China promotes Web3 initiatives: comprehensive integration of digital infrastructure, AI, and healthcare into Blockchain technology

The Chinese government announced on April 29 a two-year "Blockchain Innovation and Application Development Action Plan," intending to make Blockchain the "core technology for industrial digitization." It aims not only to invest in infrastructure but also to promote applications in fields such as healthcare, education, and AI. Officials emphasized that this is not just a technological investment, but a key project to drive the digital economy and urban innovation transformation.

From 2024 to 2027, China will launch a timetable to promote the implementation of Blockchain.

According to the official announcement, the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Zhongguancun Management Committee, Cyberspace Administration, Government Affairs Data Bureau, Economic and Information Commission, and Commerce Bureau jointly launched this action plan. The overall implementation will start in 2024 and will continue until 2027.

Blockchain is listed as a core underlying technology, and the development of cryptocurrency applications is not ruled out.

The plan points out that the Blockchain is an important foundation for the digitalization development of industries, possessing the potential to "enhance data trustworthiness and optimize process efficiency." Furthermore, it is particularly mentioned by the authorities:

"Will enhance the value conversion capability of digital assets through blockchain technology."

Some individuals interpret it as possibly involving research and applications related to digital assets, such as mining or asset on-chain.

Infrastructure fully opened: Build national-level nodes, Blockchain chips, Digital identity platform

The announcement stated that China will build a complete set of Blockchain infrastructure:

Establish "Blockchain Chip" and data privacy protection features

Develop national-level nodes, trusted identity platforms, decentralized data catalogs

Achieve the overall plan of "One Chain, One Network, One Platform"

The goal of this system is to achieve:

Petabyte level node storage capacity

Digital identity interoperability system with over a hundred million users

Cross-chain operations and interoperability between different blockchains

Applicable industries are diverse: healthcare, education, AI, finance, and transportation are all included.

The Beijing Municipal Government will introduce blockchain for multiple key industries, including:

Healthcare: Emphasizing the reliable transmission of medical records and data

Educational Field: Degree and Credit Certification can be verified on the Blockchain

AI Model: Support for Reliable Traceability of Large AI Models

Financial Services: Automation of Financial Processes and Digitalization of Contracts

Traffic Management: Data Sharing and Smart City Applications

The overall goal is to enhance government service efficiency and industry trust, creating a "benchmark application" to be promoted nationwide.

Continuing the direction of the Web3 white paper, build a global digital economy innovation center.

This action plan continues the spirit of the "Web3 Innovation and Development White Paper" released by China in 2023. At that time, China had already stated:

"Web3 is an irreversible trend in the future development of the internet."

The Chinese authorities will allocate at least 100 million RMB each year to support Web3 technology innovation starting from 2023, until the end of 2024.

China's Blockchain Roadmap focuses on the application layer and infrastructure.

Unlike the development path of "decentralization and free development of cryptocurrencies" in Europe and the United States, this time China emphasizes:

Technological independence and safety control

Large institution-oriented, service industry digitalization

Trust mechanisms and data management under a strengthened regulatory framework

From the perspective of the action plan, Beijing has not emphasized "cryptocurrency" itself, but rather focuses more on the application of Blockchain underlying technology in scenarios such as "trusted identity, data interoperability, and process automation."

This article discusses China's Web3 plan: the comprehensive introduction of blockchain technology in digital infrastructure, AI, and healthcare, first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.