Chinese Search Engines Reportedly Block Queries of Binance, OKEx, and Huobi

Just a few days after the world’s most populated nation blocked social media accounts of crypto influencers, all Chinese search engines have reportedly stopped showing search results for Binance, Huobi, and OKEx.

• According to a Chinese journalist, going by the Twitter handle Wu Blockchain, local search engines (such as Baidu and Sogou) have blocked queries for three of the most popular digital asset trading venues. Namely, those are Binance, Huobi, and OKEx.

Breaking: On June 9th, all Chinese search engines such as Baidu and Sogou have blocked the three major exchanges: Binance Huobi and OKEx. pic.twitter.com/pmRZkIvOzn

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 9, 2021

• Additionally, the journalist pointed out that some of the most used social media platforms, like Weibo and Zhihu, have done the same.
• Users are unable to search for the three exchanges in neither Chinese nor English. While the country has taken numerous shots against the cryptocurrency industry lately, this seems to be Baidu’s first such attempt.
• This development comes just a few days after Weibo blocked accounts of prominent figures related to the cryptocurrency industry, as reported.
• It’s worth noting that China firstly instituted a ban on Bitcoin and the crypto space all the way back in 2013. Since then, the country frequently tends to reiterate its negative stance on the industry.
• In previous examples, the latest came less than a month ago, the crypto market plummeted in value shortly after. As such, it would be intriguing to follow if today’s actions would result in similar price slumps.
• While China is against the decentralized nature of crypto assets, the nation is rapidly advancing in terms of its state-run central bank digital currency, which aims to enhance control over the population.