances will earn interest, reserve system adjustments

【BitPush】Major policy update. Digital Renminbi will undergo significant adjustments starting January 1st next year.

There are three core changes: First, wallet balances can now accrue interest. Banking institutions can pay interest on customers’ real-name digital Renminbi wallet balances independently, in accordance with the autonomous pricing of deposit interest rates, which means holding digital Renminbi can also generate returns; second, digital Renminbi operated by banking institutions will shift from off-balance sheet to on-balance sheet operations, and the reserve requirement system will change from a 100% reserve to a partial reserve, representing a major structural optimization; third, without altering the two-tier operational framework, non-bank payment institutions will still be required to implement a 100% margin system, consistent with existing customer reserve rules.

Additionally, it is worth noting that digital Renminbi balances held at banks will also be protected by deposit insurance, ensuring the same level of security. This upgrade essentially brings digital Renminbi closer to traditional deposit products in operational logic while retaining the infrastructure of central bank digital currency. The policy signals are very clear — digital Renminbi is accelerating from the pilot phase toward practical application.