People’s Republic of China has made earlier moves against Digital Currency but just officially banned cryptocurrency for the first time.
In 2017, China shut down its local cryptocurrency exchanges, smothering a speculative market that had accounted for 90% of global bitcoin trading.
In June 2019, the People’s Bank of China issued a statement saying it would block access to all domestic and foreign cryptocurrency exchanges and Initial Coin Offering websites.
It was just a pre-ban notice aiming to clamp down on all cryptocurrency trading with a ban on foreign exchanges.
The statement also highlighted the risks of cryptocurrency trading, saying virtual currencies “are not supported by real value”, their prices are easily manipulated, and trading contracts are not protected by Chinese law.
Only but yesterday, China has for the first time, officially banned financial institutions and payment companies from providing services related to cryptocurrency transactions, and warned investors against speculative crypto trading.
The institutions must not provide saving, trust or pledging services of cryptocurrency, nor issue financial product related to cryptocurrency
Under the ban, such institutions, including banks and online payments channels, must not offer clients any service involving cryptocurrency, such as registration, trading, clearing and settlement, three industry bodies said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
China banned crypto exchanges and initial coin offerings but has not barred individuals from holding cryptocurrencies.
This move is Beijing’s first official ban against digital currency.