Coinbase Opens China Registration in 2026, Expands Access

By Edited By Ammar Raza,
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Coinbase now lets mainland China users register with a national ID and local address, dropping the Hong Kong requirement. The move targets user growth and wallet services amid China’s crypto ban, but offers no RMB on-ramps or clarity on regulatory alignment.

What to Know

  • Coinbase now allows mainland users to verify with a Chinese national ID and address, instead of a Hong Kong address and passport.
  • Despite China’s crypto ban, Coinbase is targeting user growth and wallet services.
  • Adoption depends on how this aligns with Chinese policy and capital controls.
Coinbase

July 14 marked the return of China mainland users to the Coinbase account registration pool. Now, the registration candidates may use their Chinese national identification and mainland addresses for verification purposes, instead of Chinese passports and a Hong Kong address as used before.

A New Step for Chinese Users

Thanks to this change, there is almost no barrier left for mainland people to join Coinbase. Beforehand, KYC limited the users to those who had Hong Kong documents, and that limited its reach in one of the largest internet markets worldwide.

Coinbase

Source: Bloomberg

By accepting national IDs, the company will bring its verification process up to regional exchanges’ standards. But, Coinbase has not announced any new trading pairs or means of deposit or ways to convert RMB at that moment.

Also Read: Coinbase CEO Announces Paul Grewal’s Departure After Six Years at Coinbase

Why It Matters to the Exchange Landscape Mainland

China has been a firm supporter of cryptocurrency trading bans and the shutdown of cryptocurrency exchanges since 2021. Then again, Coinbase, an exchange in the US listed on Nasdaq, conforms to a dual US and international compliance regime.

The idea of expanding access to new registrants is that, rather than local trading, they are betting on customer expansion and wallet services.

The competitors like Binance, OKX, and Huobi are under pressure also to improve their KYC and compliance tools because of the move. When it comes to the developers, broader access may mean a raise in demand of wallets and custodies, but at the moment, liquidity remains offshore.

Also Read: Why Injective Could Be Crypto’s Next Breakout Star in 2026 

Regulatory Context and What Comes Next

This development is timely with global exchanges changing their strategy for Asia amid a regulatory divide. It would be very interesting to see how the change would harmonize with the Chinese policies for one thing, restrictions on capital flows, on the other. Besides Coinbase at this time, hasn’t laid out its roadmap for local payment infrastructures or regulatory interactions.

Also Read: Could Cardano Surge to a $569 Billion Market Cap in the Next Crypto Cycle? 

Ananthyka J

Ananthyka J

Ananthyka J is a market reporter at Tronweekly, reporting on cryptocurrency news. She covers cryptocurrency markets, blockchain technology, and digital asset regulation, focusing on Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, altcoins, and crypto policy. Her reporting emphasizes clear and accurate market coverage, including crypto market movements, regulatory developments, and blockchain adoption. She holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication and an MA in Communication and Media Studies. She has also completed multiple media internships, follows strict editorial and fact-checking standards, and discloses potential conflicts of interest when reporting.

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