Crypto Restrictions: Where Bitcoin and Altcoins Are Banned or Controlled

When we talk about crypto restrictions, government policies that limit or block the use of cryptocurrencies. Also known as cryptocurrency bans, these rules determine whether you can mine, trade, or even hold digital money in your country. It’s not just about legality—it’s about survival, control, and power. In some places, using crypto means breaking the law. In others, it’s the only way to get money out when banks won’t help.

China’s crypto ban, a total crackdown enforced since 2021 and tightened through 2025. Also known as crypto mining ban China, it shuts down every mining rig, freezes wallets, and punishes exchanges. The government doesn’t just block Bitcoin—it replaces it with the digital yuan, making every transaction traceable. Meanwhile, Iran crypto regulations, a mixed system where mining is allowed under state control but payments are blocked. Also known as crypto payments Iran, the government lets miners use cheap electricity to produce Bitcoin, but forces citizens to use the digital rial instead. And then there’s Russia crypto sanctions, how the country uses tokens like A7A5 and exchanges like Grinex to move money past Western financial walls. Also known as crypto sanctions evasion, it’s not a loophole—it’s a strategy.

These aren’t random policies. They’re reactions to money that can’t be controlled. When people in Ecuador trade Bitcoin for cash to survive inflation, or when Iranians mine to pay for food, they’re not breaking rules out of rebellion—they’re using what’s left. And when governments respond with seizures, blackouts, or digital currencies, they’re not just regulating finance—they’re trying to hold onto power. The truth is, crypto restrictions aren’t about stopping technology. They’re about stopping people from having financial freedom.

Below, you’ll find real stories from the front lines: how China enforces its ban, how Iran’s power grid is collapsing from mining, how Russia moves billions through crypto, and what happens when you try to use Bitcoin where it’s illegal. No fluff. No hype. Just what’s actually happening.