China's Communist Party Publishes Blockchain Tech 101

China's Communist Party is moving to make blockchain literacy the norm across public offices with the publication of an explainer for officials and members.

Released by the publishing house of the People's Daily – the party's news outlet – the book is titled "Blockchain – A Guide for Officials", according to a report from the Daily on Monday. Starting with an explanation of the origin and features of blockchain, the guide moves onto the current and future applications and challenges the tech brings to the business and legal world.

According to the People's Daily, the goal is to help government officials better understand the concept of blockchain as part of a wider effort to facilitate the development and adoption of the technology.

Ye Zhenzhen, head of People's Daily, writes in the book:

"The biggest impact of blockchain lies in its operation mechanism ... which seeks to achieve consensus as a way to govern a community. It offers us a brand new angle to think about and resolve different problems."

The effort comes soon after Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged the potential of blockchain in a public speech in which he remarked that the technology is among several breakthroughs that have reshaped the global economy.

Currently, one of the cabinet-level ministries under China's State Council is also charting a framework for blockchain standardization to assist the creation of regulatory guidance for the tech's development in the country.

China flag image via Shutterstock