Blockchain master plans

The city of Chengdu, capital of China's Sichuan province and an emerging high-tech hub, has siezed on blockchain to promote an early, distinctive, and ambitious program that casts the city as a testbed for blockchain technology. The "Chengdu Blockchain Application Scenario Supply Action Plan" seeks proposals for blockchain solutions in a variety of industries and municipal applications. Up to three clusters will be identified for investment over the next two years. This suggests an ability and interest among Chinese cities in strategically leveraging this emerging technology for both govtech innovation and economic development, in coordination with national smart city priorities—and exploiting all of the usual agility of the country's private sector to deliver solutions quickly at scale.

This points towards a future where cities engage in strategic planning efforts to advance blockchain technology led by economic development priorities but also in pursuit of a broader municipal innovation agenda.