WuBlockchain
Coinbase has begun accepting account registrations from users in mainland China, Wu Blockchain reported on July 14 after confirming the change with Coinbase staff. New sign-ups can complete identity verification using a Chinese national ID and a mainland address, rather than the previous requirement of a Chinese passport and a Hong Kong address.
Why it matters
Mainland China has effectively banned crypto trading on domestic venues since 2021, but Chinese residents continue to hold and trade through offshore platforms, often via VPN-routed access and offshore-issued documentation. Lowering the onboarding friction to a national ID plus a domestic address signals Coinbase is treating that demand as addressable rather than circumvention. It also lands while Hong Kong's regulated retail framework continues to mature as a separate, licensed channel.
Market impact
The move does not change the legal status of crypto trading inside mainland China, and Chinese banks still do not service exchange deposits. What it does is widen the funnel for Chinese retail users who already self-custody or trade via offshore rails, putting a US-listed venue in direct competition with the offshore-derivative and OTC desks that have dominated that flow. Watch for a spike in Coinbase app-store rankings from mainland IP space and any response from Beijing, since a registered mainland presence is a louder footprint than a tolerated one.
Frequently asked questions
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Can Chinese residents legally trade crypto on Coinbase?
Mainland China has effectively banned crypto trading on domestic venues since 2021 and banks do not service exchange deposits. Coinbase is registered offshore, so users access it via offshore rails; the new policy lowers onboarding friction but does not change the legal status of trading inside China.
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What changed in Coinbase's verification for Chinese users?
New sign-ups can now complete identity verification using a Chinese national ID and a mainland China address. Previously the exchange required a Chinese passport and a Hong Kong address, which added an extra documentation step for most residents.
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Why did Coinbase drop the Hong Kong address requirement?
The previous requirement screened for users with a Hong Kong connection rather than China-based residents at large. Switching to a mainland national ID plus address broadens the eligible pool to anyone with standard Chinese documentation.
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Is Coinbase now serving Hong Kong separately?
Yes. Hong Kong operates its own licensed crypto retail framework, and licensed venues there remain a distinct, regulated channel. The mainland onboarding change is about Coinbase's offshore product, not the Hong Kong regulated entity.
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What signals should investors watch after this move?
App-store ranking spikes for Coinbase from mainland IP space would confirm user uptake, while any public response from Chinese regulators would indicate whether the exchange's mainland footprint is tolerated or contested.
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