Asian Tech Press (Jan 4) -- China has released the pilot version of its digital yuan wallet app on mobile app stores as the country's central bank ramps up its own digital currency push.

The "e-CNY (pilot version)" app, developed by the People's Bank of China's (PBOC) digital currency research institute, was available for download on Tuesday on the Chinese Android and Apple app stores in Shanghai.

A notice in the app said it was in the research and development trial stage and would only be available to selected users, including major Chinese banks, through supporting institutions that provide e-CNY services.

While the "e-CNY (pilot version)" app is available for download, it is still necessary to register an account within the pilot cities, which currently include Shenzhen, Suzhou, Xiong'an, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hainan, Changsha, Xi'an, Qingdao, Dalian and the Winter Olympics scenario (Beijing, Zhangjiakou).

Yi Gang, governor of China's central bank, said in November that China would continue to advance the development of the central bank's digital currency and improve its design and use, including improving its interoperability with existing payment instruments.

At its year-end conference, the PBOC said it would continue to push forward with research and development of the digital yuan.