The cryptocurrency market is starting to enter the global mainstream, and it will only become more transparent from now on.

OKX is going to expel those who borrow money to trade cryptocurrencies, and this has caused a stir in the crypto community, indicating that regulation of the crypto space is becoming increasingly strict.

Recently, OKX's founder Xu Mingxing publicly stated that the platform will conduct a comprehensive check on the sources of users' funds and that all users who trade cryptocurrencies with borrowed money will be expelled. This statement has caused a huge shock in the cryptocurrency circle, with many feeling that it marks the beginning of a comprehensive upgrade in domestic regulation of virtual currency trading, providing clear policy direction for the unstable market.

In fact, signs of stricter regulation have been apparent for some time. According to a well-known figure in the industry, Liang Xi, he learned some news back in February: the UAE planned to invest $2 billion in Binance in March, and by the end of May, Sun Yuchen made headlines by attending a dinner with Trump. These events have led domestic high-level officials to pay more attention to the risks of capital outflow in the crypto asset sector, highlighting the financial risks behind virtual currency trading and laying the groundwork for tighter regulation.

Interestingly, Xu Mingxing's statement this time is very different from his previous stance. OKX initially grew through its futures business, and Xu has always been tough, with the platform long relying on high-leverage, high-risk futures products to dominate the market. Now, the proactive expulsion of users trading cryptocurrencies with borrowed money is clearly not something the platform wants to do on its own but is required by policy. Looking at OKX's situation, after Xu Mingxing was investigated in 2020, the platform's operating model became special, and many feel it has a somewhat 'semi-state-owned' character. This unique identity has made it the first exchange to cooperate with regulatory policies, and it is evident that this regulatory upgrade is serious and must be implemented.

In terms of industry impact, what OKX is doing is likely to be followed by other exchanges. In the future, the entire industry may frequently check the sources of funds, limit leveraged trading, and rectify compliance processes. The significance of this action is not only to prevent high-risk speculative behavior—those who borrow money and leverage to trade cryptocurrencies may end up in debt if they suffer losses, which could also affect others when risks explode—but more importantly, it is to regulate the market and protect ordinary investors from losses due to irrational speculation, fundamentally preventing financial risks from impacting the real economy.

Looking back at the development of the cryptocurrency market, from its initial unregulated growth to the current stricter regulation, the reasoning is quite clear: