Transactions of China's digital fiat currency, the e-CNY, hit 83 billion yuan (about $12.33 billion) by the end of May this year, the country's central bank said on July 13.

A total of 264 million digital yuan transactions were undertaken during the period, Zou Lan, an official from the People's Bank of China, said at a press conference.

By May 31, nearly 4.57 million commercial outlets were available for digital yuan payments, Zou said.

Zou said that the central bank will further expand the scope of its pilot programs, strengthen pilot scenario construction, and enhance international cooperation.