China unveils the Web 3.0 Innovation and Development White Paper (2023).
Beijing aims to shape itself as a global innovation hub for the digital economy, with Zhongguancun as the focal point.
In an audacious move this morning, China’s capital, Beijing, spotlighted its commitment to the evolution of the internet by unveiling an ambitious blueprint known as the “Web 3.0 Innovation and Development White Paper (2023)”.
This seminal document, touted by a local media outlet, The Paper, points to web3 technology as the “unavoidable pathway” for the forthcoming expansion of the internet industry.
The announcement was made at the high-profile Zhongguancun Forum by the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission, also celebrated as the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park.
In a creative act, the commission expressed its goal to shape Beijing into a global crucible of innovation for the burgeoning digital economy. To facilitate this, the city’s Chaoyang district will earmark a special fund of at least 100 million yuan (approximately $14 million) annually until 2025.
The bustling district of Zhongguancun, often called the Silicon Valley of China, is set to be the staging ground for this ambitious undertaking. The white paper reportedly underlines Beijing’s intent to fortify policy support and expedite technological innovations in the field of web3.
Hong Kong Crypto Rules Collide with Beijing’s Web3 Vision
This announcement is particularly interesting, as stated by Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, given its proximity to Hong Kong’s new cryptocurrency regulations launch on June 1.
The city’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) delineated the regulatory shift in Hong Kong in a new rulebook released last week, greenlighting retail investors to engage in cryptocurrency trading from June 1st when the novel licensing regime for crypto platforms starts.
As the web3 landscape evolves, Beijing’s white paper signals China’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant digital innovation and development ecosystem. As the countdown to implementing Hong Kong’s new crypto regulations begins, the world will be watching to see how these bold steps toward a web3 future will unfold.