Bitcoin Ownership Still Legal in China: No New Ban Confirmed
Viral posts circulating on social media and crypto news sites are once again claiming that China has banned Bitcoin ownership. However, these reports appear to recycle China’s 2021 crypto crackdown, with no evidence of any new regulations or official policy changes in 2025.
Chinese authorities have not issued any new announcements regarding crypto in recent months. Their stance—first outlined in 2021—remains unchanged: cryptocurrency trading and mining are prohibited, but private ownership of digital assets is not banned.
Some of the viral claims suggest that new restrictions began in June 2025, but no official documentation or confirmation supports this. Sources familiar with Chinese policy confirm that no new crypto laws have been introduced, and the circulating reports rely heavily on speculation rather than verified information.
In parallel, some reports note that China continues to develop a state-backed digital currency—a yuan-pegged stablecoin. This is consistent with the country’s long-term goal of asserting greater control over its financial system. A government-issued stablecoin would allow for tighter oversight and is fundamentally different from decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Despite the resurgence of these false reports, the crypto market has remained stable. Bitcoin continues to trade normally on international platforms, showing that investors and traders largely dismissed the rumors. The confusion likely stems from the tendency of past regulatory moves—like the 2021 ban—to resurface and be misinterpreted as new developments.
Some posts also alleged that Chinese officials held internal discussions about expanding the ban. However, such claims lack credibility and cannot be verified. Historically, China has communicated major policy changes through official state media and government publications—none of which have supported these latest claims.
The rapid spread of misinformation through social media and unverified crypto news outlets highlights the ongoing need for critical thinking and source verification in the digital asset space. Old news is often repackaged as breaking headlines, misleading readers and investors alike.
Meanwhile, China’s digital yuan continues to roll out through pilot programs, and the proposed yuan stablecoin fits within that controlled, state-supervised framework. For now, there is no indication of any shift in China’s crypto policy. Under the current rules, owning cryptocurrencies remains legal, even if trading and mining are not.