The Rise of China's Five Major Cryptocurrency Projects: From Technological Breakthroughs to Practical Applications

Although China has faced policy restrictions in the cryptocurrency field, its technological development has never stagnated. By 2025, several domestic crypto projects have moved from pure technological exploration to real commercial applications, demonstrating a differentiated development path from international projects. These projects have not only gained government recognition but also proven their value through global corporate partnerships.

NEO and Ontology: The Dual Engines of the Smart Contract Ecosystem

NEO, as one of the earliest Chinese blockchain protocols, has long been called “China’s Ethereum” due to its smart contract capabilities. Its unique dual-token design—NEO for governance and GAS for transaction fees—provides clear economic incentives for ecosystem participants. In comparison, Ontology builds on NEO’s foundation, focusing further on identity verification and data protection. Its decentralized identity verification (DID) technology has found practical applications in healthcare and financial services, exemplifying how Chinese crypto projects are exploring real-world value.

VeChain and Conflux: Differentiation for Enterprise and Regulatory Friendliness

VeChain adopts a pragmatic approach, partnering with Fortune 500 companies like Walmart, BMW, and PwC to apply blockchain technology for supply chain transparency and anti-counterfeiting. Its focus on green ESG initiatives also reflects core modern corporate concerns. Conflux, on the other hand, took a different route—as China’s first public chain to receive regulatory approval, its processing capacity of 3,000 transactions per second has reshaped industry perceptions of Chinese technology. Its seamless integration with traditional industries demonstrates the potential for regulatory-friendly infrastructure.

Why China’s Crypto Ecosystem Is Worth Watching

A year ago, when discussing the “2025 Outlook,” external opinions on these Chinese crypto projects remained cautious. But the reality shows that improvements in policy environment, accumulation of real business cases, and government recognition are changing the narrative of this ecosystem. These projects are not just concepts promising the future—they are operational infrastructure.

For investors, the key is understanding each project’s differentiated positioning: Do they have real enterprise clients? Are their technical metrics leading? Have they received policy approval? Based on these dimensions, building a diversified investment portfolio covering smart contracts, enterprise applications, and regulatory-friendly tracks may be more worthwhile than blindly chasing trends.