In Beijing, visitors are likely to meet "bitcoin maximalists", those who shrug at the idea an alternative blockchain or bank consortium could challenge the network effect of a $10bn digital economy. In Shanghai, the difference of attitude is pronounced – there, you are more likely to be told that bitcoin is passé.
But as for which brand of blockchain is winning, it might be too early to say. Da Hongfei, CEO of Shanghai-based Onchain, for example, hinted he believes other cities are now following Shanghai's lead, in what could be a sign its view on the technology could win out.
"Hangzhou is taking the lead in the lower-layer, distributed ledger technology R&D," he said, "not necessarily everything bitcoin." Companies seem to be following their lead, as well.
Onchain is working with Everbright Securities, a major Chinese commercial bank, to build a blockchain-based reputation point system. The project sees value in enterprise markets, particularly because there have been strong signals of interest from leading domestic firms.
In this way, Da argued that he believes "blockchain" might bring about the most benefits for Chinese consumers, though he sought to stress that there’s a larger, more important goal that unites innovators in both Shanghai and Beijing, in bitcoin and blockchain.
http://www.coindesk.com/china-shanghai-beijing-blockchain-divide/