In recent years, China’s currency has been gaining greater prominence in the international financial markets. As the world’s second-largest economy, the internationalization of the Chinese currency is advancing at a remarkable pace. According to SWIFT data from February 2025, the Renminbi has become the world’s fourth most-used payment currency, accounting for approximately 4.33% of global transactions. Driven by the Belt and Road Initiative, the proportion of trade settlements in Renminbi between China and emerging markets continues to rise.
For investors, fluctuations in the Chinese currency not only impact the profits of export-oriented companies but also present diverse opportunities for forex speculation and hedging.
“Chinese currency” primarily refers to the Renminbi (RMB, currency code: CNY), the legal tender issued by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). It is important to note that the Renminbi is divided into onshore RMB (CNY) and offshore RMB (CNH). While both represent the same currency, differences in market mechanisms lead to slight variations in their exchange rates.
Comparison Item | CNY | CNH |
Trading Hours | 9:30-23:30 | 24 hours |
Liquidity Sources | Domestic Banks | International Institutions |
Average Volatility in 2024 | 0.8% | 1.2% |
China’s exchange rate regime is a managed floating exchange rate system. The PBOC sets a daily central parity rate, allowing the exchange rate to fluctuate within a ±2% band. This approach offers a balance between stability and allowing market forces to play a role in pricing.
As 2025 unfolds, China’s monetary policy has become increasingly flexible and strategic. Since late 2024, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has conducted multiple operations using the Medium-Term Lending Facility (MLF) and implemented targeted reserve requirement ratio (RRR) cuts to stabilize market liquidity. These actions aim to stimulate domestic demand and support the struggling real estate and export sectors.
As of Q1 2025, China’s digital currency—the digital yuan (CBDC)—has been piloted in over 30 cities across Mainland China and extended to Hong Kong, Macau, and selected cross-border trade platforms. This new form of Chinese currency may become a key driver of the Renminbi’s internationalization in the future.
In 2025, the Federal Reserve continues to maintain high interest rates to combat inflation, while China leans toward an accommodative monetary stance. This divergence has led to a prolonged inversion in the US-China interest rate spread, exerting downward pressure on the RMB. By March 2025, the RMB/USD exchange rate had once again approached 7.30.
China’s foreign exchange reserves remained steady at USD 3.15 trillion at the beginning of 2025. While the PBOC retains the capability to stabilize the exchange rate, it is unlikely to intervene without limit. According to Bloomberg reports, Chinese authorities may treat the 7.35 level as a key exchange rate defense line, using counter-cyclical factors as a signaling mechanism to the market.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the RMB has undergone significant two-way volatility. In 2022, due to successive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, the RMB weakened beyond 7.30 against the US dollar. In 2023, as China’s economy gradually recovered, the currency saw a short-term rebound. However, in 2024, global demand weakened and US-China trade tensions resurfaced, causing the RMB to depreciate again, fluctuating within a range of 6.85 to 7.40 throughout the year.
▲USD/RMB Historical Trend
Over the past decade, the Chinese currency has shown a “policy-driven + market-reactive” pattern of volatility. For instance:
Currently, the monthly chart of the RMB shows Fibonacci retracement support near 7.35. If this level is breached, the next upside target is 7.50. However, if the PBOC steps in with strong intervention, a pullback toward the 6.85 resistance level may occur.
Support factors:
Pressure factors:
According to technical indicators:
Traders are advised to closely monitor the USD/RMB daily chart and align entries with key economic data release timings.
As a key indicator of China’s currency performance, RMB fluctuations have a significant ripple effect on the global forex market, particularly among Asia-Pacific currencies. Below are some common strategies and suggestions:
As a professional forex broker, Ultima Markets (UM) offers a comprehensive solution for trading the Chinese currency, helping investors capture profit opportunities amid volatility.
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Q1: Can Taiwanese citizens open a CNH account?
Yes, they can open an offshore account via a Hong Kong bank or trade CNH directly through the UM platform.
Q2: Should I buy or sell RMB when it depreciates?
It depends on the context. If a policy reversal is anticipated, buying at a low could be a strategic opportunity.
Q3: Do China’s foreign exchange controls affect forex trading?
Controls mainly target capital account flows and have limited impact on CNH trading through platforms.
Q4: How much capital is needed to trade RMB on Ultima Markets?
The minimum trade size is just 0.01 lots. Beginners can also practice risk-free with a demo account.
As the global financial landscape becomes increasingly complex in 2025, China’s currency reflects more than domestic economics—it plays a growing role in international capital markets. RMB trends will continue to be shaped by global policy shifts, Fed interest rates, and Chinese economic indicators.
Investors who can accurately track RMB developments—paired with a reliable platform like Ultima Markets—will not only hedge effectively but also seize profit opportunities across short, medium, and long-term horizons. Master the RMB, and you master a key to the future of global investing.