Swift bypass: China completes first Malaysia payment in digital yuan
South China Morning Post
China's first outbound e-CNY payment to Malaysia settled a durian shipment in 30 minutes, bypassing Swift.Summary
China executed its first outbound digital yuan payment to Malaysia, settling a 43,000 yuan durian shipment in 30 minutes via direct bank transfers. This bypassed the Swift system, reducing costs and time compared to traditional methods. The transaction involved China Construction Bank's Xiamen and Labuan branches, enabling direct conversion of e-CNY to Malaysian ringgit. The deal aligns with growing bilateral durian trade, which saw a significant increase in 2025 following a 2024 trade protocol.
(Source：South China Morning Post)