The Chinese government, through its state-sponsored media agency, Economic Daily, has once again cautioned against investing in cryptocurrencies despite the current bullish market conditions. This warning comes despite China’s purported ban on crypto trading and mining implemented in 2021.
Despite the ban, China continues to be one of the largest digital asset markets globally. This raises questions about the actual status of cryptocurrency in China and whether it is genuinely banned.
Chinese State Media Issues Caution Amid Bitcoin Surge
Coinciding with the remarkable surge in Bitcoin’s price, Chinese state media has issued a cautionary advisory to cryptocurrency investors, urging them to exercise caution. Despite the Chinese government’s sweeping bans on various crypto-related activities in 2021, which effectively made cryptocurrency illegal in the country, possession and peer-to-peer trading of digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum were not explicitly banned, allowing crypto activity to persist.
With BTC above $52K, I am increasingly concerned that Beijing’s 2021 decision to ban crypto mining may go down in history as one of the biggest failures of industrial policy. Especially if the US policy unorthodoxy and weakening Fed independence one day de-anchors the dollar. pic.twitter.com/7e36sS8p5C
— Shanghai Macro Strategist (@ShanghaiMacro) February 15, 2024
The advisory highlights the risks associated with the volatile nature of cryptocurrency prices, macroeconomic uncertainty, unclear regulations, and other factors such as hacks and cybersecurity breaches. Given these ongoing concerns, investors are advised to maintain a clear-headed approach when dealing with cryptocurrencies.
Concerns Over Bitcoin ETF Approval in the US
The approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States has raised concerns about the potential accessibility of this new publicly traded product to residents in mainland China. Xiao Sa, a partner at Beijing Dacheng Law Firm and a director of the Bank of China Law Research Association, seeks to address these concerns by emphasizing that the approval of Bitcoin ETFs does not guarantee significant progress for cryptocurrencies in the short term.
Sa points out that China effectively banned all cryptocurrency activity in 2021, prohibiting the sale of such products to Chinese residents. Despite this regulatory stance, cryptocurrency activity remains significant in China, raising questions about the underlying motivations behind the recent advisory.
Changes in China’s Crypto Scene
Before the ban on cryptocurrency activities, China stood out as one of the most active crypto markets globally and dominated Bitcoin mining efforts by a considerable margin. However, China’s ban on crypto hasn’t seemed to have its intended effect, or it’s undergoing a transformation.
A significant portion of China’s crypto trading activity now occurs through over-the-counter (OTC) trading desks or “grey market peer-to-peer businesses,” as noted by Chainalysis. The substantial volumes transacted in OTC markets, facilitated largely by Hong Kong OTC trading desks, serve both retail and institutional traders.
Reports indicate that between July 2022 and June 2023, the Chinese crypto market witnessed an estimated $86.4 billion in raw transaction volumes, surpassing Hong Kong by over $20 billion.
Hong Kong’s distinct economic status, separate from mainland China, allows high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors to engage with cryptocurrencies freely. Surprisingly, even Chinese state-owned businesses can launch crypto-focused investment funds in Hong Kong, further blurring the regulatory lines.
China’s Confusing Crypto Situation
Navigating China’s stance on cryptocurrency proves to be a challenging task. Despite the public stance against cryptocurrencies, recent developments suggest that crypto is thriving in China, with Binance’s continued operations adding complexity to the situation.
For example, Binance claims to not operate in mainland China, but users can still create accounts if their location is set to the island of Taiwan.
According to data from research firm Chainalysis on the cryptocurrency popularity index in 20 major countries, China took the 11th…
— Marleigh. J (@milkdolls) March 3, 2024
Data reveals that within a single month, users in China transacted a staggering $90 billion worth of crypto, underscoring China’s significance as one of Binance’s largest markets. Additionally, reports suggest that Binance collaborates with Chinese law enforcement agencies.
Despite the regulatory measures imposed in 2021, it’s evident that cryptocurrencies and related activities persist in China. The ongoing operations of major crypto exchanges like Binance imply that the Chinese government either lacks the capacity to outright ban crypto or may have other motivations behind its regulatory actions.
Important: Please note that this article is only meant to provide information and should not be taken as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other type of advice.
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