Infini Crypto Card Shutdown in China: Here’s Why

Infini Crypto Card Decision Shows Strain of China’s Harsh Rules

On June 17, Infini, China’s most well-known crypto card company, announced it is officially ending all card services. The decision comes as cryptocurrency regulations in China continue to tighten. Infini said it will now focus on digital asset management and other financial services instead. 

All three of its popular products, the Global Card, Lite Card, and Tech Card, have been suspended immediately for both usage and new signups. The move shows how tough it has become for crypto card businesses to survive in China’s strict environment.

Crypto Crackdown Leaves No Room to Operate

The sudden shift by Infini throws light on the difficulty faced by the organisation to abide by the compliance of the crypto industry in China. The country has banned cryptocurrency trading, mining, and converting digital currency into fiat. With that, organisations face complex banking restrictions and strict KYC and AML regulations. 

Operating a card for cryptocurrencies in this environment is nearly impossible. While Infini is not shutting down completely, its pivot to financial management services looks more like a survival strategy than a long-term business shift.

Some experts are of the opinion that this could just be a form of regulatory workaround, often called “regulatory arbitrage”. It transforms how services are provided without changing their real objective. Others consider it might be the start of a new approach for cryptocurrency access in the country. Users can manage their digital assets indirectly instead of spending them directly.

What Happens to Infini Users Now?

Infini has ensured that the funds of users will remain safe and accessible, there is no fear of funds being lost. Top-up, withdrawal, and Earn features will still work normally. 

The company has also come up with automatic refunds for all card fees. The amount paid for each card (after any discounts) will be returned to users’ Infini balances within 10 business days. No action is needed from the users. Ongoing refund requests from card usage will be processed within 5 to 21 business days. For older refund requests already delayed beyond 21 days, Infini says it is still working on them and will complete the process soon.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embraces Crypto Cards

When China is pushing digital assets services out, the United States is opening new doors. At the 2025 State of Crypto Summit, Coinbase disclosed plans to introduce the Coinbase One Card this fall. The card will provide Bitcoin rewards and enable digital assets spending more accessible to regular users.

In addition, Coinbase will also launch a perpetual futures trading platform approved by CFTC for advanced traders in the U.S. The launch of such new projects show how American organisations are operating to develop a more user-friendly and legally secure cryptocurrency ecosystem.

A Clear Divide in Global Crypto Trends

Infini’s closure paints a clear picture: in China, direct digital currency access is shrinking, while companies shift toward safer, less direct models. Conversely, companies such as Coinbase in the U.S. are widening digital currency access via new tools that will allow newcomers and experienced users to get into cryptocurrency.

China is on the verge of losing to other nations in cryptocurrency innovation unless it alters its strict policies. In the meantime, the toughened digital assets regulation in China appears to be going underground, or sending it offshore.