中国国家支持的区块链平台的出现（英）-30页_943kb

Summary of China's State-Backed Blockchain Platform

Core Content

China's emergence as a leader in the blockchain space is part of a broader strategy to expand its influence in the global digital economy through the Digital Silk Road (DSR). The report highlights the development of the Blockchain-Based Service Network (BSN), a state-backed blockchain platform aimed at standardizing and interoperating digital infrastructure both domestically and internationally. This initiative is seen as a strategic move to enhance China's control over digital systems and to promote its norms in global governance.

Main Views

• BSN as a Digital Infrastructure Initiative: BSN is positioned as a new "Internet of Blockchains" that serves as the foundational infrastructure for cross-sector data interconnectivity. It is designed to be a cost-effective and scalable solution for blockchain adoption.

• State Control and Centralization: BSN is entirely state-controlled, managed by a consortium of state-owned and affiliated companies. This centralization raises concerns about data security, surveillance, and the potential for authoritarian manipulation.

• Permissioned Blockchain Preference: Unlike public, permissionless blockchains, BSN operates as a permissioned network. This allows for greater control by the state and aligns with the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) goal of maintaining central authority over digital systems.

• Strategic Expansion via DSR: The BSN is a key component of China's DSR, which aims to spread its technology solutions and standards globally. The platform is expected to support the integration of blockchain-based services in trade, logistics, and financial systems of BRI countries.

• Digital Currency Integration: BSN is being developed as a framework for the interoperability of China's digital currency with other state-backed digital currencies, such as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and enhance China's financial leverage.

• Smart City Applications: Chinese companies are using blockchain to support smart city solutions, which are being exported to various countries under the BRI. Blockchain is seen as a tool to improve efficiency and interoperability in urban digital systems.

Key Information

• Launch and Growth: The BSN was launched in April 2020, with a global version released in August 2020. As of mid-2020, it had 128 domestic and 7 international public city nodes (PCNs), with plans to expand to over 200 PCNs by 2025.

• Government Involvement: The BSN is governed by the Blockchain Service Network Development Association, which includes state entities such as the State Information Center, China Mobile, and China UnionPay.

• Geopolitical Implications: The expansion of BSN into international markets is perceived as a challenge to the existing global digital infrastructure, with potential implications for data security, national security, and the balance of power in the digital economy.

• Cryptocurrency and BRI: Chinese cryptocurrency firms like Huobi Group are playing a role in promoting BSN in BRI countries, using forums and partnerships to drive blockchain adoption.

• National Security Concerns: Security experts are skeptical about the data security of BSN International, particularly regarding the potential for Chinese government surveillance and control over foreign data.

• Future Vision: The CCP envisions BSN as a tool for achieving a Sino-centric "common destiny in cyberspace," reinforcing its leadership in the digital economy and setting global standards.

Conclusion

China's state-backed blockchain platform, BSN, represents a strategic effort to expand its digital influence globally through the DSR. By promoting a centralized, permissioned blockchain system, the CCP aims to standardize digital infrastructure, enhance economic competitiveness, and exert control over digital systems and data flows. The platform's potential to support digital currencies and smart city solutions further underscores its importance in China's broader vision for a global digital order under its leadership. However, the centralized nature of BSN and its integration with state institutions raise significant concerns about data security and the implications for international digital governance.