(Yicai Global) Dec. 26 -- China’s digital yuan payment app has introduced a ‘red packet’ function that allows users to send and receive money gifts also on other payment platforms such as Tencent Holdings’ WeChat and Ant Group’s Alipay.

The app has a new ‘Cash Red Packet’ option directly connected to users’ digital wallets. There are two kinds of red packets, those that can be sent to mobile phone contacts and those that can be sent through WeChat, Alipay, and QQ.

The launch of the red packet function demonstrates that the e-yuan is striving to achieve the interoperability it has always advocated, according to experts.

On Dec. 16, China expanded the pilot area of the digital yuan to 26 areas in 17 provincial-level administrative regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.

With the continuous expansion of the e-yuan pilot area, its significance in boosting consumption and entities in the service sector has been widely recognized by local governments, industry insiders believe. Online retail platforms will gradually become the main player in promoting the digital yuan and serving the real economy.

Editors: Shi Yi, Futura Costaglione