China approves 197 blockchain firms, inc. Alibaba, JD.com

E-commerce giants Alibaba and JD.com have made it onto China’s cyberspace administration’s first list of registered blockchain service providers.

There are 197 companies in all, with Alibaba and JD.com developing Blockchain-as-a-Service offerings. The regulator says that it will continue its search for other services that should register and “relevant institutions and individuals who have not fulfilled the filing procedures should apply for filing as soon as possible.”

Logistics, government and medical services are the areas that dominate the first list. The authorised companies are not allowed to use blockchain technology for any commercial purpose.

Sign up for our free retail technology newsletter here.