OKX Blocks Claude for Hong Kong Staff After Anthropic Account Suspension

OKX has blocked Hong Kong employees from using Claude after Anthropic briefly suspended the crypto exchange’s corporate account, Bloomberg reported.

The exchange stopped access in early August following the suspension. Anthropic does not allow Claude to be used in Hong Kong or mainland China, leaving OKX staff to use other AI tools.

AI Access Faces New Limits

OKX now directs affected employees to alternative AI models. The exchange spends an estimated $6 million to $8 million a month across major AI providers.

Related: Binance Urges Clearer Crypto Rules as Africa’s Market Expands

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan have also restricted Claude access for employees in Hong Kong, adding to the limits facing US AI companies operating across different markets.

OKX Expands Crypto Use

Hong Kong is also tightening its crypto market rules. Licensed platforms can offer perpetual contracts to professional investors, while brokers can provide crypto margin financing under the new framework.

OKX said card purchase volume in Europe rose 280% from a year earlier this summer, while transactions increased 178%. Customers used the cards for groceries, transport and other everyday expenses.

Across the industry, spending through crypto-linked cards reached a record $759 million in July, showing wider use of digital assets for payments.

Related: UAE Halts All Trade With Iran, Raising Stakes for Crypto Channels