Bolts, Bits, & Bytes: China's New Digital Currency And Implications For Insurers And Insurtech

Let's talk tech and Chinese money.

Since antiquity, China had led the world with its adoption of cutting-edge currency

Today, there is an immense amount of interest surrounding China's new digital yuan ("DCEP" – Digital Currency Electronic Payment).

However, China's history of currency innovation goes back to ancient times. Unlike Roman coins, ancient Chinese coins are marked by a square hole in the middle, allowing the bearer to efficiently string large amounts together for ease of transport.

A "开元通宝", kāiyuán tōng bǎo; 'Circulating treasure from the inauguration of a new epoch'. Attribution: Unknown.

Another innovation was the use of bolts of silk. In ancient times, silk was issued to garrisoned troops along the silk road as a form of payment, because it was lighter than coins and easier to transport overland from the then-imperial capital of Chang'An (present-day Xi'an).