Draft:Blockchain-based Service Network

The Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) is a non-cryptocurrency blockchain infrastructure that develops a distributed cloud environment within the existing clouds for businesses or institutions to build and manage distributed applications. The BSN was founded in 2018 under the lead of the State Information Center of China, a government think tank under the National Development and Reform Commission, and was officially launched in 2019. Other founding members include China Mobile, China UnionPay, and Red Date Technology Limited.

On April 25, 2020, The Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) was announced for commercial use, categorized into Chinese and International operations. On June 29, 2022, the BSN-DDC Network surpassed Ethereum’s transaction volume within a 24-hour period.

Technology Stacks
The Blockchain-based Service Network functions as an infrastructure network rather than a standalone blockchain protocol. It establishes a distributed cloud environment that uses blockchain as an operating system.

Enterprise BSN
Enterprise BSN is an enterprise-level software platform integrated into public cloud, private cloud, or intranet for enterprises and institutions to embed a blockchain-based environment into their existing systems. While traditional cloud environments handle centralized private IT systems, Enterprise BSN, working in parallel, manages distributed Multi-Party Systems or Public IT Systems and the lifecycle of blockchain applications on these systems.

BSN-DDC Network
The BSN-DDC comprises Open Permissioned Blockchains (OPBs) that are adapted from public chain blueprints such as Ethereum to align with Chinese regulatory frameworks. The network operates exclusively in Mainland China and adopts Distributed Digital Certificate technology, a “Chinese version of NFT,” as the certification and distributed database technology to be applied in business or government scenarios where digital proof is required. The data center software of the BSN-DDC Network mandates permissions and KYC procedures.

BSN-Spartan Network
The BSN Spartan Network is an open-source public infrastructure network built on the BSN Spartan data centers, which functions as the gateway to the network, operating exclusively outside Mainland China. The BSN Spartan Network integrates Non-Cryptocurrency Public Chains (NC Chains), which are non-crypto hard forks derived from their respective original public chains.

Bifurcated Operation
The BSN architecture is bifurcated between Chinese and international users. BSN China operates under the guidance of the BSN Development Association (BSNDA), which is founded by Chinese government-linked entities and major state-owned enterprises and uses cloud infrastructure from China Mobile, China Telecom, and Baidu AI Cloud. The BSN Spartan Network functions independently under the BSN Foundation based in Singapore, and uses Amazon Web Services and other commercial cloud service providers in Hong Kong, USA, and Europe. In November 2023, five founding members of the BSN Foundation were announced in Singapore: Blockdaemon, GFT Technologies, TOKO, Zeeve, and Red Date Technology, with membership from the USA, Europe, and Asia.

On Nov 8, 2023, a U.S. bill, titled the Creating Legal Accountability for Rogue Innovators and Technology (CLARITY) Act, proposed to outlaw federal agencies from using the Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) and its IT infrastructure service Spartan Network, along with the tech provider Red Date Technology over national security and privacy concerns.