The Chinese government’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) project has not sparked much enthusiasm among the citizens of Hong Kong. In the first four days since the “digital yuan” (also known as “e-CNY”) hard wallets became accessible to residents, only 625 Hongkongers had obtained them.
As reported by a local newspaper on Feb. 28, Shenzhen installed the machines, dispensing the hard wallets for digital yuan, the first of a kind in the country. Due to the city’s unique location as a gateway from Hong Kong to mainland China, the machines were programmed to serve the citizens of Hong Kong exclusively.