Anthropic's Claude AI accessed at 90% discount via Chinese gray market

Users in China are accessing Anthropic’s Claude AI models at prices up to 90% lower than official rates through an underground intermediary system known as “transfer stations.” Despite Anthropic’s efforts to restrict access via requirements for foreign credit cards, phone numbers, and identity verification, a gray market has emerged on platforms like GitHub, Taobao, Telegram, and Twitter.

These transfer stations act as API proxy servers located in supported countries. They receive requests from Chinese users, forward them to Anthropic, and return the results. This method allows users to bypass geographic restrictions and pay in Renminbi using local services like WeChat Pay or Alipay. To maintain these low prices, operators utilize various tactics, including mass-registering accounts to claim free credits, exploiting discount programs, or reselling shared premium subscriptions.

This bypass presents a challenge for Anthropic regarding oversight and control. Because requests pass through proxy layers, the company faces difficulty identifying end-users, monitoring usage patterns, and determining the true origin of requests. Anthropic is reportedly working to detect and disable these proxy networks.