Thread on the recent and quite significant China blockchain developments in Hainan, by request. 
1) China’s first blockchain pilot zone officially opened in Haikou in Hainan Province in Oct 2018, known as the Hainan Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Blockchain Pilot Zone. Hainan Island was designated as China’s 12th free-trade zone by Chinese President Xi in April last year.*
*Fun fact, the first tweet’s content was censored on WeChat in our team’s internal communications when we used Xi Jinping’s full name. When we changed to “President Xi”, the message went through.
2) The blockchain zone is based in the Hainan Resort Software Community (RSC), which has launched a blockchain research institute in cooperation with Oxford University’s blockchain research center.
3) Hainan's efforts of embracing blockchain paid off when Huobi moved its operation center to the island's blockchain pilot zone. Huobi purchased three buildings in the Hainan Ecological Software Park which already hosts 175 enterprises including Microsoft and HP.
4) Huobi is in the process of relocating about 300 of its 900 mainland-based staffers – including some senior executives – from Beijing to Hainan, said Livio Weng Xiaoqi, CEO of Huobi Global, the company's main exchange business.
5) “If China is to make some breakthroughs in the blockchain industry, it is mostly likely to happen in two places: Hong Kong or Hainan. We have made plans in both places because we don’t want to miss the opportunity,” Weng said.
6) OK Group is all set to invest $140 million in China to facilitate blockchain adoption. The operator of the cryptocurrency exchange OKCoin, has joined hands with the Hainan Free Trade Zone Digital Economy and Blockchain Forum for International Cooperation as a co-organizer.
7) Hosted by governmental subdivisions in Hainan, China, this group aims to facilitate the innovation of blockchain technology and industry, along with the creation, liquidation, and trading of digital assets.
8) Yang Chen, President of Hainan’s Financial Supervisory Authority, has stated that the region is “adopting a sandbox model to test Fintech and blockchain technology.”
9) On Nov 29th, the 2019 International Blockchain Technology Innovation Summit Forum was held in Sanya, Hainan.
10) On December 1, Hainan international offshore innovation demonstration zone construction and blockchain · digital asset trading technology innovation forum was held in Hainan.
11) Speaking at the forum, the deputy provincial governor of Hainan province called for accelerating the innovation of blockchain technology and industry. “What to do next in blockchain and digital asset trading is not clear, but we hope that”…
12) “...Hainan will become the center of offshore innovation and entrepreneurship demonstration zone, the center of national blockchain research and application demonstration as well as the national digital asset trading demonstration zone.”
13) Meng Xiaosu, Chairman of the China Asset Securitization Forum, said that in theory, all assets that can be asset securitized can be made into digital tokens; the government will also standardize digital currency asset securitization standards.
14) According to Hainan Daily, the “Chain Shanghai South” plan will be released for the first time on December 4. It is understood that the “Chain Shanghai South” plan will…
15) “...empower the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Zone free trade port and build a secure and trusted digital governance and supervision service system. Under the premise of security, data can be efficiently flowed across regions and subjects...”
16) “...Integration with government affairs can realize post-approval and full-process penetrating supervision; integration with industry can activate data value and release huge industrial momentum.”
17) Wang Lu, deputy governor of Hainan Province said in a recent speech that he “hopes that more scholars and entrepreneurs will join to conspire, share, and jointly promote the research and application of blockchain, and make HN an important regional center for digital assets.”
18) As with all pilot zones, in the beginning the local government is quick to launch broad initiatives that seem to cover all aspects with no real specifics.
19) Worth noting Hainan’s proximity to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau “Greater Bay Area”. Hainan may be able to take advantage of talent and technology from nearby cities.
20) Since the second half of 2017, there have been nearly 100 blockchain conferences held in Hainan. Hainan has the advantages of low cost compared to Hong Kong and Singapore, including the cost of office rental and personnel relocation.
21) It will be interesting to see what other companies will set up operations in Hainan. We expect the tropical island to increasingly be a focal point for China’s blockchain industry.
