Key facts
- Crypto exchange OKX has restricted its Hong Kong staff from using Anthropic's Claude AI model.
- The restriction followed a brief suspension of OKX's corporate account for the AI model.
- OKX's corporate account has since been restored.
- JP Morgan Chase and Goldman Sachs have also blocked their Hong Kong employees from accessing Claude.
- These actions are linked to usage terms and geopolitical considerations regarding AI models in China.
Crypto exchange OKX has prohibited its staff in Hong Kong and those traveling through China from using Anthropic PBC’s Claude artificial-intelligence model. This decision was made in early August after OKX's corporate account for the AI model was briefly suspended. The account has since been restored, but the restriction on staff usage in the region remains.
The move by OKX highlights the growing challenges faced by international firms in navigating the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding AI technology, particularly concerning US-China relations. Similar actions have been taken by other major financial institutions. JP Morgan Chase recently blocked its Hong Kong employees from accessing Claude models, citing issues with the usage terms in their licensing agreement. Goldman Sachs also previously removed access to Claude for its Hong Kong staff, reportedly due to a strict interpretation of Anthropic’s terms of use, which explicitly ban its models in Greater China, including Hong Kong and Macau.
Anthropic's AI models have encountered repeated bans throughout 2026. The company has faced legal challenges, including a lawsuit against the Pentagon after its models were designated a "supply chain risk" by the Trump administration. Microsoft also blocked employees from using one of Anthropic's frontier LLMs over data retention concerns, and the US government ordered restrictions on foreign nationals accessing certain models.
Separately, OKX has also withdrawn its application for a virtual asset trading platform license in Hong Kong, citing "careful consideration" of its business strategy. This departure, along with six other exchanges, raises questions about Hong Kong's ambition to become a crypto hub, although regulators suggest it may be a step towards cleaning up the market. OKX was a significant player, ranking as the fourth-largest exchange globally by daily trading volume.