Minutes from a meeting of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), China’s central bank, revealed that oversight and regulation of cryptocurrency markets will be further tightened in 2026.
According to the statement, the bank declared its commitment to strengthening regulation in the field of “virtual currencies” and increasing the fight against related illegal activities, while stating that the development of the digital yuan (digital RMB) will continue steadily.
The 2026 PBOC Working Conference, held on January 5-6, placed the creation of a new financial statistics infrastructure compatible with a modern central banking system at the center of its agenda. The conference stated that statistical monitoring mechanisms need to be developed in critical areas such as the “big five tasks” of finance, the indebtedness of local financing platforms, and the efficiency of treasury management.
Bank officials stated that the gains made in improving the cash-using environment would be preserved, and that payment services would be optimized in the long term and on a regular basis, especially for the elderly and foreign nationals. They also announced that intrusive and transparent oversight of payment institutions would continue without compromise.
The meeting also instructed that oversight of cryptocurrencies be increased, that illegal and criminal activities in this area be more strongly combated, and that payment institutions closely monitor the risks associated with crypto assets. The PBOC reaffirmed that the digital RMB ecosystem will be grown cautiously but steadily, along with deepening technological governance and innovative practices.
Experts believe these statements indicate that China is maintaining its distance from crypto assets, but that its strategy to make central bank digital currency a significant component of the financial system will accelerate.
*This is not investment advice.
