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Topic: Seven Reasons Why Chinese Regulators Shut Down Bitcoin Exchanges (Read 340 times)

legendary
Activity: 3906
Merit: 6249
Decentralization Maximalist
Some of his points are debatable (at least from the point of view of an authoritarian state like the PRC), while others are nonsense for me. The OP has unfortunately only quoted the headlines, not the actual points which are actually more than seven, not four or six Wink

So let's go:

1) Bitcoin exchanges are not licensed: OK, a license requirement would happen to exchanges in most countries of the First World, too.
2) Here I quote a bit more, because I consider the argument a bit weak:

Quote
“The mechanism of limiting the amount of encrypted money by specific code is controversial,” Professor Yang claimed, citing how a “new encryption system may be invented, the existing algorithm can also be tampered with, the issuance of encrypted money may also increase.”
I think his main point is that there could be, at some point, more than 21 million Bitcoins created by miners. So he's ignoring the game theory considerations that practically avoid it - a crucial point in Bitcoin's concept.

3) Price volatility:
Quote
“because there are no economic fundamentals to assess the supply and demand of bitcoins and intrinsic value, the market speculative atmosphere results in sharp fluctuations in prices.”
Volatility is actually a problem, but in my opinion there are "fundamentals", and Bitcoin is not essentially different than, for example, stocks. The Bitcoin Ecosystem can be seen as a large "organization" containing all companies, organizations, groups and individuals that use Bitcoin. It's "intrinsic" value is not totally arbitrary like he claims, but can be tracked by observing indicators such as the transaction rate, the number of businesses related to Bitcoin, surveys about Bitcoin usage, etc. (although not in an "exact" way).

4)
Quote
cryptocurrencies are “not affected by the driving force of inflation and the exchange rate difference as well as other issues.”
That's the classic anti-deflation argument - debatable, but I don't share it.

5)
Quote
[Cryptocurrencies] can be used for money laundering and financial fraud, as well as to avoid foreign exchange controls
Again, a typical argument of an authoritarian state which wants to control everything what their (subservient) citizens do.

6)
Quote
some pyramid schemes and fraudulent activities leverage digital currencies.
Cryptocurrencies are not drastically better suited for pyramid schemes than cash, but they can grow more rapidly on a global or regional scale. Here he may be partially right - but I disagree that a prohibition is the way to go, education is.

7) Market manipulation:
Quote
Anyone investing tens of millions of dollars will be able to easily manipulate the price

True, but that has nothing to do with the nature of cryptocurrencies, but with the low liquidity on the markets. Better systems to track the Bitcoin ecosystem (businesses, users ...) could help.

8 ) Security risks: These are inherent to every form of "digitalized" money, even credit cards, not only to cryptocurrencies. Very weak argument.

9) Darknet markets: Again, understandable from a state that is a  "control freak", although Bitcoin transactions can be tracked relatively well (we have seen it many times when some markets were "closed" and their founders imprisioned).
full member
Activity: 924
Merit: 148

Money Laundering & Pyramid Schemes
Darknet Transactions
Lack of Licensing
Market Manipulation & Security Concerns


China probably have the strongest online censorship in the world. I don't think that money laundering  thru cryptocurrencies and darknet transactions are such big problems for them that they decided to shut down exchanges. But the last points seems more serious. China already invesed a lot into cryptocurrencies so now they the government just wants to controll those investments (as any other authoritarian country).
hero member
Activity: 490
Merit: 501

At present, China’s domestic virtual currency trading platforms lack the relevant legal license, which leads to the virtual currency trading platforms free from the existing regulatory system. In fact, there is a huge business risk.


Of course, this is correct and the big reason why they have this reasons is the fact that the government choose to ignore the cryptocurrency market because they are thinking that what they can not control should not be allowed to flourish in China. They can put up the needed regulations if they want but they choose the easier path which is banning ICOs and Bitcoin exchanges...something which many of their citizens have no choice but to follow as their government does not enjoy hearing dissenting opinions on the matter. There is no legal basis because they never provided one.

It is, of course, unfortunate that Bitcoin and cryptocurrency has no place in the government of China as they are control freak and generally don't believe in giving their citizens the freedom to choose. Anyway, I am sure that soon there will be a pressure for the government to open up the cryptocurrency market in exchange for strict regulations and procedures. The ban can just be temporary until they can come up with acceptable solutions on the many concerns expressed by the government in connection with this platform.

We have to remember that from now on...with or without China the Bitcoin journey can go on!
hero member
Activity: 1106
Merit: 638
Money Laundering & Pyramid Schemes
Darknet Transactions
Lack of Licensing
Market Manipulation & Security Concerns

Opinions please.

At present, the Yuan and Chinese financial markets are used for or allow:

  • Money Laundering & Pyramid Schemes
  • Darknet (i.e., black market) Transactions
  • Lack of Licensing
  • Market Manipulation & Security Concerns

If they don't plan to ban Chinese citizens from transacting in yuan in China, they're just typical Government hypocrites...and the exact reason why Bitcoin must exist.
sr. member
Activity: 309
Merit: 251
Make Love Not War

At present, China’s domestic virtual currency trading platforms lack the relevant legal license, which leads to the virtual currency trading platforms free from the existing regulatory system. In fact, there is a huge business risk.

Money Laundering & Pyramid Schemes
Darknet Transactions
Lack of Licensing
Market Manipulation & Security Concerns

Opinions please.

https://news.bitcoin.com/expert-reasons-chinese-regulators-shut-down-bitcoin-exchanges/

What cause all of this is their FEAR of bitcoin taking over their currency, as we all know China had a distinguishable share when it comes to the transaction on a daily basis. But what they didn't see is its all a chance to alleviate their  people's way of living. It's hard to be a country where your government wanted to control everything. Glad that I'm not in China, and hopefully our country won't stop us getting bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1007
Well, I can't control what they want to do, they should understand that a lot of what they aim to stop has likely nothing to do with preventing those activities and more than likely exploiting one portion of the whole to try and further a specific agenda. Regardless, they didn't have a massive impact on the western markets compared to what happened to the Chinese exchanges, and it is probably better that it stays that way. No-one likes a government that tries to oppress them a lot, unless, of course, they view the government as godly since birth.

Maybe money is leaving the country, still, but in greater quantities through other means?
member
Activity: 63
Merit: 10

At present, China’s domestic virtual currency trading platforms lack the relevant legal license, which leads to the virtual currency trading platforms free from the existing regulatory system. In fact, there is a huge business risk.

Money Laundering & Pyramid Schemes
Darknet Transactions
Lack of Licensing
Market Manipulation & Security Concerns

Opinions please.

https://news.bitcoin.com/expert-reasons-chinese-regulators-shut-down-bitcoin-exchanges/
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