The People's Bank of China has imposed a ban on all cryptocurrency-related transactions, according to its Sept. 24 statement.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether and other major coins are prohibited from circulating on the market.
All business activities related to digital currencies are now deemed illegal in China.
However, China did not go as far as prohibiting cryptocurrency ownership.
The PBOC claims that it will bolster the monitoring of risks related to cryptocurrency trading, highlighting that it is illegal for foreign exchanges to provide services to Chinese residents:
Overseas virtual currency exchanges providing services to Chinese residents through the Internet are also illegal financial activities.
Illegal cryptocurrency-related activities will be "severely punished."
Bloomberg's Francine Lacqua commented that China is likely attempting to stem capital outflows:
Is Beijing looking to stem capital outflows?
— Francine Lacqua (@flacqua) September 24, 2021
VanEck's director, Gabor Gurbacs, predicts that China's tough stance on crypto will make investors relocate "a lot of capital" from Asia to western countries.
China's central bank PBOC seems to suggest that Bitcoin and crypto transactions are illegal. Below are Google-translated snapshot from their blog today. I believe this will push a lot of capital from China/Asia to re-invest in the West. Source: https://t.co/4BUVJMmN9g pic.twitter.com/y5XwxlaJOy
— Gabor Gurbacs (@gaborgurbacs) September 24, 2021
China's state planner also ramped up its clampdown on cryptocurrency mining. It released a detailed plan on how to eradicate the industry in the country, requiring "proper disposal" of remaining mining farms.
This comes after virtually all major provinces imposed a paralyzing ban on Bitcoin mining in the summer, forcing local miners to move abroad.
Even though the crypto community tends to dismiss the "China FUD" as mundane and insignificant, the market is clearly not immune to the renewed crackdown.
The Bitcoin price has shed 5% in mere minutes, dropping to an intraday low of $42,977 on the Bitstamp exchange.
Earlier this week, the benchmark cryptocurrency slipped below the $40,000 mark after uncertainly around the fate of Chinese property developer Evergrande ensnared global financial markets.
Yuri Molchan
