Economy

China arrests 1,100 in cryptocurrency money laundering bust

Published

2 days ago

Friday, June 11, 2021

Neill Fronde

PHOTO: China cracks down on cryptocurrency after a bust of 1,100 money launderers. (via PxHere)

In what will only fuel perception in China that cryptocurrency is nothing more than a money laundering tool, security officials have arrested 1,100 people accused of using criminal profits to buy crypto. Chinese officials have been cracking down on cryptocurrency trade, which is banned in the country.

The Ministry of Public Security in China says that Chinese police reportedly caught a huge network of criminals laundering ill-gotten money by purchasing cryptocurrency. Criminals allegedly use cryptocurrency exchanges to convert cash to “cleaner” virtual currencies that can be moved digitally.

Cyptocurrency can serve this washing function, making it an aid for illegal activities and furthering government’s fears of the dangers of crypto. Launderers are charging commissions to take dirty money from clients and transfer the assets into cryptocurrencies authorities say.

While China banned the purchase and trade of any cryptocurrency in 2019, it is the world’s hub of crypto mining, powering about 80% of bitcoin mining and global crypto trade. The government is cracking down now on mining operations as well. All crypto mining was shut down in the Inner Mongolia region since April after failing to meet annual energy consumption targets.

That’s no small ding on global cryptocurrency trade though, as Inner Mongolia provided more computing power than the whole of the US, a full 8% of the global blockchain power.

On Wednesday another ban on cryptocurrency mining in China was announced, this time for the northwest province of Qinghai. There isn’t data yet though on how big the mining operations are in that area.

China is struggling to throttle the growing cryptocurrency market as part of its overall crackdown on the fintech sector which has wreaked havoc on global cryptocurrency markets. Large fintech companies have had huge penalties levied against them for monopoly practices. After Chinese officials warned investors to avoid speculative trading in crypto, bitcoin prices fell last month to almost half of their peak.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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News Categories: Economy World

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7 Comments

Toby Andrews

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:16 pm

I cannot see how they can ban cripto currency effectively. They would have to ban the internet, and that is impossible because governments, and banks need the internet.
computers can be set up all over the world to trade cripto currencies. China would have to invade everywhere to stop them . . .

Reply
satoshi is a god

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 1:12 pm

Roadways are nothing more than drug transport paths.

Reply
pasi

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 1:50 pm

So why not arrest the criminals when they had money in the pockets, why wait until they exchange for crypto, could it be that they can not trace fiat money!

Reply
Slugger

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 2:19 pm

You have to realise how China runs their internet. I understand that might be a stretch……….

Reply
Dreqo

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 2:29 pm

Best of luck to them with that, they’re just going to increase its value by making it harder to mine. But me thinks, they know that.

Reply
ynwaps

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 4:51 pm

busting people successfully yet trying to suggest the government wanting to ban crypto for said reason hahahaha

Reply
EdwardV

Friday, June 11, 2021 at 5:22 pm

China still has about $2-3T USD in capital flight each year. It’s a huge problem for the CCP and they are desperate to shut it off. Says volumes if you really think about it and none of it good.

Reply

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Neill Fronde

Neill is a journalist from the United States with 10 years broadcasting experience and national news and magazine publications. He graduated with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of California and has been living in Thailand since 2014.