The People's Bank of China released Q2 2026 payment system data, showing 10.267 billion bank cards nationwide, of which 677 million credit and debit-integrated cards, down nearly 20 million from the start of the year, with over 100,000 cards exiting daily. Listed bank mid-year reports reveal universal declines in credit card outstanding balances at the six largest state-owned banks, with ICBC's loan balance dropping 14.39%. Non-performing loan ratios rose sharply at ICBC to 5.37%, Bank of Communications to 3.8%, Minsheng Bank to 4.22%, and Industrial Bank to 3.79%. In August 2026, credit card NPL transfers totaled 12.2 billion yuan.

The People's Bank of China announced a 500 billion yuan buyout reverse repo operation on September 7, 2026, to maintain ample liquidity. The 3-month (89-day) operation uses fixed quantity, interest rate bidding, and multiple-price award, maturing on December 5, 2026.

Bank of China's Inner Mongolia branch has issued the region's first 'Computing Power Token Loan' to the Horinger New Area, incorporating token usage scale, computing power orders, core tech qualifications, and R&D capabilities into credit evaluation while reducing reliance on traditional collateral. Hohhot's computing power capacity reaches 150,000 P, with 146,000 P from intelligent computing, leading the nation in green computing index. Local authorities are also promoting 'computing loans', medium- to long-term tech renovation loans, and 'computing chain insurance' to support data centers and heavy-asset projects.

Shanghai police disclosed a virtual-asset-related economic crime case on Aug. 27 involving more than 200 million yuan in alleged proceeds, nine suspects, and five arrests approved on suspicion of illegal business operations. The case centers on two platforms: one for cross-border currency exchange and another for virtual card issuance and settlement. Users could top up with virtual currency, exchange across multiple currencies, apply for virtual cards, and repay consumption. The key issue is not whether a virtual card can exist, but how many regulated financial functions a platform has taken on once stablecoins are added to the product stack. According to the report, the scheme involved collecting virtual currency overseas, converting it into foreign currency, and completing settlements through false cross-border settlement arrangements. That makes the case relevant not only to USDT-to-fiat exchange, but also to cross-border payment, settlement flows, and the role of the domestic team. The article lays out six money-flow checks that Web3 payment teams can use to assess whether a product has crossed the line.

Tether is facing a civil lawsuit in the U.S. after being accused of freezing more than $42.4 million in USDT tied to two investors before any formal court seizure warrant had been issued. Court filings disclosed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and cited by Bitcoin.com in a report referenced by TechFlow, say the freeze took place on Oct. 30, 2025, when 10 Ethereum addresses belonging to two Thai investors were blacklisted without prior notice or formal legal paperwork. The warrant authorizing seizure was not approved until Feb. 19, 2026, nearly four months later. The plaintiffs argue they were not involved in fraud and that the freeze stemmed from mistaken enforcement coordination connected to a $17 million pig-butchering investment scam investigation in North Carolina. They are seeking removal from Tether’s blacklist and compensation for losses. The case has renewed attention on how centralized stablecoins operate on public blockchains: while USDT circulates on networks such as Ethereum and Tron, its smart contracts include a blacklist function that allows Tether to block transfers from selected addresses. TechFlow also noted official data showing Tether has frozen more than $4.4 billion in USDT across over 2,300 cases to date.

The People's Bank of China's Payment and Settlement Department released the Q2 2025 payment system operation data. By the end of Q2, China had 15.238 billion bank accounts, 10.068 billion bank cards, and 775,700 ATMs. Non-cash payment transactions reached 149.789 billion, totaling 1365.36 trillion yuan. Bank-processed electronic payments included 18.217 billion online payments (707.85 trillion yuan) and 58.386 billion mobile payments (136.06 trillion yuan). Non-bank payment institutions handled 333.845 billion online payments worth 82.11 trillion yuan. The payment system processed 392.751 billion transactions totaling 3084.83 trillion yuan. Specific breakdowns include the PBOC clearing center (5.543 billion transactions, 2295.71 trillion yuan), UnionPay interbank system (97.641 billion, 66.71 trillion yuan), NetsUnion (283.18 billion, 145.58 trillion yuan), and CIPS (2.1212 million, 45.94 trillion yuan).

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) conducted a 50 billion yuan 7-day reverse repo operation on Sept. 1, with the operating rate set at 1.40%. The central bank used rate-based bidding for the operation, according to a Techub News report citing Crypto Briefing. Analysts said the steady policy rate reflects the central bank's confidence in current liquidity levels, and is aimed at balancing economic recovery with exchange-rate stability.

Bitcoin held near $78,000 during the Asian session on the last trading day of August even as macro pressure built, with oil prices rising on an escalation in the Iran situation and hawkish remarks from Waller reviving bets on a September rate hike. From its roughly $62,900 close at the end of July, BTC was still up more than 24%, but attention has shifted to the 50-week moving average near $81,000, a level that has historically marked either the end of a bear market or the point where rallies failed and rolled over. Traders cited $76,800 to $77,000 as key support, with downside targets around $75,500 and $74,300 if that band breaks. Resistance is clustered at $78,400, $79,400 to $80,800, while a move back above $82,000 to $83,000 is seen as necessary to reopen upside. Several market commentators flagged historical seasonality and technical signals as reasons for caution in September, while others argued Bitcoin may already be in a “soft bull market.” The report also tracked spot ETF inflows, token unlocks, U.S. equity moves, weakness in crypto-linked stocks and miners, and a packed macro and earnings calendar heading into early September.