Crackdown ramped up on cryptocurrency

China’s internet watchdog on Tuesday said it had intensified a crackdown on illegal online information that may lead to cryptocurrency speculation and fraud. The crackdown, which began earlier this year, is aimed at protecting the public, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China. Urging leading online platforms to fulfill their responsibilities toward the content they provide, the administration has shut down 989 accounts on Weibo, WeChat and Baidu, which misled internet users into investing in cryptocurrencies, as well as other virtual or digital assets. Working in conjunction with other authorities, the administration shut down 105 websites that hyped cryptocurrency or contained information concerning cross-border speculation and the mining of cryptocurrency.