China's Supreme Court Steps Up Efforts to Standardize Digital Economy Dispute Adjudication

China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) has signalled its intention to standardize the adjudication of digital economy disputes, including those related to virtual currencies and artificial intelligence (AI). The move is aimed at producing clearer judicial guidelines for handling a rising tide of crypto- and AI-related cases, according to Liu Guixiang, a member of the SPC Judicial Committee.

The SPC plans to draft judicial interpretations on civil compensation in insider trading and market manipulation tied to crypto activity. This development has significant implications for investors, developers, and users navigating China's evolving regulatory terrain. The move also aligns with China's longstanding cautious approach to cryptocurrency, which has been characterized by restrictions on transactions, mining, and related activities.

The SPC's initiative is part of a broader effort to standardize digital economy dispute adjudication in China. The court will study adjudication rules for evolving areas such as crypto and cross-border finance, AI-related disputes, and data property rights. This effort aims to bring greater consistency to a growing slate of digital economy disputes in China.