Stablecoins, RWAs, and digital assets: This is what law students will learn at this Chinese school.

This is the innovative law class that takes Chinese students directly into the world of crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized assets.

Renmin University's School of Law, renowned for its influence in elite legal education in China, has taken an unexpected step: including digital assets in its new advanced training program. This news stands out given that this is a country where cryptocurrencies have faced severe restrictions for years. 

According to local media, the course, aimed at lawyers, corporate advisors and academics, proposes a technical and strategic immersion in digital assets, demonstrating that a legal understanding of these instruments is essential, even in restrictive regulatory contexts.

A legal curriculum that incorporates digital assets

The new Advanced Training Program on Cutting-Edge Legal Practice, announced by Renmin University, will run from August 29 and 31, 2025. Its objective is to train professionals capable of interpreting, applying, and eventually designing regulatory frameworks for digital assets, in an environment where legislation is evolving rapidly. The course content ranges from the elimination of virtual currencies to the legal analysis of stablecoins and real-world assets (RWA), integrating aspects such as Legal attributes, compliance procedures, taxation and institutional investment opportunities.

The inclusion of these topics in the legal curriculum responds to a specific need: to prepare lawyers who understand the technical and regulatory implications of instruments that, although restricted in the Chinese market, continue to pose both challenges and opportunities. The program's approach is not limited to theory but proposes a practical approach, with case studies and legal simulations that allow participants to explore real-life regulatory application scenarios.

In addition, the course contemplates the analysis of the tokenization of physical assets, such as real estate or traditional financial instruments, and their integration into blockchain infrastructures. This technical dimension is complemented by discussions on governance, traceability, and auditing, key elements for understanding how RWAs can be regulated without compromising legal certainty. 

Overall, the program represents a commitment to specialized training capable of anticipating the legal challenges and opportunities posed by asset digitization.

Stablecoins and RWAs: Hybrid Instruments on China's Legal Radar

The inclusion of stablecoins and RWAs in the Renminbi program is not anecdotal. In the global financial context, these instruments have gained relevance as vehicles for liquidity, operational efficiency, and connection between the physical and digital worlds. Stablecoins, for example, are analyzed in the course as hybrid assets that combine characteristics of fiat currencies with functionalities typical of cryptoassets. Their legal study considers aspects such as issuance, custody, interoperability and regulatory compliance, with special emphasis on how these elements adapt to restrictive regulatory frameworks.

RWAs, on the other hand, are addressed as an emerging category that enables the tokenization of tangible assets, from real estate to corporate bonds. The course explores how Tokenization can facilitate traceability, reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency in auditing and supervision processes.At the legal level, the challenges of their classification, the protection of property rights, and compatibility with traditional legal systems are analyzed.

The decision to include these topics in China's legal curriculum reflects an institutional evolution: although cryptocurrency trading is prohibited, the need to understand its legal implications persists. 

Therefore, rather than ignoring the phenomenon, Renmin University proposes to approach it from a technical and strategic perspective, training professionals capable of operating in regulated environments, yet connected to global dynamics. This approach does not imply regulatory relaxation, but rather structural preparation for scenarios where digital assets, although restricted, remain relevant.

An institutional signal amid restrictions on the crypto industry

Since 2021, China has maintained a firm stance against cryptocurrencies, prohibiting its trade, mining and promotion. However, the publication from the official brochure of the Renmin University program suggests an academic openness that transcends immediate politics. 

The Faculty of Law, historically linked to the training of jurists who hold key positions in the state apparatus, assumes a strategic role: training experts capable of interpreting and applying the law in scenarios where digital assets, although regulated, generate fiscal, commercial, and governance implications.

This move coincides with China's plans, Evaluate the authorization of yuan-backed stablecoins to modernize its financial system and promote the internationalization of its national currency, competing more directly with the US dollar. As reported According to Bit2Me News, the Council of State has scheduled a review of a crucial roadmap this month that could lay the regulatory groundwork for this new digital era.

In short, both initiatives reflect a more nuanced approach, with the Chinese government recognizing that ignoring digital assets is not viable in an increasingly globalized and interconnected economy.