Early prominence
CHBTC was one of China" s early Bitcoin and Ether exchanges, once topping CNY-BTC volume thanks to its no-fee trading model. launched in 2013 as one of China’s early Bitcoin and Ether exchanges. It claimed top spot in CNY-BTC volume at one point, thanks to a no-fee policy - unusual even during China’s crypto-boom era.
What it offered
It supported Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ether, and Ethereum Classic with CNY deposits via wire transfer. Trading fees were typically flat (maker and taker around 0.20 percent), with some trades like ETC/CNY seeing no fees. Withdrawal fees were CNY-based or flat crypto amounts (e.g., 0.001 BTC).
Inactivity and shutdown
CHBTC officially halted all operations in 2018 amid regulatory tightening. Today it's classified as inactive: zero listed pairs, zero trading volume, no orderbooks, no liquidity.
Security and trust
Cold storage, SSL encryption, 2FA and other standard security steps were claimed. Yet there was no public proof-of-reserves or independent audit reports. The site has been dormant since shutdown, and no evidence suggests the revival of its services.
Community warnings
Reddit users caution against any attempt to use CHBTC or its imitators:
“Stay away from it. Can’t find any volume from them … They are not legit.”
Several thread replies describe scam experiences - accounts requesting funds that vanished without blockchain records.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Strengths:
- Played a central role in CNY-BTC trading during its peak
- Flat fee model that benefited high-volume Chinese traders
- Weaknesses:
- Inactive since 2018 with zero volume or asset support
- No reserves proof or transparency post-shutdown
- No mobile or modern web interface
- Scam risk from clones and impersonators
Who it may (once have) served
It originally served Chinese crypto traders seeking CNY access and no-fee execution. But today, it’s effectively defunct and offers no service.
Final thoughts
CHBTC is a relic of China’s early crypto days - once powerful, now defunct. With no active trading, zero liquidity, and scam warnings, it’s firmly a historical footnote. Anyone searching for a live, regulated, transparent trading venue should look elsewhere.