China central bank says will issue a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency mining

Cryptocurrency (Representative image: Reuters)

China intensified a crackdown on cryptocurrency trading on Friday, vowing to root out "illegal" activity in trading of bitcoin and other virtual currencies and issuing a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency mining.

China's State Council, or cabinet, vowed in May to crack down on bitcoin mining and trading as part of efforts to fend off financial risk.

Ten Chinese government agencies, including the central bank as well as banking, securities and foreign exchange regulators, said in a joint statement that they would work closely to maintain a "high-pressure" crackdown on speculative trading of cryptocurrencies.

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The People's Bank of China said cryptocurrencies must not circulate in markets as traditional currencies and that overseas exchanges are barred from providing services to mainland investors via the internet.

The PBOC also barred financial institutions, payment companies and internet firms from facilitating cryptocurrency trading.

The government will "resolutely clamp down on virtual currency speculation, and related financial activities and misbehaviour in order to safeguard people's properties and maintain economic, financial and social order," the People's Bank of China said in a statement on its website.

The National Development and Reform Commission said it was launching a nationwide crackdown on cryptocurrency mining. Previous restrictions hove been issued by local governments.

Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, dropped as much as 5 percent after the PBOC's announcement having earlier been down about 1 percent.