Is this runup being driven by a lack of dollars for conversion from yuan?

[Nagle]

This runup is clearly being driven by buying activity from China. BTC China is now the biggest exchange. Bitcoins provide a legal (more or less) way to convert yuan to dollars or euros. (This normally requires permission from the State Administration for Foreign Exchange.)

But why is the runup so fast? Possibly because there aren't enough dollars flowing into the Bitcoin exchanges to satisfy the demand from sellers in China. People in China who want to convert yuan to dollars or euros don't intend to stay in Bitcoins for long. But they don't care what the Bitcoin exchange rate is, only what the yuan-Bitcoin-dollar exchange rate is for the brief period they're in Bitcoins.

Hm.

 

[odolvlobo]

This runup is clearly being driven by buying activity from China. BTC China is now the biggest exchange. Bitcoins provide a legal (more or less) way to convert yuan to dollars or euros. (This normally requires permission from the State Administration for Foreign Exchange.)
But why is the runup so fast? Possibly because there aren't enough dollars flowing into the Bitcoin exchanges to satisfy the demand from sellers in China. People in China who want to convert yuan to dollars or euros don't intend to stay in Bitcoins for long. But they don't care what the Bitcoin exchange rate is, only what the yuan-Bitcoin-dollar exchange rate is for the brief period they're in Bitcoins.
Hm.

What is the difference between the dollar/yuan and dollar/bitcoin/yuan exchange rates?

[bitcoin carpenter]

350 usd for 1 btc =btc china 2390 cny=397 usd

[BitPirate]

This doesn't make a lot of sense. There are easier ways to convert to USD in China -- if for some bizarre reason you wanted to bet on a losing horse. Each individual gets a 50k USD allowance to convert at the bank too. After that, there are unlicensed money changers.

I agree the arbitrage gap may be reflective of suppressed international money flow, but the runup is pure speculation.

Furthermore the "largest exchange" assertion is flawed... by volume, yes. By actual money flow in and out, who knows? the 0 fee is likely skewing the numbers somewhat.

[N12]

Have you figured out the endgame yet? Have you bought in yet?

[balanghai]

Lacking of USD would also be an issue. Surely surge will come in in the few weeks.

[bitgold]

AFAIK, no Chinese exchange deals with $, dollar is never in the picture.

If you were talking about exchanges outside China, for most Chinese, it's very difficult to jump all the loops to open an exchange account overseas. Bank account is even more difficult.

So, no. 

[aminorex]

it doesn't take many corrupt cadres t9 buy all the btc 8n china, but it does take a lot of sock puppets.

[oakpacific]

Anyone who thinks Chinese have difficulties obtaining USDs must have never been there(Hint: we don't always do things according to the law), but again it's more bullshit from the OP.