China’s National Data Infrastructure Construction Guidelines: A Focus on Blockchain Technology
China has recently announced its “National Data Infrastructure Construction Guidelines,” which emphasize the use of blockchain technology to enhance data security, transparency, and scalability as part of the country’s digital transformation efforts.
Key Points from the Guidelines:
- Blockchain technology is highlighted as a cornerstone for trusted data exchange across industries and regions.
- The plan envisions blockchain networks supporting secure data circulation, traceability, and prevention of tampering.
- China aims to have a fully operational blockchain-powered data infrastructure nationwide by 2029, with a phased implementation plan.
Development of Trusted Data Spaces
The guidelines focus on creating “trusted data spaces” that utilize blockchain technology to enable multi-party data sharing while ensuring privacy, integrity, and ownership rights.
Features of Trusted Data Spaces:
- Decentralized environments for secure and transparent data exchange.
- Immutable records of data transactions to verify provenance and compliance.
- Expected impact on industries like logistics, supply chain management, e-commerce, and financial services.
Blockchain-Powered Platforms for Specific Industries
The guidelines also propose the development of blockchain-powered platforms tailored to specific industries, with pilot projects testing decentralized applications in sectors such as digital finance, green energy, and smart manufacturing.
Industry-Specific Platforms:
- Supply chain networks for agriculture and manufacturing to ensure traceability and reduce fraud.
- DeFi solutions in the financial sector for secure, low-cost alternatives to traditional systems.
Focus on Security and Privacy
China’s approach to blockchain extends to securing the infrastructure itself, with plans to integrate blockchain with advanced privacy-enhancing technologies like secure multi-party computation and zero-knowledge proofs.
Security Measures:
- Blockchain-based monitoring systems for real-time data integrity checks.
- Decentralized control to reduce single points of failure and enhance national data resilience.