Crypto Exchanges Accepting Iranian Users - 2025 Guide
A 2025 guide listing crypto exchanges that still accept Iranian users, covering domestic options, international platforms, fees, security, and recent regulations.
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Select a payment method to determine if it's allowed in mainland China under 2025 regulations.
Select a payment option above and click 'Check Compliance' to see if it's allowed in China.
Wondering if you can use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other digital coin to pay for a coffee or a hotel stay while in mainland China? The short answer is no - the country has a blanket ban on crypto payments that took effect in mid‑2025. Below we break down the legal backdrop, what the ban actually covers, and where - if anywhere - crypto still has a foothold in the Chinese financial system.
Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that uses cryptography for security and operates on decentralized ledgers. In China, the People's Bank of China (People's Bank of China, PBOC) issued a sweeping prohibition on all crypto‑related activities on May 30, 2025, effective June 1, 2025. The decree explicitly bans:
The regulation is enforced by multiple agencies, including the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
China’s crackdown didn’t happen overnight. It’s the culmination of a decade‑long tightening:
Each step added layers of penalties, ranging from fines to criminal charges, making compliance a high‑risk game for anyone considering crypto payments.
While domestic crypto payments are off‑limits, the Chinese government does allow blockchain‑based solutions in tightly controlled, state‑approved sandboxes. The most visible example is the mBridge pilot - a multi‑Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) project that links the digital yuan (e‑CNY) with counterparts in Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE. Through mBridge, cross‑border settlements are settled in digital form, but the underlying assets are either e‑CNY or other sovereign digital currencies, not private cryptocurrencies.
In practice, this means a foreign business can settle a trade with a Chinese partner using a blockchain network, but the settlement token must be a state‑approved CBDC, not Bitcoin.
The digital yuan, often called e‑CNY, is China’s official Central Bank Digital Currency. Unlike decentralized crypto, e‑CNY gives the PBOC full visibility into every transaction, which aligns with the government’s goals of financial stability and capital control.
Because e‑CNY is backed by the central bank, it carries no regulatory risk for businesses - a stark contrast to the legal uncertainty surrounding private crypto payments.
| Jurisdiction | Domestic crypto payments | Stablecoin framework | CBDC stance |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Completely prohibited | Allowed only in government‑approved sandboxes | e‑CNY actively piloted |
| Singapore | Permitted under MAS licensing | Regulated; issuers must hold a licence | SBV digital dollar pilot, no sovereign CBDC yet |
| Hong Kong | Licensed crypto‑payment providers (SFC) | Stablecoins regulated as securities | Exploring CBDC, but no launch |
If you run an e‑commerce store that ships to China, you cannot list Bitcoin or any other crypto as a payment method for Chinese customers. Doing so could trigger investigations by the CAC, resulting in fines or even criminal prosecution for the business entity.
Travelers should also be cautious. While you can hold crypto in a foreign wallet, you cannot use it to pay for services in Mainland China. Instead, rely on local mobile‑payment apps (Alipay, WeChat Pay) or, where accepted, the digital yuan.
Analysts note two possible shifts:
Until official guidance changes, the safest route is to treat crypto payments as illegal in mainland China and focus on e‑CNY or traditional fiat channels.
No. The 2025 decree criminalizes personal ownership of any cryptocurrency. Violations can lead to fines, asset seizure, or criminal charges.
Tourists can use the digital yuan (e‑CNY) where accepted, or rely on the ubiquitous Alipay and WeChat Pay platforms, which are fiat‑based and fully compliant.
The merchant risks immediate regulatory action, including suspension of business licenses, fines, and possible criminal investigation by the CAC or local public security bureaus.
Yes, but only for projects that settle using the digital yuan or other approved CBDCs. Applications undergo a strict vetting process and must comply with Chinese data‑security laws.
Current policy signals no near‑term relaxation. The government’s focus remains on expanding e‑CNY and tightening capital controls, so a full ban repeal appears unlikely in the next few years.
Oh sweet mercy, China just turned into the digital equivalent of a 1980s Soviet bloc. Bitcoin? Nah, we got our *e-CNY* - which, by the way, is basically just your bank account with extra surveillance and zero charm. I mean, sure, it’s efficient, but where’s the rebellion? Where’s the punk rock of decentralized finance? We’re trading freedom for frictionless payments and calling it progress. I’m devastated.
I actually think this makes sense. Crypto was becoming a loophole for capital flight and money laundering - and China’s just choosing stability over chaos. The e-CNY is a smart move: fast, secure, and under control. Maybe other countries will follow suit. It’s not about censorship, it’s about protecting the system.
lol china ban crypto but still let blockchain? like u can use tech but not the thing that makes it cool? 🤦♂️ also e-CNY is just gov tracking every coffee u buy. i seen a guy in shenzhen get flagged for buying 2 boba in 10 mins. they think its money laudering. also, mBridge? cool name, but its just a fancy wire transfer with blockchain glitter. and dont get me started on how they block mining but still let gpu shops sell to the black market. 🤫
As a Nigerian who has watched our own financial system struggle with volatility and unreliable banking infrastructure, I find China’s approach both fascinating and deeply instructive. While the West romanticizes decentralization, China prioritizes order - and for a nation of 1.4 billion, that is not oppression, it is necessity. The e-CNY is not a surveillance tool; it is a lifeline for financial inclusion. Let us not mistake control for tyranny, nor innovation for anarchy. This is statecraft at scale - and it is working.
Capitalism is a religion. And China just excommunicated the heretics.
Look, let’s be real - this whole ‘crypto ban’ narrative is just a distraction. China doesn’t hate crypto, they hate that it’s *uncontrolled*. They’ve been quietly building a crypto empire for years - just not the kind you think. The e-CNY? It’s a blockchain-based fiat system with zero anonymity, and it’s already being used in 100+ cities. Meanwhile, the West is still arguing about whether Dogecoin is a currency or a meme. And don’t even get me started on how the U.S. Treasury is begging for a CBDC while pretending to care about ‘freedom.’ China’s not banning innovation - they’re outmaneuvering everyone else by making the system work for the state instead of the speculators. The real crime here is that Americans think their decentralized fantasies are ‘liberty’ when they’re just gambling with unregulated tokens while the rest of the world builds actual infrastructure. Wake up. This isn’t oppression. It’s evolution - and you’re on the wrong side of it.
So China bans crypto payments but allows blockchain? That’s like banning cars but letting people ride horses on highways. Also, e-CNY? Sounds like a glorified QR code with a central bank stamp. Why not just use WeChat Pay? It’s already everywhere. And who cares about mBridge? It’s just a fancy way to settle trade without using USD. Honestly, this whole post reads like a PR brochure for the PBOC. No real insight. Just regurgitated press releases with bullet points.
I'm a blockchain analyst and cryptocurrency educator based in Perth. I research DeFi protocols and layer-1 ecosystems and write practical pieces on coins, exchanges, and airdrops. I also advise Web3 startups and enjoy translating complex tokenomics into clear insights.
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