How Fintech is Transforming the 2,000-Year Red Packet Tradition
Financial technology is not only transforming how business is done within the industry but even culture itself, including the 2,000-year tradition of passing out red packets during the Lunar New Year.
The first red packet recorded in history dates back to the Han Dynasty (~200 BC-220 AD) and originally involved a special coin inscribed with auspicious words to ward off evil spirits. More than 2,000 years later, not only has the function changed to passing out money to loved ones but also the form, from physical to digital.
Today, an increasing number of red packets are being shared via online solutions at banks.
OCBC: Soaring Usage, Including With Elders
The shift toward electronic red packets – also known as ang baos in Singapore – has been gaining momentum following the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw strict lockdowns limiting people’s ability to travel and connect with one another.
At OCBC, the number of customers sending e-red packets surged fivefold between 2022 and 2025. And this is not limited to young, digital-savvy users. Last year, seniors aged above 64 saw a 40 percent increase in usage, with nearly eight in 10 being first-time senders.
«It is heartening to see how digital technology enables traditions to flourish across generations,» said Ng Lee Peng, OCBC’s head of digital business Singapore. «e-Ang Baos enable seniors to send blessings of luck and good fortune to their relatives in a way that preserves the meaning of the custom, while remaining convenient and sustainable.»
HSBC: Digital Gold Too
The choice of contents within digital red packets is not limited to cash. HSBC, for example, added a new transfer feature earlier this month that allows users to gift tokenized gold, which represents fractional ownership of physical gold stored in a secure vault.
The British lender’s Hong Kong retail-focused gold token first launched in 2024 and has since seen more than $1 billion in total trading volume.
Beware of Fraudulent E-Lai Sees
As with the adoption of any new approaches, there are associated risks.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has launched an anti-fraud public education campaign this year to warn the public about Lunar New Year scams.
«Lately, there have been fraudsters distributing fraudulent Chinese New Year stickers or electronic lai-see with phishing QR codes or hyperlinks via instant messaging software, tricking users into receiving lai-see or greeting cards, and attempting to steal personal information or money,» HKMA said in a statement. «Members of the public should stay highly vigilant during the festive season.»
