According to Bloomberg, a study shows that China's cryptocurrency over-the-counter (OTC) brokers are attracting unprecedented capital inflows, reflecting a thirst for alternative investments amid weak performance in the struggling stock and real estate markets.

According to Chainalysis, a blockchain analysis company, the inflow of funds into Chinese cryptocurrency OTC brokers exceeded $20 billion per quarter in the three quarters ending in June, setting a continuous record since 2021. The cumulative total for these nine months reached $75.4 billion.

Although the Chinese government has banned digital asset trading for three years due to risks such as currency outflows and money laundering, these figures demonstrate the country's sustained demand for cryptocurrencies. Off exchange trading (OTC) services provide a covert method for users to exchange Chinese yuan for tokens without trading through publicly listed exchanges. Another hidden option is to allow investors to engage in peer-to-peer trading directly.

Eric Jardine, the head of cybercrime research at Chainalysis, said, "Considering China's regulatory environment, including bans on cryptocurrency trading and mining, these services have invisibly fallen into an economic gray zone." He added that this may be because the Chinese government's enforcement of cryptocurrency bans is not strict.

Chainalysis stated that approximately 55% of the total funds received by Chinese over-the-counter traders come from transfers worth over $1 million. The consulting firm added that it cannot be determined from this data whether these transfers come from wealthy individuals or businesses trading on behalf of small clients.

Jardine said, "Unless China's regulatory situation becomes more favorable for cryptocurrencies, I expect similar services to continue to grow over time