80 Chinese crypto influencer accounts shut down in latest crackdown
Sina Weibo, one of the most popular Chinese social media apps with over 258 million daily active users, has removed 80 influencer accounts promoting cryptocurrency activities citing official legislation.
According to the Sept. 5 announcement, 80 crypto influencer accounts with over 8 million in total followers had been "proactively removed" by Weibo. The accounts were accused of breaching eight regulations related to telecommunications, finance, banking, online marketing, securities, exchanges, and internet safety for their role in promoting cryptocurrencies.
The platform has been periodically sweeping out crypto accounts ever since China's cryptocurrency ban took effect in September 2021. In March, Weibo removed 131 accounts linked to crypto and stock trading activities.
The largest nationwide crackdown occurred in August 2022 when the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) removed 12,000 influencer accounts on Weibo and Baidu linked to cryptocurrencies and deleted 51,000 related promotional posts. In supporting the decision, the CAC wrote:
Similarly, Weibo said in its previous enforcement action:
Starting this year, China has been cracking down on private crypto-related activities due to a combination of capital flight, money laundering, and the need to preserve its state-run crypto efforts. Some of these efforts have resulted in collateral damage for non-Chinese investors.
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