Alipay Crypto Ban: What It Means for Crypto Users in China and Beyond

When Alipay crypto ban, a policy that blocked cryptocurrency transactions through China’s dominant mobile payment platform took effect, it didn’t just stop payments—it rewired how millions of people interacted with digital money. Alipay, owned by Ant Group, was once a quiet gateway for buying Bitcoin and USDT using bank transfers. After the ban, those routes vanished overnight. But the need for crypto didn’t disappear. It just went underground.

The China crypto regulations, a strict framework that prohibits financial institutions from facilitating crypto trades and enforces KYC on all digital asset activity didn’t start with Alipay. They’ve been tightening since 2017. But Alipay’s move was the final nail in the coffin for easy fiat-to-crypto on-ramps. Banks followed suit. Exchanges like Binance and Huobi pulled direct RMB deposits. What remained? P2P crypto China, a decentralized, peer-to-peer trading network where individuals trade crypto directly using cash, bank transfers, or even gift cards. These aren’t shady black markets—they’re everyday people helping each other bypass restrictions, often with no middleman, no fees, and no oversight. It’s not perfect. It’s risky. But it works.

And it’s not just about buying Bitcoin. The crypto fiat onramp China, the infrastructure that lets users convert local currency into digital assets became a puzzle people solved with creativity. Some use QR code trades in person. Others trade through Telegram groups with verified traders. A few even use offshore wallets and VPNs to access international exchanges—though that’s getting harder as detection tools improve. The ban didn’t kill crypto in China. It made users smarter, more cautious, and more resourceful.

What you’ll find below are real stories and deep dives into how people navigate these restrictions. From how Algerians deal with their own crypto bans, to why a fake Times Square airdrop looks suspiciously similar to scams targeting Chinese users, to how P2P platforms like LocalBitcoins and Paxful adapted after China shut down its main markets—this collection isn’t just about rules. It’s about survival, adaptation, and the quiet rebellion behind every transaction that happens off the radar.