China's recently released (National Data Infrastructure Construction Guidelines) places blockchain technology at the core of its national data strategy, aiming to enhance data security, transparency, and scalability as a vital component of its broader digital transformation strategy.
Agencies such as the National Development and Reform Commission emphasize in the guidelines that blockchain technology is key to achieving trusted data exchange across industries and regions.
The document suggests that with the establishment of a nationwide comprehensive data market in China, blockchain networks will play a crucial role in supporting the secure circulation of data, ensuring data traceability, and preventing data tampering.
According to the plan, China is expected to establish a nationwide, fully operational blockchain data infrastructure by 2029. This plan will be implemented in phases, with pilot projects starting in key areas from 2024 to 2026 to improve the blockchain framework and test its practical applications.
By 2028, these pilot projects will evolve into a fully integrated national blockchain network, supporting large-scale data flow between provincial, industry, and public-private partnerships.
Infrastructure construction driven by blockchain technology
One of the core aspects of the plan is to develop 'trusted data spaces' that leverage blockchain technology for seamless multi-party data sharing while ensuring the privacy, integrity, and ownership of the data are protected. These spaces, based on distributed ledger technology (DLT), will serve as decentralized platforms for secure and transparent data exchange among businesses, governments, and individuals.
By creating immutable data transaction records, trusted data spaces aim to address common challenges in data governance, enabling stakeholders to verify data sources and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. These ecosystems will play a crucial role in industries such as cross-border logistics, supply chain management, e-commerce, and financial services.
Additionally, the guidelines propose building a 'data market' on blockchain networks, allowing for the tokenization of data assets, enabling fractional ownership, monetization, and secure cross-platform transactions. This innovation is expected to unlock new revenue streams and incentivize larger-scale data sharing. The plan also calls for establishing blockchain platforms for specific industries.
By 2026, pilot projects will test decentralized applications (dApps) in key areas such as digital finance, green energy, and smart manufacturing. These platforms will facilitate data interoperability among enterprises, accelerating the adoption of blockchain technology across the industry.
For instance, the guidelines encourage the development of blockchain-driven supply chain networks for agriculture and industrial manufacturing to ensure product traceability and reduce fraud.
In the financial sector, there will be exploration of decentralized finance (DeFi) solution development using state-approved blockchain, providing secure and low-cost alternatives to traditional financial systems.
Security and privacy protection under blockchain technology
China's emphasis on blockchain technology is not limited to data sharing but also pays particular attention to the security of the infrastructure itself. The guidelines detail plans to combine blockchain with advanced privacy-enhancing technologies, including secure multi-party computation, homomorphic encryption, and zero-knowledge proofs. This technological combination will allow sensitive data to be processed and analyzed without exposure, effectively addressing critical privacy issues in sensitive fields such as healthcare and finance.
Furthermore, the document proposes the creation of a blockchain-based monitoring system for real-time data integrity checks to prevent unauthorized access, data leaks, and cyber threats. By decentralizing control over critical data flows, the plan aims to reduce the risk of single points of failure, thereby enhancing the resilience and security of national data.
Conclusion:
This series of measures taken by China not only reflects a pursuit of data security, transparency, and scalability but also builds a solid bridge for cross-industry and cross-region data sharing and innovation.
With the gradual establishment of trusted data spaces and data markets, along with the in-depth development of blockchain platforms for specific industries, China is making strides toward high-quality development in the digital economy era, contributing Chinese wisdom and strength to global data governance and innovation.