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IN BRIEF
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In a scenario worthy of a financial soap opera, dozens of Chinese nationals stormed the outskirts of the National Bank of Cambodiafurious to see their blocked accounts on the platform H-Pay (ex-HuioneAccusations of whitening, extraditions Clashes with security forces have transformed a technical matter into public anger: protesters proclaim their innocence, demand their money back, and denounce the human consequences of the measures taken to dismantle a network linked to online scams At Cambodia.
Phnom Penh vibrated to the rhythm of anger on Tuesday, April 27, 2026, when dozens of Chinese nationals protested in front of the National Bank of Cambodia to demand access to their blocked accounts on the payment platform H-Pay (formerly Huione PayThe clashes transformed a financial protest into a tense scene, with umbrellas being raised and security agents wielding batons, while the protesters proclaimed their innocence in the face of accusations of whitening targeting the Huione group.
Protests and clashes in front of the BNC
The scene was both colorful and electric: red and yellow flags, slogans in Mandarin, and tense faces. The protesters, many of whom had seen their accounts frozen since December, demanded answers and the immediate release of sometimes considerable sums of money. According to multiple accounts, at least two demonstrators were injured in clashes with local security forces.
Among the testimonies, that of Wang XijunThe owner of a construction company, who is shouting, “Give back the people’s money!” and explaining that he is unable to pay his employees because of $50,000 in frozen funds. Others, like Li Shangfu or the street vendor Sopheak, describe the same frustration: life savings, “my blood and sweat“, prisoners of an application that seemed reliable.
The demonstration on April 27th was part of a series of similar actions in April, including in front of the Chinese embassy, where customer anger was repeatedly expressed (report from The Cross and other media).
Who is Huione and why were the accounts frozen?
The group Huione, former great player of the services of payment, of e-commerce andcryptocurrency exchange, has seen some of its activities targeted by international investigations. The commercial licenses of the platforms linked to the group have been revoked by the BNCpushing aggrieved customers to turn to the courts or an appointed liquidator.
In 2025, the entity investigating financial crimes within the U.S. Treasury Department, the FinCENThe agency classified the Huione group as a “major money laundering concern,” alleging links to criminal networks and even North Korean interests. These accusations precipitated administrative and judicial decisions that are now impacting individual accounts.
For comprehensive coverage of events and analysis, several regional and international media outlets covered the story, including Southeast Asia And Six Newswhich explain the financial and legal ramifications of the blockage.
Extraditions and international accusations
International pressure materialized in highly publicized extraditions: Li XiongThe former chairman of the group was extradited to China on April 1, 2026, while other figures, such as the tycoon Chen Zhiwere also transferred to Beijing following accusations of overseeing forced labor centers for online scams — a case covered by France 24.
The United States has also highlighted alleged links between these conglomerates and cyber fraud empires; Chen Zhi’s Prince group has been targeted by federal indictments, while Beijing is stepping up its efforts to eradicate these networks (see analyses of Southeast Asia and comments from Little Journal).
Victims and claims for reimbursement
The protesters reiterate that they are not criminals: they were using H-Pay because they considered it practical and trustworthy. Now, stuck, they demand clear explanations. “Does this money still exist or not?” they ask. Li Shangfu, a symbol of shared concern.
The National Bank of Cambodia has advised creditors to file their claims in court and with a liquidator tasked with handling the cases. This legally standard procedure has done little to appease the protesters, who sometimes emphasize the urgency of the situation: unpaid wages, struggling businesses, and frozen personal savings.
Local and international news reports and opinion pieces recount these distressing situations, from ViralMag has Southeast Asiaoffering poignant testimonies and explanations of possible avenues of recourse.
Cambodia, the new regional epicenter of cyber fraud
The phenomenon transcends borders: Cambodia is now considered one of the strongholds of cybercrime in Southeast Asia. Authorities claim to have carried out a large-scale crackdown with more than 13,000 arrests and deportations since the beginning of 2025 and more 240,000 people having “voluntarily left” the country between January and April, according to official figures.
The regional consequences are multiplying: Thailand, for example, has taken sometimes surprising measures to counter the networks, going so far as to suspend the electricity supply in certain border areas to disrupt fraud centers — a strong signal described by Southeast Asia and reports on transnational police operations (Southeast Asiamulti-million dollar deals).
Other repercussions include mass repatriations and expulsions, such as the return of Thai nationals involved in networks in Cambodia (Southeast Asia), attesting to the transnational dimension of the phenomenon.
What can the aggrieved creditors do?
Legal action remains the primary option: filing a claim with the courts and the liquidator appointed to handle the assets of H-Pay. There BNC recalled that the licenses had been revoked and that the judicial framework must decide on the order of claims and the possible distribution of funds.
Specialized organizations and media outlets publish guides and analyses for victims, and several information platforms have begun to list practical steps to take (Six News, Southeast Asia).
Diplomatic tensions and international pressure
The situation also has a diplomatic dimension: Beijing is intensifying pressure on Phnom Penh to eradicate cyber fraud centers and cooperate with investigations, while Washington and other capitals are monitoring alleged links between local conglomerates and transnational criminal networks. Extradition cases and international indictments illustrate the states’ determination to dismantle the financial structures that facilitated these activities.
Observers note that the series of arrests, extraditions, and platform closures is as much a security operation as a demonstration of political will to restore international confidence in the Cambodian financial system (France 24, The Little Journal, Southeast Asia).
The protesters, for their part, are waiting for concrete evidence and the return of their funds. Between legal proceedings, transnational investigations, and official pronouncements, the game is only just beginning, leaving behind hundreds of frozen accounts and shattered personal stories, reported in the national and regional press (The Cross, ViralMag, Southeast Asia).
FAQ — Protests and frozen accounts following the Huione/H-Pay case
Q: What happened in Phnom Penh in front of the National Bank of Cambodia ?
A: On April 27, 2026, dozens of Chinese nationals gathered to demand access to their blocked accounts on the platform H-Pay (ex-Huione Pay). The demonstration degenerated into clashes between protesters and security agents, leaving at least two protesters injured.
Q: Why were these accounts frozen?
A: Platforms linked to the group Huione saw their Licenses revoked following investigations into suspected money laundering and involvement in important networks ofonline scamsThe authorities have blocked operations during the judicial and administrative proceedings.
Q: Who is Li Xiong and what is his role in the case?
A: Li Xiong He was the chairman of the Huione Group. He was extradited from Cambodia to China on April 1, 2026, where Beijing accuses him of belonging to a criminal organization involved in online gambling and fraud.
Q: Are all the protesters linked to criminal activities?
A: Many protesters claim to be ordinary citizens or business owners, victims of the frozen funds that prevent them from paying their employees or running their businesses. They deny any connection to the fraud alleged against the Huione group.
Q: What is the position of the National Bank of Cambodia (BNC)?
A: The BNC confirmed the revocation of business licenses for entities linked to Huione and indicated that the creditors of H-Pay must take their case to court. She also specifies that complaints can be filed with a liquidator appointed to manage assets.
Q: What can people do whose funds are frozen?
A: Creditors must pursue legal or administrative action: filing a claim with the Cambodian courts or with the liquidator designated. Unfortunately, there is no instant solution guaranteeing the return of the funds.
Q: Were Cambodians also affected?
A: Yes. Local customers of Huione/H-Pay have also come forward, stating that they can no longer withdraw substantial sums — for example, one street vendor mentions tens of thousands of dollars blocked, which represents for her “her blood and sweat”.
Q: Were there any acts of violence during the demonstration?
A: Clashes broke out between some protesters carrying umbrellas and local security forces armed with batons. At least two protesters were injured in the skirmishes.
Q: What is the international context surrounding the Huione group?
A: In 2025, the US financial watchdog (FiNCEN) classified Huione as a major concern in matters of whitening, alleging links to North Korea and Southeast Asian cybercriminals. Furthermore, leaders connected to the case, such as Chen Zhiwere charged and extradited a few months earlier.
Q: What is Cambodia doing to combat cybercrime?
A: Cambodian authorities claim to have intensified the crackdown: they announce more than 13,000 arrests and expulsions of suspects since the beginning of 2025, and several hundred thousand people linked to the scams are believed to have left the country voluntarily at the beginning of the year following the operations.
Q: Can the protesters count on their embassy to resolve the situation?
A: Embassies can provide consular support and advice, but they lack the legal authority to unfreeze accounts or overturn decisions made by local regulators. In Cambodia, these procedures remain primarily judicial and administrative.
Q: Is there a time limit or guarantee for recovering the funds?
A: Unfortunately not: the process depends on investigations, liquidation procedures, and court decisions. Creditors must file their claims and monitor the progress of the proceedings initiated by the authorities and the liquidator.