China's Supreme Court Controlled Journal Speaks Out: Digital Transactions, Electronic Currency, and Virtual Assets Included in Core Legal Topics

The 6th issue of 2025 (total issue 18) of *Digital Rule of Law*—an authoritative journal overseen by China’s Supreme People’s Court—has recently been published. This issue centers on digital transactions, electronic currency, virtual assets, generative AI, and data factor governance. Multiple articles tackle institutional foundational issues surrounding blockchain and crypto assets head-on, sending a clear signal to accelerate the refinement of digital asset rule of law. In the “Overseas Observation” section, one article systematically reviews the 2022 update to the U.S. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), zeroing in on debates around electronic contracting, electronic currency, distributed ledger-based virtual assets, and the new property right form known as “controllable electronic records.” The piece notes that the UCC’s institutional design for virtual currency—covering circulation, control, collateralization, and good-faith acquisition—holds significant reference value for China’s digital asset and blockchain legislation. Additionally, several articles in the issue revolve around generative AI training data, data portability rights, public data, autonomous driving and smart connected vehicles, and digital copyright protection. They emphasize the need to balance technological innovation, market efficiency, and rights protection through institutional reconstruction amid rapid tech advancement. The analysis notes that as a key theoretical window into China’s top judicial system, *Digital Rule of Law*’s concentrated discussion of digital transactions, electronic currency, and virtual assets indicates these topics have shifted from academic frontiers to core priorities in judicial and institutional design. This provides important policy and theoretical references for future rule improvements related to blockchain, digital assets, and Web3. BlockBeats Note: *Digital Rule of Law* is overseen by China’s Supreme People’s Court, published by the People’s Court Press, and co-organized by the top court’s Third Civil Division, Research Office, and Adjudication Management Office.