While a number of central banks are exploring digital currencies, it is China’s central bank that is furthest ahead, at least with a domestic version. China has been doing trials of what it calls the Digital Currency Electronic Payment system — a digital form of yuan that’s currently focused on domestic payments. Over the last few months, China has been handing out large sums of its digital yuan through lottery to citizens in some cities, such as Shenzhen and Chengdu.
“The evidence is the PBOC is still focused on domestic payments. But this sort of internationalization of the renminbi is the long-term strategic goal,” Linghao Bao, analyst at Trivium China, said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/24/chinas-pboc-joins-cross-border-digital-currency-project.html