2018 Blockchain Global University Forum at Southeast University

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Southeast University, one of China's most prestigious institutions and a cradle of innovation in science and engineering, has long stood as a pillar of academic excellence. Rooted in the legacy of Sanjiang Normal College—the origin of modern higher education in Jiangsu—the university shares the distinction with Nanjing University as one of the province’s only two Project 985 universities, symbolizing the harmonious balance between humanities and science.

With a rich history spanning over a century, Southeast University has nurtured visionaries such as educator Tao Xingzhi, university president Guo Bingwen, physicist Chien-Shiung Wu (often called the "Chinese Marie Curie"), and modern entrepreneurs like Zhou Yuan of Zhihu and Mao Daqing of UrWork. Today, this legacy continues as the university actively explores cutting-edge technologies—including blockchain—for real-world applications.

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The 2018 Blockchain Global University Forum

On November 10, 2018, the Blockchain Global University Forum was successfully held at Southeast University. Organized by the Global Universities Blockchain Alliance, Southeast University National University Science Park, and the Communist Youth League Committee of Southeast University, the event brought together scholars, industry leaders, and students to discuss the evolving landscape of blockchain technology.

Media partners such as Time Finance, Baihua Blockchain, and Yinghe Finance supported the forum, highlighting growing public interest in decentralized systems and their transformative potential.

Keynote Speakers and Contributions

The forum featured a distinguished panel of experts who provided insights from academic, technical, and entrepreneurial perspectives.

Dr. Liu Xiaofan – Bridging Theory and Practice

Dr. Liu Xiaofan, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Engineering at Southeast University, also serves as Director of the university’s Blockchain Lab. He offered an academic definition of blockchain as a new information technology grounded in cryptography, distributed systems, and software engineering.

“Blockchain enables secure data storage and computational tasks through a decentralized network,” Dr. Liu explained. “Its reliability comes from consensus—multiple participants validate every transaction, ensuring integrity without central oversight.”

When asked where blockchain data is stored and what role platforms play, Dr. Liu clarified:

“A blockchain network consists of many nodes—each one a computer, possibly even your laptop. Data is stored across the hard drives of these devices. No single entity controls it; instead, all nodes collectively maintain the system.”

This decentralized architecture not only enhances security but also resilience against tampering or failure.

Zhu Weimin – Fostering Innovation Ecosystems

Zhu Weimin, Deputy General Manager of Southeast University National University Science Park, emphasized the importance of university-led innovation hubs in nurturing blockchain startups. “Universities are ideal environments for experimentation,” he said. “They provide talent, research infrastructure, and neutral ground for collaboration between industry and academia.”

Kong Yanqing – Building Global Academic Networks

Echo Kong, President of the Global Universities Blockchain Alliance and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Blockchain Industry Investment Alliance, spoke about international cooperation among top universities. “We’re creating a global network where students and researchers can share knowledge, develop open-source tools, and drive ethical innovation in blockchain.”

Real-World Applications: From Campus to Commerce

Kong Lingguo, head of Xuansheng Technology and former leader of MOAC Shanghai, presented practical use cases for blockchain within university ecosystems:

One student raised a critical question:

“If I store my copyright on a blockchain versus in a government database, what’s the difference?”

Kong responded:
“Storing data alone may seem similar—but blockchain adds trustless verification. On-chain records are timestamped, tamper-proof, and instantly accessible. In contrast, traditional registration is slow, costly, and often requires legal intervention during disputes. With blockchain, you gain faster, cheaper, and more enforceable proof of ownership.”

👉 Explore how blockchain is revolutionizing digital ownership and intellectual property rights.

Hybrid Blockchains: Meeting Enterprise Needs

Feng Kuanglong, Strategy Director at YINENG and former Alibaba product design consultant, discussed the evolution of blockchain architectures. As use cases grow more complex—spanning finance, logistics, healthcare—enterprise demands for data privacy, scalability, and interoperability increase.

“Public blockchains offer transparency but lack privacy. Private chains provide control but sacrifice decentralization. The solution? Hybrid models that combine both.”

Hybrid blockchains allow organizations to keep sensitive data private while leveraging public chains for auditability and cross-organizational trust. This makes them ideal for supply chain tracking, academic credential verification, and inter-campus research collaborations.

The Philosophical Roots of Decentralized Money

Yu Sufeng, co-founder of FIBOS, introduced foundational ideas behind cryptocurrency. But it was Huang Yingwei—product partner at Baihua Blockchain and former Tencent product manager—who traced Bitcoin’s ideological roots to economist Friedrich August von Hayek.

Hayek, an Austrian-born British Nobel laureate in economics, challenged the monopoly of state-issued currency. In his 1976 book Denationalisation of Money, he proposed a radical idea:

“If goods can compete freely in the market, why not money?”

He argued that allowing private entities to issue competing currencies would lead to better monetary stability through market forces—foreshadowing the emergence of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin decades later.

“This philosophy underpins much of today’s decentralized finance movement,” Huang noted. “Blockchain isn’t just about technology—it’s about rethinking power structures in financial systems.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is a blockchain node?
A: A node is any computer connected to a blockchain network that stores a copy of the ledger and helps validate transactions. Nodes ensure decentralization and network resilience.

Q: Can blockchain really protect my intellectual property?
A: Yes. By recording metadata (like creation date and authorship) on an immutable ledger, blockchain provides strong evidence of ownership that can be used in legal disputes or licensing negotiations.

Q: Are hybrid blockchains more secure than public ones?
A: Security depends on implementation. Hybrid blockchains offer enhanced privacy for enterprise use while maintaining transparency where needed—balancing security with functionality.

Q: Why are universities important in blockchain development?
A: Universities serve as neutral innovation labs where researchers can experiment with new consensus mechanisms, scalability solutions, and ethical frameworks without commercial pressure.

Q: How does blockchain reduce costs in supply chain finance?
A: By automating verification through smart contracts and providing real-time tracking of goods and payments, blockchain reduces delays, fraud risks, and administrative overhead.

Q: Is blockchain only useful for cryptocurrencies?
A: No. While Bitcoin popularized blockchain, its applications extend to identity management, voting systems, medical records, academic credentials, and more.

The 2018 Blockchain Global University Forum at Southeast University was more than a technical discussion—it was a vision of how academia can lead responsible innovation in decentralized technologies.

As students engage with these ideas and institutions build research infrastructure, China—and the world—moves closer to a future where trust is coded into systems rather than entrusted to intermediaries.

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