China's Supreme Court to Set Rules for Digital Currency and AI Cases

China’s Supreme People’s Court (SPC) said it will study new adjudication rules for virtual currency and cross-border finance cases as part of a broader effort to clarify how courts handle disputes in the digital economy. During a press briefing, Liu Guixiang, a Judicial Committee member of the SPC, said the court intends to formulate judicial interpretations on civil compensation involving insider trading and market manipulation “as soon as possible,” according to Yicai.

The SPC also signaled plans to develop judicial protection rules for artificial intelligence cases and data property rights, including disputes over data ownership, data transactions and AI-generated content. The move aims to establish clearer internal standards for deciding crypto- and AI-related civil disputes, potentially improving consistency amid a rising volume of such cases in China.

Observers note the timing aligns with broader regulatory signals and enforcement dynamics in the region. In a high-profile cross-border enforcement context, U.S. authorities reported the seizure of about $15 billion worth of Bitcoin in October 2025 in connection with investigations linked to illicit operations tied to Chen Zhi, founder and chairman of Cambodia’s Prince Group. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed the action, underscoring ongoing global convergence around crypto-related enforcement. (Source: Justice.gov)

Key takeaways

• The SPC will study adjudication rules for virtual currencies and cross-border finance as part of formalizing digital-economy jurisprudence.


• The court plans to draft interpretations on civil compensation concerning insider trading and market manipulation.


• Judicial protection rules for AI cases and data property rights, including data ownership and AI-generated content, are under consideration.


• The initiative seeks to standardize crypto- and AI-related litigation, aiming for greater predictability for institutions, exchanges and fintech players.


• These judicial developments intersect with cross-border enforcement and regulatory dynamics shaping compliance and risk management for firms operating with or within China’s digital economy.

Adjudication rules for digital assets and cross-border finance

The SPC’s stated program signals an intent to extend civil-justice frameworks to digital assets and cross-border financial arrangements. By pursuing in-depth research and issuing judicial interpretations on civil compensation for insider trading and market manipulation, the court aims to provide clearer, more consistent standards for disputes in crypto markets and related financial activity. According to Yicai, Liu Guixiang emphasized the need for timely guidance to ensure uniform application across cases involving virtual currencies and cross-border transactions. The development could influence how courts allocate liability, interpret contractual terms in crypto agreements, and address fraud or manipulation allegations in cryptofinance contexts.

AI governance and data property rights in the courts

Parallel to crypto-adjudication work, the SPC’s focus on AI disputes and data-property rights highlights the judicial sector’s broader push to adapt to rapid tech-enabled disruption. The planned rules would address disputes over data ownership, data transactions and the protection of AI-generated content, potentially shaping licensing arrangements, data-sharing frameworks and IP rights in machine-generated outputs. As such, the reforms could affect technology providers, data platforms and enterprises relying on data-driven services, extending beyond crypto to the wider digital economy.

China’s crypto policy backdrop and CBDC trajectory

China’s long-standing stance toward cryptocurrencies is marked by a sequence of regulatory milestones. In December 2013, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) banned financial institutions from offering Bitcoin-related services and stated that Bitcoin was not recognized as legal currency. In September 2021, a joint regulatory sweep by ten agencies—including the PBOC and securities regulators—issued a blanket ban on all crypto transactions, Bitcoin mining and initial coin offerings (ICOs) within the country. In February of the following year, authorities prohibited the issuance of unauthorized offshore yuan-pegged stablecoins and the unapproved tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs).

The regulatory environment has evolved alongside China’s broader push to deploy a state-controlled digital yuan. The government has approved commercial banks to participate in offering interest-sharing arrangements to clients holding the digital yuan, signaling a deliberate preference for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) framework over private stablecoins. This backdrop provides context for the SPC’s emphasis on formalizing adjudication rules as digital assets and AI technologies become more prevalent in the economy.

Enforcement backdrop and cross-border dimension

The period’s enforcement dynamics underscore the cross-border nature of crypto-related scrutiny. The DOJ’s action, as reflected in public reporting and official releases, illustrates how authorities pursue illicit networks with international footprints. The seizure of approximately $15 billion in Bitcoin in October 2025 relates to investigations into Chen Zhi’s operations and represents a salient example of how enforcement actions outside China intersect with domestic legal developments as the digital economy expands.

Closing perspective

China’s move to standardize adjudication around digital assets, AI and data rights signals a maturation of the domestic legal framework in step with a rapidly evolving digital economy. For institutions operating in or with China, forthcoming SPC interpretations will influence risk assessment, regulatory compliance, licensing considerations and cross-border cooperation. As enforcement and policy converge, staying aligned with evolving standards—especially around crypto disputes, data rights and AI governance—will be essential for robust compliance and strategic planning.

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