Twenty-six financial institutions signed Cross-border e-CNY Transfer Services direct participant agreements with e-CNY Center International Co in Shanghai on Tuesday, becoming the first group to gain access to CBETS, a cross-border blockchain-based infrastructure service platform designed to support the international use of the digital yuan.

Beijing is expanding its digital-yuan network for cross-border use, the latest step in moving the e-CNY beyond domestic retail.

The agreement will allow participants to join the Cross-border e-CNY Transfer Services, or CBETS, an integrated cross-border settlement platform that supports round-the-clock…