The blockchain industry is experiencing a powerful resurgence, driven by policy support and growing recognition of its transformative potential. As governments and enterprises alike begin to embrace this technology, new opportunities are emerging across sectors. But who stands to benefit the most? According to industry experts, three categories of companies are best positioned to thrive in this evolving landscape.
The Strategic Importance of Blockchain in 2025
Blockchain is no longer just an experimental technology associated with cryptocurrencies or fringe applications. It has entered the mainstream spotlight—literally. When the national collective study session highlighted blockchain on prime-time news, it sent a clear signal: this technology is now a strategic national priority.
👉 Discover how blockchain is reshaping industries and creating new investment frontiers.
While blockchain still faces challenges in maturity and standardization, it has shed outdated labels like "useless" or "pyramid scheme." Instead, it’s being recognized as one of the few technologies where China could potentially lead global innovation.
This shift doesn’t necessarily correlate with the launch timeline of DCEP (Digital Currency Electronic Payment), though both developments reflect a broader digital transformation agenda. Blockchain remains one of several technical options under consideration for central bank digital currencies—not the sole path forward.
Core Challenges: Innovation Gaps and Commercialization Barriers
Despite progress, key hurdles remain before widespread adoption can occur.
Technical Maturity vs. Real-World Application
Blockchain isn’t a single breakthrough invention but rather a fusion of existing technologies—cryptography, distributed systems, consensus algorithms—repackaged into a novel application model. The real challenge lies not in theoretical research but in engineering execution: turning academic concepts into reliable, scalable software products.
As seen in the evolution of consumer electronics, future competition will center on engineering capability—the ability to move efficiently from paper to code, code to software, and software to market-ready solutions.
Two major barriers stand out:
- Core technology independence: Over-reliance on foreign frameworks limits long-term control.
- Business logic integration: Many projects fail because they don’t align technical design with real-world operational needs.
Consensus Mechanisms: Bridging the Global Divide
Different regions have taken divergent paths. The U.S. has largely pursued public blockchains emphasizing decentralization (e.g., Ethereum, Bitcoin), while China has focused on permissioned (alliance) chains that balance trust with controllability.
However, a convergence trend is emerging. Projects like EOS and Ripple incorporate elements of centralization for performance gains, while Chinese initiatives are exploring hybrid models such as alliance-public chains. Open-source collaboration has also minimized foundational technical gaps between East and West.
One promising area for自主创新 (independent innovation) is RBFT (Randomized Byzantine Fault Tolerance)—a consensus mechanism that uses randomness to enhance fairness and scalability. Advancing RBFT could prepare the infrastructure needed for blockchain’s next stages: innovation chains, application chains, and value chains.
Standardization: The Race for Global Influence
China is actively participating in blockchain standardization efforts, leveraging early-mover advantages in research and pilot programs. However, standards today fall into two categories:
- Top-down (common in China): Driven by government and institutional bodies.
- Bottom-up (common in the West): Emerges organically from developer communities and tech giants.
While numerous national and international standards are in development, none have yet become de facto standards through real-world adoption. Tech giants like IBM, Google, and Amazon are aggressively deploying blockchain applications, which risks them setting de facto norms that others must follow.
To avoid dependency, China must:
- Encourage cross-industry collaboration
- Extract best practices from vertical-specific use cases
- Refine these into practical, forward-looking standards
Only then can domestic innovations gain global influence.
Integrating Blockchain with Real Economies
One of blockchain’s greatest promises lies in solving persistent economic inefficiencies—especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Solving SME Financing Challenges
Traditional financing systems suffer from:
- Low data credibility
- Fragmented information flow
- High risk assessment costs
Blockchain addresses these by:
- Ensuring data immutability and traceability
- Integrating multi-dimensional data (logistics, cash flow, inventory)
- Enabling regulatory nodes for oversight
When SME transaction records are securely stored on-chain, banks and factoring companies gain trustworthy insights into creditworthiness—reducing default risks and improving loan accessibility.
👉 See how blockchain-powered platforms are revolutionizing financial inclusion.
Emerging Industry Leaders: Who Will Rise?
According to experts at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Electronic Fifth Research Institute, three types of organizations will benefit most from current momentum:
- Core Technology Innovators: Firms focused on independent R&D in consensus mechanisms, cryptography, and scalability.
- Industry Solution Providers: Companies delivering tailored “Blockchain+” solutions in finance, supply chain, healthcare, etc.
- Support Service Units: Entities offering security audits, testing, consulting, and talent development.
National policy tends to favor the first group, while local governments prioritize practical applications and ecosystem services.
Key Sectors for Blockchain Adoption
Mainstream adoption will unfold across three broad domains:
1. Government & Public Services
- Data sharing between departments
- Social credit systems
- Transparent governance
2. Civil Livelihood
- Education credential verification
- Healthcare records management
- Food safety tracking
- Anti-counterfeiting and charity transparency
3. Commercial Applications
Experts highlight high-potential areas including:
- Digital finance
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Smart manufacturing
- Supply chain management
- Digital asset trading
A full-scale value-chain transformation—comparable to the internet boom—is expected within 3–5 years.
Capital Markets and Investment Outlook
Investor sentiment is shifting rapidly.
While short-term speculation may cool, long-term fundamentals are strengthening. Venture capital interest has surged, particularly in core technology firms demonstrating tangible engineering progress.
Can Blockchain Companies Go Public?
Favorable conditions exist for:
- Platform providers
- Technical service firms
- Hardware manufacturers (e.g., specialized computing equipment)
These entities generate revenue through legitimate product sales and services—making them suitable candidates for listing on the STAR Market (Sci-Tech Innovation Board).
However, companies whose income primarily comes from virtual asset trading or token issuance face regulatory uncertainty.
The Future of Digital Financial Ecosystems
Will we see national digital banks or licensed digital asset exchanges?
While official confirmation awaits, structural foundations are already forming:
- DCEP architecture resembles a core digital banking framework
- Regulatory sandboxes are testing digital financial instruments
- Industry-led forums are evaluating technical requirements for future exchanges
The resulting ecosystem is likely to be more transparent, flat, and inclusive, enabling new types of financial institutions with strong sector-specific expertise.
Regulatory Priorities: Balancing Freedom and Control
Effective regulation must address two defining features of blockchain:
- Network anonymity
- Decentralized intermediation
Solutions include:
- Deploying supervisory nodes within networks
- Integrating with national identity systems (e.g., EID)
- Applying domestic cryptographic standards (SM series)
- Linking digital identities to physical entities for auditability
Combining these tools allows for a system that preserves privacy while enabling accountability—a balance essential for sustainable growth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes blockchain different from traditional databases?
A: Unlike centralized databases, blockchain offers decentralization, immutability, and transparency. Once data is recorded, it cannot be altered without network consensus, making fraud extremely difficult.
Q: Can blockchain work without cryptocurrency?
A: Yes. While many public blockchains use tokens for incentives, enterprise (especially alliance) chains often operate without native cryptocurrencies—focusing instead on secure data sharing and process automation.
Q: Is China banning public blockchains?
A: Not exactly. While unrestricted public chains face regulatory scrutiny, there's strong support for permissioned networks that comply with local laws—especially those serving public or industrial purposes.
Q: How does blockchain help with supply chain transparency?
A: By recording every step—from raw material sourcing to final delivery—on an immutable ledger, stakeholders can verify authenticity, track delays, and ensure ethical practices.
Q: Are all blockchain jobs technical?
A: No. Beyond developers and cryptographers, demand is rising for legal experts, project managers, UX designers, and business analysts who understand both technology and industry needs.
Q: When will average consumers use blockchain daily?
A: Many already do—often unknowingly—through digital IDs, e-invoices, or product authenticity checks. Widespread consumer-facing apps may emerge fully within 3–5 years.
👉 Explore the next generation of blockchain innovations transforming global industries today.