?>

Why is it a Bad Idea For China to Ban Operations of Other Crypto Assets

1.5 k views

Government and monetary bodies in China continue to oppose the existing cryptocurrencies in the market, dismissing them as any form of legal tender. The crypto restrictions came into the spotlight in 2013 when China’s Central Bank blocked financial institutions from conducting any Bitcoin transactions. 

Trading platforms, exchanges, and ICOs followed suit as China prohibited any conversion and fundraising activities in 2017. According to the Chinese regulators, ICOs and crypto transactions are closely related to frequent fraudulent activities. As a result, the country recently initiated a crackdown on Bitcoin mining operations in different provinces such as Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and many more.

Furthermore, major financial institutions are also barred from offering any crypto-related services such as settlement and account opening activities. At the same time, China’s stand on digital currencies remains firm as it prepares to launch its native CBDC known as the digital yuan. But where does the ban leave the existing crypto market, and why is it a bad idea?

Impact of Restricting Crypto Operations within China

In 2017, crypto exchanges within China were forced to relocate to other regions such as Hong Kong and South Korea after being issued with a deadline to cease operating. Currently, Bitcoin mining and other crypto-related transactions are coming to a halt, leading to several outcomes. Here’s an outlook:

  1. Following the restrictions on any crypto-related transactions in June 2021, the digital currency market experienced a sharp decline in the overall market value. As a result, Chinese residents have become skeptical of what the future holds for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, for instance, fell below the $30,000 mark for the first time since January 2021. Similarly, the reviewed crypto ban will make it difficult for Chinese residents to purchase any cryptocurrency at the moment. Hence, exchanges focused on China will also look for more mechanisms to cater to traders around the set regulations.
  2. It creates fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) to Chinese investors and crypto enthusiasts worldwide. Usually, the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies emerges from several factors which could lead to positive or negative price action. Prohibiting the operations of other crypto assets paves the way for panic, especially when misleading information surfaces all over the media, thus creating doubt amongst investors.
  3. The ban may limit financial freedom. Cryptocurrencies aim at giving users a new and advanced way of trading without any restrictions. Transactions running through the blockchain network eliminate the need for intermediaries, making digital currencies a convenient tool for local and cross-border transactions. Unlike traditional financial systems, which consume a considerable amount of time, crypto transactions take a shorter execution time ranging from seconds to minutes. Suppressing cryptocurrency operations denies Chinese residents of this financial freedom, increasing the number of unbanked people who lack access to financial services without digital currencies.
  4. China remains the primary epicenter of Bitcoin mining, accounting for 65% of the global hash power. A hash power represents a mining device’s ability to solve complex algorithms when verifying transactions on a blockchain network. Banning mining operations in China could have a positive and negative effect on the future of Bitcoin. As an advantage, it eliminates the possibility of 51% attacks prone to happen when mining farms reside within one area. On the flip side, it is a disadvantage for miners who earned a living by confirming transactions. The supply of bitcoins in the market will also be affected as miners look for convenient locations to operate their rigs.
  5. A significant amount of renewable energy, including hydroelectric or coal energies, is generated in China. Electricity consumption projects to increase when Bitcoin mining comes to a halt since enthusiasts may opt for expensive energy solutions which harm the ecosystem. Huobi exchange and BTC. TOP are examples of platforms that have shut down their operations in response to the regulations designed by regulators

Unleashing the Digital Yen

The recent block on any crypto assets within China’s economy comes when the country hopes to launch its CBDC dubbed as the digital yuan (e-CNY). Developed as a central bank digital currency, e-CNY will make its first appearance during the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. 

The CBDC has undergone numerous tests since 2014 across a variety of areas in China, intending to replace the existing cash in circulation. It will, therefore, feature exclusively during the Olympic competitions allowing athletes and visitors to use e-cny as a regular digital currency. 

Launching the digital yuan on such an event gives it an immense advantage to gain international recognition. E-cny runs on the Binance Smart Chain and has conducted several tests in conjunction with Alipay and WeChat Pay entities.

The Downsides of a CBDC

Compared to cryptocurrencies that employ anonymity, CBDCs such as the digital yuan will require users to undergo KYC/AML procedures when trying to transact. Thus, revealing users’ true identities makes them susceptible to impersonation cases. 

In addition, local commercial banks and other financial institutions may compete to provide customer deposit services which may surge if banks need to generate more money. In exchange, the amount of bank credit lowers, leading to a higher interest rate.

Conclusion 

Since 2013, China has been actively trying to discourage the presence of crypto assets within its boundaries. The recent ban may continue to trigger negative price actions on prominent cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and many more. 

Bitcoin coin symbol
Btc
Bitcoin
$62.547
price
red chart
decrease symbol0.84959%
price change
TRADE NOW

On the other hand, Chinese residents will bid farewell to any crypto-related trade or mining as it moves to launch e-cny. Nonetheless, global investors may outgrow the impacts China has left in the crypto market with time as enthusiasts look forward to more positive sentiments that will restore cryptocurrencies to their bullish values.

Previous

Top 5 Countries by Levels of Crypto and Blockchain Literacy

Next

DOGE Co-creator Palmer Criticizes Crypto as ETH Co-founder Reveals Crypto Exit

Written by

561 posts

A part-time trader with a fine eye for detail. Over the years, I have developed an intriguing interest in blockchain technology and enjoy writing about cryptocurrencies.

VIEW AUTHOR

More author posts

How SolidProof Ensures Transparency and Security through Audit and KYC Systems

Solidproof is among the most trusted blockchain security and smart contract auditing companies in the crypto market today. The Germany-based company aims to fix the security and transparency issues smothering the crypto space. But, unfortunately, as the industry attains more progress, so do the opportunities for bad actors to victimize honest investors. According to a yearly report on crypto crimes by Chainalysis, $14 billion of all transactions in crypto in 2021 were associated with scams or money laundering. These figures…

The Importance of Backtesting Crypto Investment Strategies

Crypto backtesting involves running and applying a specific trading strategy to historical market data to evaluate how it would have performed. The analytical method delivers a clear overview of qualified strategies that can be applied in a real-world environment using real capital. The mathematical simulation provided by crypto backtesting is an essential component that traders use to analyze past market data and ultimately develop an effective trading system. The process can empower investors to pick out a crypto strategy that…

aelf Announces Its First Metaverse-Themed Hackathon with Money Prizes

aelf network has announced its metaverse-themed Hackathon, “Top of OASIS,” which will take place on December 12, 2021. The platform encourages all potential participants to advance their project proposals by February 9, 2022. Additionally, aelf will offer full support to all the projects participating in the Hackathon. Developers can register their blockchain projects, including DeFi and GameFi proposals, and compete for spots in aelf's prizes pool. Top of Oasis Hackathon Main Dates Top of OASIS is aelf’s first metaverse-themed blockchain…

Institutional Investors who have Expanded their Portfolio in 2021

Cryptocurrency and blockchain investments from the first nine months of 2021 have surpassed last year's total. In the first half of 2021, the worldwide crypto and blockchain activity was $8.7 million, more than double last year's figures. It is a significant sign that institutional money is streaming into crypto. Furthermore, it increases the investor base, and thus the institutional awareness and knowledge of this sector are also surging. The "institutional adoption" of crypto is already underway. Today we focus on…

Understanding Cardano, IOHK, and EMURGO

Cardano is the first decentralized public blockchain platform developed on a research-first-driven approach. Charles Hoskinson, the co-founder of Ethereum, created it in 2015 and later launched it in 2017. It comprises a development team of global researchers and engineers. This platform's development continued thanks to academics, computer scientists, and their peer-reviewed papers. The Cardano ecosystem involves three founding entities that work together. These partners are EMURGO, IOHK Company, and The Cardano Foundation. Cardano in a Nutshell Cardano is a public…

Billionaires Who Have Publicly Showed Interest in Cryptocurrencies

The cryptocurrency boom of 2017 saw a rise in their acceptance from prominent economic figures. Since then, their volatility has continued significant investments in them. Today there's a push for their global mass adoption. Industry-leading lights and renowned celebrities have expressed their support for the assets. Nothing best captures this reality than Forbes's recent list of the world's wealthiest people. It indicates a growth in the number of crypto billionaires over time. From an asset that courted controversy and skepticism,…

Publish your own article

Guest post article. Guaranteed publishing with just a few clicks

START PUBLISHING ADVERTISE WITH US

Browse categories

Explore trending topics in the crypto community right now.

Bitcoin

SEC Greenlights Multiple Bitcoin ETFs, Signaling Major Leap for Cryptocurrency Markets

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has made a landmark decision by approving 11 spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This move represents a significant moment in the cryptocurrency industry, marking a shift towards greater institutional adoption and accessibility for investors. The approved ETFs include products from major firms such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF, Bitwise Bitcoin ETP Trust, WisdomTree Bitcoin Fund, Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Trust, VanEck Bitcoin Trust, Invesco Galaxy Bitcoin…

Bitcoin Should be Banned in the United States: Charlie Munger

Berkshire Hathaway’s vice chairman, Charlie Munger, called for a ban on cryptocurrency in the United States on Monday, similar to the one in China.  In an op-ed published with the Wall Street Journal, Munger argued that Bitcoin isn’t a currency, commodity, or security, but simply a form of gambling “ with a nearly 100% edge for the house. As such, the enactment of a federal law should ban such things from happening. Munger cited the Chinese communist party’s ban on…

Tesla’s BTC Positions Remained Unchanged in Q4 of 2022

According to a new earning report from automotive manufacturer Tesla, the company did not sell any of its BTC holdings in the fourth quarter of 2022. Amid speculations that the company had traded BTC during the testing bears, CEO Elon Musk revealed it was yet holding on to its BTC stash. Tesla Maintains Holdings After Initial Sell-Off In Q2 of 2022, Tesla opted to sell 75% of all its BTC. The car manufacturer received close to $950M in exchange. Notably,…

Here’s When Grayscale Debates the SEC in Court on its Bitcoin Spot ETF

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has marked a date for when Grayscale and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may present oral arguments regarding the approval of a Bitcoin spot ETF.  Each side will present its case at 9:30 am ET on March 7, with the SEC arguing against the product, and Grayscale arguing in favor.  Grayscale VS SEC The court date – revealed in a court order filed on Monday according to CNBC – is much earlier…

MORE ARTICLES

Ethereum

Ethereum’s Zhejiang Staking Withdrawal Testnet for Shanghai is Live

At 15:00 UTC on Wednesday, the much-anticipated Zhejiang testnet for staking withdrawal went live on Ethereum’s Beacon chain. Zhejiang will enable the testing of the Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4895 which allows for staking withdrawals. This is in preparation for the network’s next major update, the Shanghai hard fork slated to launch sometime in March. Users Can Make Simulated Withdrawals with Zhejiang In a tweet yesterday, DevOps engineer at Ethereum foundation Barnabas Busa gave details about the Zhejiang testnet slated…

Ethereum Devs Disagree Over Technical Tweak as Shanghai Upgrade Nears

Post-merge Ethereum users have been eagerly awaiting the commencement of the network’s next major upgrade, Shanghai. However, after over 3 months of prep time, it appears the Shanghai rollout isn’t going as smoothly as expected. What Exactly is the Shanghai Upgrade? In September last year, the much-publicized Ethereum Merge also known as the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade went live. Ethereum underwent some significant changes as its consensus mechanism transitioned from proof-of-work to a cost-efficient proof-of-stake system.  However, since the Beacon launch…

FTX Hacker Converts 50k Stolen ETH to BTC

Per a report from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, the attacker behind the Nov 11 FTX exploit, is converting the stolen ETH to Bitcoin. There were muted fears the seemingly inexperienced perpetrator could dump all its ETH holdings. On Sunday, the attacker dumped 50k ETH on-chain, with ETH's price dipping by almost 7%.  https://twitter.com/chainalysis/status/1594349583416840199?s=20&t=pgvQHeVytI20eKQ1ls9bxw Hacker Moves 50,000 ETH to New Address Over the past week, the perpetrator had been steadily swapping the cryptocurrencies they had carted off for Ether tokens. This…

Censorship Concerns: 51% of Ethereum Blocks Now OFAC Compliant

According to new data, over half of the blocks on the Ethereum network now reportedly comply with the US Treasury OFAC’s standards. This comes roughly a month after the platform’s monumental merge update. Phasing Out Tornado Cash The Office of Foreign Assets Control is the intelligence and enforcement agency of the US  Treasury Department. Indeed, the OFAC administers and enforces US  financial sanctions. A prime example of this is the recent, highly-publicized ban on crypto mixer Tornado Cash.  According to…

MORE ARTICLES

Trading

How to Leverage Arbitrage Opportunities in Crypto Markets

Cryptocurrency arbitrage has become an increasingly popular investment strategy as the crypto market grows and evolves. Arbitrage involves taking advantage of pricing discrepancies between markets or exchanges to profit.  Investors can leverage profit opportunities by understanding cryptocurrency arbitrage while managing associated risks. In this guide, we'll explore cryptocurrency arbitrage and how it works. A Bitcoin-related example will help us illustrate the concepts of this strategy. What is Arbitrage and How Does it Work in Crypto Markets Crypto arbitrage trading is…

The Different Types of Copy Trading in Crypto

Are you interested in trading cryptocurrencies but feel intimidated by the complexity of the process? Copy trading is a great way to get into crypto without needing to be an experienced trader. With copy trading, investors can benefit from the experience and knowledge of more experienced traders, allowing even beginners to succeed. How does copy trading work, and which tips do you need to know to succeed? In this article, we'll explore all aspects of copy trading in crypto. What…

How to Spot an Unsafe Crypto Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchanges have become increasingly popular as they provide a platform for people to buy and sell digital assets. Unfortunately, not all crypto exchanges are safe or reliable.  With the rise of cybercrime and fraud, you must learn to spot an unsafe crypto exchange before investing your money. This guide will help beginners identify and avoid potential risks when selecting a cryptocurrency exchange.  The Role of Crypto Exchanges on the Digital Assets Market Cryptocurrency exchanges play a crucial role in…

What Is Grid Trading in Crypto?

Crypto grid trading has become a popular strategy because of its ability to help traders capitalize on market volatility. Grid trading means you can produce consistent profits by taking advantage of price differences in different markets or time frames. By establishing buy and sell orders at predetermined intervals, you can take advantage of these fluctuations in an automated way. This guide will explore the different aspects of grid trading and provide an overview of its benefits, challenges, and more. Through…

MORE ARTICLES

Tech

Introducing una Messenger: A Paradigm Shift in Blockchain Connectivity

The digital landscape is set for an unprecedented transformation with the introduction of una Messenger, the latest innovation from web3 development powerhouse Wemade. This platform represents an evolution of the "PAPYRUS Messenger," serving as the cornerstone of the ambitious "unagi" initiative, aimed at catalyzing the mass adoption of blockchain technology. The "Unbound Networking & Accelerating Growth Initiative" seeks to bridge the divides between diverse blockchain services and networks, heralding a new era of interconnectedness. A New Frontier in Blockchain Communication…

Bit2Me Champions WEMIX Token in Pioneering European Listing

Bit2Me, Spain's premier virtual asset exchange, has recently broadened the horizons for cryptocurrency enthusiasts by listing WEMIX, the cornerstone token of the WEMIX3.0 blockchain ecosystem. This marks a notable achievement as WEMIX's inaugural venture into the European market, emphasizing the token's role in facilitating a range of blockchain-based activities, from gaming transactions to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Launched with the intention to democratize access to WEMIX for the 450 million Spanish speakers around the globe, this strategic move aligns with…

CryptoVirally Expands with Fresh Crypto Marketing Offers and Cointelegraph Upgrades

In an exciting update for the cryptocurrency marketing landscape, CryptoVirally has announced a series of new entries and enhancements to its already comprehensive range of services. These updates, aimed at providing tailored marketing solutions for crypto projects, include new limited-time offers and expanded options for Cointelegraph publications. Limited Offers: A Game-Changer in Crypto Marketing  CryptoVirally's limited offers section presents an enticing opportunity for crypto projects to leverage high-impact marketing services at discounted rates. These offers, available for a limited period,…

Breaking Boundaries in Blockchain: WEMIX’s ‘una Wallet’ Sets New Standard for Multi-Chain Asset Management

The WEMIX Foundation has unveiled 'una Wallet,' a revolutionary digital wallet designed to offer unparalleled convenience and security in managing digital assets across various blockchain networks. The announcement, made on January 17, 2024, signifies a new era in the seamless integration of multiple blockchain protocols, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, Kroma, Optimism, Polygon, and WEMIX3.0. 'una Wallet' is more than just a digital wallet; it represents the culmination of WEMIX's innovative efforts in the blockchain space. It serves…

MORE ARTICLES