February 22, 2026
10 mins
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December 10, 2025
December 10, 2025
China is an undeniable global economic powerhouse, contributing roughly 16–18% of global GDP depending on the year. It is also a highly centralized economy with one of the world’s strictest approaches to crypto.
To understand crypto trading opportunities in China, you need the full timeline: the 2013 warnings from the People’s Bank of China, the 2017 ICO ban during the peak of global scams, the 2021 nationwide prohibition on all crypto transactions during the bull run, and the government’s clear distinction between banned private crypto activity and the rise of the official digital yuan.
Add to this the unique regulatory flexibility of Hong Kong, and you get a complete picture of how Chinese policymakers see crypto, and how a trader can operate legally while giving clients confidence.
Mainland China banned all cryptocurrency trading and related services in 2021. This means crypto cannot be used for payments, cannot replace fiat-based transactions, and cannot be integrated into business operations in a way that resembles financial activity. The restriction is strict: exchanges cannot operate, trading desks cannot serve Chinese users, and companies cannot offer crypto-related financial products inside mainland China.
Hong Kong, however, follows a completely separate regulatory system. It operates under its own financial jurisdiction and has built a structured regime for virtual assets, including upcoming licensing rules for stablecoin issuers. Even though licenses have not yet been awarded, Hong Kong remains a gateway for compliant crypto activity in the region. This is why people often confuse “China” and “Hong Kong” when discussing crypto, but legally, they are not the same.
Given the 2021 ban, mainland China’s crypto market is limited in scope. There is no open trading economy, and users cannot participate in crypto activities the way they can in other countries. However, when you visit platforms like Web3 Career or CryptoJobsList, you still see openings in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Xiamen. These roles mostly fall into two categories:
This explains the apparent contradiction: crypto usage is banned, but technological work is not. China still invests heavily in blockchain as a strategic technology, even while prohibiting individual crypto trading.
As a result, the crypto job ecosystem in mainland China is dramatically smaller and more restricted than in open markets. It is driven by engineering demand from international firms, not domestic crypto activity. Anyone seeking a legal and stable crypto career path in the region must understand this divide and often look toward Hong Kong for compliant, regulated opportunities.
These are the skills that, as a future crypto trader in China, you will need to develop.
In mainland China, all crypto trading and most exchange-related activities have been effectively banned since 2021. You cannot operate a legal retail trading desk serving Chinese users, and you cannot treat crypto as a payment method or financial instrument inside the domestic system. So if you want a long-term, legal career, you need to think differently.
Your first step is to internalize these points:
Mainland China:
Hong Kong:
So, as a “Chinese crypto trader,” your legal career paths are usually:
If you don’t start from this legal reality, everything else falls apart.
The second skill is to prove you know what you’re doing, not with screenshots, but with a structured portfolio.
Publish your analysis and trade ideas on platforms like TradingView or similar charting tools.
For each idea, document:
Maintain a trading or research journal that tracks:
For many Chinese candidates, especially those coming from engineering, funds, and desks, will care heavily about:
So your portfolio should not be just “I went long BTC here.” It should show you understand how markets behave, not just what price did.
Because of the ban, a lot of the real crypto market energy around Chinese talent has moved into:
Your job is to position yourself where decisions are made:
In practice, a “Chinese crypto trader” career today is less about a physical desk in Shanghai and more about being a globally relevant operator who happens to be Chinese, often working under a foreign or Hong Kong legal structure.
Finally, you need the ability to explain and sell your edge to funds, desks, or high-net-worth clients, especially if you are operating cross-border.
Write a concise summary of your strategy:
Prepare to walk someone through a single trade or strategy from start to finish:
Idea generation → signal → execution → hedging → exit → post-trade review.
Be explicit about jurisdiction and compliance:
Many candidates in China are technically strong but very vague about legal structure and communication. In a post-ban environment, that is no longer acceptable. The traders and quants who combine:
These are the ones who will be trusted with real capital and long-term roles.
Since the 2021 ban, crypto trading and related services are banned in mainland China, which means domestic retail trading desks, exchange operations, or local payment services based on crypto are not legally possible under Chinese regulation.
However, Chinese tech talent still has a viable path into the global crypto industry through remote work, especially for roles that don’t depend on domestic crypto usage, such as engineering, research, quant trading, infrastructure development, DeFi & CeFi backend, and global-market trading desks that serve clients outside the mainland.
At the same time, if a trader or developer relocates or works through Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), licensed platforms in Hong Kong, the rules change, and crypto assets and exchanges operate under a regulated licensing framework there.
Under that regime, centralized virtual-asset trading platforms must obtain proper licenses to operate and serve investors, and stablecoins are being formally regulated under a recent stablecoin licensing framework administered by Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).
This makes “remote-first” crypto jobs, where Chinese developers, quants, or traders work for global or Hong Kong–based firms while physically located in China or abroad, a realistic and legal path. In other words, the ban applies to domestic crypto usage, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility of Chinese technical talent contributing to the global crypto ecosystem, as long as the firm’s domicile, compliance structure, and client base are outside mainland China (or properly licensed in Hong Kong).
Follow these steps to understand where and how you can find a suitable job as a crypto trader in China, keeping in mind the legal divide between mainland China and Hong Kong.
As mentioned before, cryptocurrency trading and related activities are banned in mainland China. Because of this, you need to focus on technical roles that fall outside the scope of the restrictions. These include:
These positions allow you to work legally while still being part of the broader blockchain ecosystem, and most global trading firms hire Chinese talent in exactly these categories.
Crypto is legal in Hong Kong and operates under a clear regulatory framework. This makes it a far more viable location for traders and analysts. Hong Kong has:
Because Hong Kong permits regulated retail trading, the job market is larger and more open. When exploring roles, check that the company appears on the SFC’s list of licensed virtual asset trading platforms so you know they operate legally. Combine this with job boards such as Web3 Career, CryptoJobsList, and LinkedIn searches targeted to Hong Kong.
Even though crypto trading is banned, blockchain technology itself is encouraged in China. Many major traditional tech firms, including those in AI, payments, cybersecurity, and enterprise software, integrate blockchain into their products. These companies need:
Visit the careers pages of major tech firms and fintech companies (including regional startups). They often recruit for blockchain-related roles that are fully compliant with Chinese regulations.
China does promote blockchain, just not crypto. So check the BSN, the Blockchain-Based Service Network. It’s the nationwide project they use for most of their blockchain experiments.
You can also look at the MIIT website. They post different research programs and pilots, and sometimes they open applications or collaborations.
If you ever travel or relocate, places like Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu usually have innovation zones where blockchain is part of the agenda.
And don’t forget the universities. A lot of them run blockchain or cryptography labs, and they sometimes accept external participants or research contributors.
Most international exchanges hire Chinese talent remotely, especially for technical or market-focused roles. Check their careers pages directly. Many of these teams don’t care where you are based as long as you can deliver.
If you want real opportunities, go where the industry gathers. Hong Kong and Singapore are the closest hubs. Attend events, listen, talk to people, and see which teams are expanding. Meeting founders, developers, and investors directly will give you the advantage you need.
If trading inside China is limited, research is not. Publish your work. Write short analyses. Break down market behavior. Anything that shows you can think clearly about blockchain systems and crypto markets helps you stand out.
If you want visibility, contribute to open-source tools or protocols. Even small contributions get noticed. It shows you can work on distributed teams and understand how the tech actually works.
Many Web3 gaming teams hire globally, and China has talent in art, design, and development. These startups don’t rely on the mainland crypto market, so they’re more flexible with location.
Cross-border fintech is one of the safest entry points because it's a natural bridge between traditional finance and blockchain sectors. Look for companies that work with payments, settlement, risk models, or infrastructure. They often need talent familiar with crypto markets, even if they don’t offer trading services inside China.
The digital yuan is part of China's official agenda. There are pilots, integrations, and technical roles connected to it. These projects stay inside the regulatory lines and still give you exposure to digital-asset systems.
Trading inside China is restricted, but the global industry is wide open. If you know where to look and how to position yourself, you can build a career that stays legal, relevant, and connected to the bigger market.
At CoinTerminal, we’re the first and only open-access launchpad. Our goal is simple: make early-stage Web3 investing accessible to anyone. Joining a sale is straightforward. You connect your wallet. There’s no pre-sale KYC, no token gating, no staking requirements. If you want to back a project, you just do it. Check our active IDOs here.
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This article is for educational purposes only. It is a general guide for founders and users navigating the Web3 space. It does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.If you want to learn more about raising funds or which IDOs to look into, our team is here to help. Feel free to reach out to us on Telegram at any time.
