In a groundbreaking move for digital finance innovation, the first loan leveraging blockchain technology and digital yuan—backed by on-exchange transaction data from the Shanghai Data Exchange (SDE)—has been successfully issued. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in the integration of data assets, financial services, and emerging technologies, setting a new benchmark for secure, transparent, and traceable digital lending.
The initiative is a collaborative upgrade between the Shanghai Data Exchange and China Construction Bank’s Shanghai branch, under their joint “Shu Yi Dai” (translated as "Data Easy Loan") program. By harnessing blockchain to record, transmit, and manage end-to-end data transactions, the two institutions have established a secure, real-time data-sharing framework that enhances credit assessment accuracy and strengthens loan monitoring.
A New Era of Data-Driven Lending
The newly launched financial product centers on using verified, real-time transaction data from the SDE as a core credit evaluation metric. Unlike traditional lending models that rely heavily on historical financial statements or physical collateral, this approach unlocks the value of intangible digital assets—specifically, data products traded on a regulated exchange.
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This shift enables banks to assess a company's operational vitality through its active participation in the data economy. For instance, consistent trading volume, pricing trends, and buyer demand for a firm’s data offerings can now serve as dynamic indicators of creditworthiness.
Case Study: Empowering a Tech-Driven SME
The inaugural beneficiary of this advanced financing model is Shanghai Kan Kan Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.—a high-tech enterprise specializing in rapid big data processing, cloud-based recognition comparison, and advanced data mining and retrieval systems. Recognized as a specialized, innovative small-to-medium enterprise (SME), the company exemplifies the type of agile, knowledge-intensive business that thrives in a data-centric economy.
China Construction Bank evaluated the firm’s credit profile not just through conventional metrics but by directly accessing its live transaction records on the SDE platform. These insights—immutably stored on a shared blockchain ledger—provided transparent, tamper-proof evidence of the company’s market engagement and revenue potential.
As a result, the bank was able to extend a tailored loan package that reflects the true economic value of the company’s digital assets.
Blockchain Meets Central Bank Digital Currency
What sets this transaction apart is the dual use of blockchain and digital yuan (e-CNY). While blockchain ensures data integrity and traceability across the entire lending lifecycle, digital yuan serves as the disbursement and settlement mechanism.
This integration offers several advantages:
- Full traceability: Every movement of funds can be tracked from disbursement to final use, reducing risks of misappropriation.
- Real-time monitoring: Lenders gain visibility into how loan proceeds are spent, enabling proactive risk management.
- End-to-end automation: Smart contracts on the blockchain can trigger payments upon fulfillment of predefined conditions, increasing efficiency.
Together, these technologies create a closed-loop system where both data flow (upstream) and capital flow (downstream) are synchronized, auditable, and secure.
Core Keywords Driving Innovation
This landmark development highlights several key concepts shaping the future of fintech:
- Blockchain in finance
- Digital yuan adoption
- Data asset financing
- SME digital lending
- Secure data sharing
- Real-time credit assessment
- Financial innovation in Shanghai
- Decentralized data governance
These keywords reflect growing market interest in secure, scalable solutions that bridge the gap between digital infrastructure and financial inclusion.
Building on Past Success
This latest achievement builds upon the initial success of the “Shu Yi Dai” program, which debuted earlier in 2025 with the first-ever data asset-backed collateral loan. That pilot proved that data could function as a legitimate financial asset when traded transparently on a regulated platform.
The current upgrade takes it further by introducing real-time data synchronization via blockchain, eliminating latency and manual verification bottlenecks. It also marks the first time digital yuan has been used in conjunction with exchange-traded data as collateral—a world-first in terms of technical execution and regulatory alignment.
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Strategic Implications for Digital Finance
The collaboration between SDE and CCB Shanghai signals a broader transformation in how financial institutions perceive and utilize non-traditional assets. As more companies generate value through data rather than physical inventory or real estate, traditional lending models must evolve—or risk becoming obsolete.
By anchoring loans to verifiable, real-time market activity, this model reduces information asymmetry and enables fairer pricing of credit risk. Moreover, it promotes responsible borrowing by aligning loan performance with actual business outcomes.
For policymakers and regulators, this case offers a blueprint for safe innovation within a controlled environment—demonstrating how public infrastructure (like the SDE), private financial institutions, and cutting-edge technology can work together to advance national digital economy goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is “Shu Yi Dai”?
A: “Shu Yi Dai” is a financial product developed by China Construction Bank and the Shanghai Data Exchange that allows enterprises to obtain loans based on their data trading activities on the exchange. It represents a new form of data asset financing.
Q: How does blockchain enhance this loan process?
A: Blockchain ensures that all transaction data shared between the bank and the exchange is immutable, transparent, and securely recorded. This prevents fraud, enables real-time verification, and supports automated workflows through smart contracts.
Q: Why use digital yuan instead of traditional currency?
A: Digital yuan allows for programmable money—meaning fund usage can be monitored and restricted to specific purposes. This increases accountability and helps ensure loans are used productively within the intended supply chain.
Q: Can any company qualify for such a loan?
A: Currently, eligibility focuses on verified data providers actively trading on the Shanghai Data Exchange. Priority is given to high-tech SMEs with strong data governance practices and consistent transaction histories.
Q: Is this model scalable beyond Shanghai?
A: Yes. Given its success, this framework could be replicated across other regional data exchanges in China and potentially inspire similar initiatives globally, especially in markets advancing central bank digital currencies.
Q: What are the risks involved in data-backed lending?
A: Key risks include data valuation volatility, privacy concerns, and dependency on exchange reliability. However, these are mitigated through standardized pricing mechanisms, encryption protocols, and regulatory oversight.
Future Outlook: Unlocking the Value of Data Assets
Looking ahead, the SDE and CCB Shanghai plan to deepen their partnership by expanding the scope of eligible data products, refining risk models, and integrating AI-driven analytics for predictive lending decisions.
Their shared vision is to help more enterprises—especially SMEs—monetize their data assets and accelerate digital transformation. By turning data into collateral, they’re not just funding businesses; they’re validating data as a cornerstone of modern economic value.
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This innovation paves the way for a future where access to capital is no longer constrained by physical assets—but powered by digital intelligence, transparency, and trust.