China has formally set 2030 as the target year to substantially complete a national blockchain network, according to the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Informatization published by the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission. The plan directs authorities to build a central backbone network, connect regional hubs, and develop distributed digital identity services, while expanding blockchain applications in trade, finance, manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, taxation, government services, and carbon reduction.
The document, issued on Oct. 23, follows an earlier policy opinion published on Oct. 9 by the Communist Party's Central Committee and the State Council, which contained 19 measures covering technology-led industries. Regional programs include deeper blockchain use in trade and finance in the Yangtze River Delta, large-scale deployment in commerce, manufacturing, and agriculture in the Chengdu-Chongqing region, blockchain applications for dual airport hubs and smart logistics in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and greater cross-border data flows and government services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The plan also calls for stronger technical standards, participation in international standards development, and broader use of blockchain and privacy-preserving computing in data circulation and transactions. It includes steady development of the digital yuan, but does not set a transaction target or a timetable for linking the currency to the national blockchain backbone. Core digital economy industries are targeted to account for 12.5% of GDP by 2030, up from a 10.5% figure identified as a 2024 statistic.
Chinese authorities continue to distinguish between blockchain development and cryptocurrency-related commercial activity. Commercial crypto asset activities remain prohibited in mainland China, a stance dating back to President Xi Jinping's 2019 call for faster blockchain adoption. The published plan does not specify a separate budget or annual construction schedule for the blockchain network.
