What did the Chinese court rule about Bitcoin?

A court in Qingdao ruled that Bitcoin qualifies as property under China's criminal law. The decision means Bitcoin can receive legal protection in theft and criminal cases despite the country's restrictions on cryptocurrency trading.

Why is the Bitcoin ruling significant for crypto holders in China?

The ruling reinforces the idea that ownership rights over Bitcoin can still be recognised by Chinese courts. While cryptocurrency trading remains heavily restricted, the court acknowledged that Bitcoin has economic value and can be legally owned.

What case led to the court's Bitcoin decision?

The ruling stemmed from a case involving the theft of 107 BTC. The defendant reportedly gained access to the victim's cryptocurrency holdings using a wallet recovery phrase and later sold part of the stolen assets.

How much Bitcoin was stolen in the case?

The case involved the theft of 107 Bitcoin. Court documents estimated the value of the stolen cryptocurrency at more than $3 million.

What sentence did the defendant receive?

The defendant, identified by the surname Zhang, was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison. The court also imposed a fine of 100,000 yuan, equivalent to approximately $13,800.

Does this mean China has legalized Bitcoin?

No. The ruling does not change China's restrictions on cryptocurrency trading, mining and related business activities. The decision only addresses Bitcoin's legal status as property in a criminal law context.

Why did the court consider Bitcoin to be property?

The Licang District Court found that Bitcoin has economic value and can be exclusively controlled by its owner. These characteristics met the legal requirements for classification as property under criminal law.

How does this ruling affect future crypto-related court cases in China?

The decision could serve as a legal reference for future cases involving cryptocurrency theft, fraud or other digital asset crimes. Courts may cite the ruling when determining ownership rights and calculating damages.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Not a real photo.

China court affirms Bitcoin as criminal property

Written by Jon CuthbertPublished Jun. 4 2026

A court in Qingdao, China, has ruled that Bitcoin qualifies as property under criminal law, establishing an important legal precedent in a cryptocurrency theft case involving 107 BTC.

The Licang District Court found that Bitcoin meets the legal requirements for property because it possesses economic value and can be exclusively controlled by its owner, according to local outlet Shandong Legal Daily.

The defendant, identified by the surname Zhang, was sentenced to 10 years and nine months in prison and fined 100,000 yuan ($13,800) for stealing cryptocurrency using a victim’s wallet recovery phrase.

The case centred on the theft of 107 Bitcoin, which the court determined had significant economic value despite China's longstanding restrictions on cryptocurrency trading and related activities.

Court documents indicated that Zhang obtained more than 660,000 yuan ($91,000) by selling part of the stolen Bitcoin, while the total value of the assets involved was estimated at more than $3 million.

The ruling was later upheld on appeal, strengthening its significance as a legal reference point for future cryptocurrency-related criminal cases in China.

The decision highlights how Chinese courts continue to recognise ownership rights over digital assets in criminal proceedings even as authorities maintain strict controls on cryptocurrency markets and trading activity.

At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $63,579.55.