While crypto enthusiasts dream of a decentralized future without intermediaries, China is officially adding blockchain to its list of national infrastructure. On 9 October 2026, the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council of the PRC published the "Opinions on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces" — a document containing 19 measures that explicitly calls for the creation of a national blockchain network alongside the country's unified computing network.
This is not about cryptocurrencies, but about a permitted, state-controlled platform for data verification, supply chain tracking, and industrial digitalization. The document links blockchain to the already operating BSN network, launched back in 2020 with the participation of China Mobile and China UnionPay. There are no timelines, budget, or technical details yet — only a policy directive.
For the economy, this means a new level of trust in digital records without the risk of token volatility. Banks and enterprises will be able to exchange verified data on contracts, taxes, and loans, while the state gains a tool for more precise regulation of money flows. Unlike public blockchains, here all nodes are under control, and anonymity is ruled out.
The hidden interest is obvious: in a context where data is becoming a new asset, blockchain makes it possible to monetize and protect it under the aegis of the state. In parallel, rules on data ownership and pilot projects for trading it are being introduced. This is not merely a technology — it is a way to turn information into a controlled resource that strengthens the position of traditional financial institutions.
Imagine an ordinary factory: instead of paper waybills and disputes with suppliers, every stage is recorded in a single chain visible to regulators. Such a system reduces costs and risks, but at the same time makes every transaction transparent to the authorities. For an ordinary citizen, this may mean more reliable digital services, but also less privacy in financial matters.
The Chinese approach shows that blockchain is not necessarily synonymous with freedom. It can serve as an instrument of centralized efficiency, where the state acts as guarantor rather than opponent of the technology. In the long term, this changes the understanding of who owns the digital economy and how trust in money is distributed within it.
