China intensified a crackdown on cryptocurrency trading on Friday, vowing to root out ¡°illegal¡± activity and banning crypto mining nationwide, hitting bitcoin and other major coins while putting pressure on crypto- and blockchain-related stocks.

Ten Chinese government agencies, including the central bank as well as banking, securities and foreign exchange regulators, said in a joint statement they would work closely to maintain a ¡°high-pressure¡± clampdown on the trading of cryptocurrencies.

The People¡¯s Bank of China (PBOC) said cryptocurrencies must not circulate in markets as traditional currencies and that overseas exchanges are barred from providing services to mainland investors via the internet.