Local governments in China are exploring methods to liquidate seized crypto, navigating a authorized grey space created by the nation’s strict ban on crypto buying and selling and exchanges.
In line with an April 16 report by Reuters, the absence of clear laws on dealing with confiscated digital belongings has led to inconsistent practices and raised issues over transparency and corruption.
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Chinese Authorities Use Non-public Companies to Promote Seized Crypto Offshore
Citing court docket and transaction data, Reuters revealed that some native authorities have turned to non-public corporations to promote seized crypto holdings in offshore markets. They then convert them into money to bolster public funds.
These efforts have reportedly generated important earnings. By the tip of 2023, native governments collectively held round 15,000 Bitcoin (BTC), value roughly $1.4 billion.
China is at the moment estimated to carry about 194,000 BTC valued at $16 billion. This makes it the world’s second-largest nationwide Bitcoin holder, trailing solely the USA, in response to Bitbo knowledge.
Chen Shi, a professor at Zhongnan College of Economics and Legislation, informed Reuters that the present method is a “makeshift solution” and never absolutely in compliance with China’s blanket crypto ban.
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The problem is additional difficult by an increase in crypto-related crimes throughout the nation, together with fraud, unlawful playing, and cash laundering. In 2024 alone, greater than 3,000 people have been prosecuted for crypto-related cash laundering actions.
Authorized specialists and trade insiders have proposed different methods for managing the belongings. Shenzhen-based lawyer Guo Zhihao urged that the Individuals’s Banokay of China take over duty for seized crypto and take into account promoting it overseas or changing it right into a nationwide reserve.
Ru Haiyang, co-CEO of Hong Kong-based alternate HashKey, supported the concept, noting that China may comply with the US instance of utilizing forfeited Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
Some have additionally floated the concept of establishing a sovereign crypto fund in Hong Kong, the place crypto buying and selling is legally permitted. The controversy comes as US–China tensions rise and Donald Trump strikes to tighten oversight of stablecoins whereas encouraging crypto innovation.
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Chinese Residents Use Offshore Exchanges to Commerce Crypto
Regardless of a nationwide ban on crypto buying and selling and mining lately, many Chinese residents proceed to entry digital currencies by way of offshore exchanges, peer-to-peer platforms, and VPNs. These workarounds have made enforcement extra advanced.
As tensions develop over how seized cryptocurrencies needs to be dealt with, discussions amongst policymakers intensify. Authorized specialists recommend that the dearth of clear nationwide pointers has led to inconsistent practices and elevated the danger of mismanagement or corruption.
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Key Takeaways
- Chinese native governments are utilizing personal corporations to promote seized crypto offshore, elevating issues about transparency and authorized consistency.
- China holds an estimated 194,000 BTC, however lacks clear nationwide pointers on managing confiscated digital belongings.
- Authorized specialists are calling for centralized oversight or a sovereign crypto fund as crypto-related crime and enforcement challenges rise.
The publish Chinese Local Governments Consider Selling Seized Crypto Amid Trading Ban appeared first on 99Bitcoins.