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Why Chinas Digital Yuan Is Reshaping Cross-Border Payments
Description
China's digital yuan, or e-CNY, is moving beyond domestic retail trials and into cross-border settlement. As of mid-2026, the People's Bank of China has signed bilateral agreements with 18 central banks for digital currency swaps, with total transaction volumes exceeding 100 billion yuan. Lucas and Luna examine how this threatens the dollar's dominance in trade finance, why the IMF is watching closely, and what it means for multinationals operating in Asia-Pacific. The episode uses the latest data on China's trade surplus and yuan exchange rate to contextualize the push. Also discussed: the implications for Hong Kong's role as a global financial hub, and whether the digital yuan could fragment the SWIFT system. A concrete look at how Beijing is weaponizing monetary technology.