China's State Airline Just Quietly Tested XRP Overseas—Here's What It Means

Wait, XRP payments in China? Not quite. But here’s what actually happened: Air China’s loyalty program partner Wetour just announced XRP as a payment option—but only for overseas customers.

The catch? Mainland China has a blanket ban on crypto, so this only works abroad. We’re talking about Air China’s 60 million PhoenixMiles members who are traveling or living outside China. They can now pay XRP for airport transfers and private car rentals through Wetour.

Why this matters:

On the surface, it looks like a simple payment integration. But there’s more to it. Air China is owned by China National Aviation Holdings (CNAHC), a central government entity. State-owned companies don’t typically move on crypto without strategic intent.

Some analysts see this as Beijing’s way of testing blockchain tech on the global stage. By running digital asset experiments through overseas subsidiaries, Chinese state companies can:

• Gather real-world data on crypto payment systems
• Stay competitive with international fintech players
• Keep domestic regulations intact (no crypto at home)
• Explore tech without official endorsement

The irony? China pushes its digital yuan (e-CNY) domestically but lets state firms experiment with foreign assets globally. It’s a calculated hedge.

The bigger picture: This isn’t about crypto adoption in China—it’s about state enterprises learning how blockchain works in practice, one transaction at a time.