Caixin: China Backs AI Token Business Innovation at Policy Level

China is providing policy-level backing for AI token business innovation, according to a Caixin Global business brief published on July 29. While the specific policy measures and scope were not elaborated in the brief, the signal indicates a notable shift in regulatory posture toward token-based business models in the AI sector.

AI tokens typically refer to the metered units used to charge for compute resources, model inference calls, or data access within AI services and platforms. As large model inference costs and API call volumes grow exponentially, the token economy has become a critical layer in the AI industry value chain.

This policy-level endorsement could have direct implications for domestic AI cloud providers, model vendors, and agent platforms. With regulatory backing, AI token-related business models including token circulation, trading, and cross-platform interoperability may gain clearer development pathways.

The development aligns with recent intensive activity in China AI sector. Volcengine just launched the Doubao Search service for agent integration, and 360 unveiled its Nano Work enterprise agent platform. As major players build commercial infrastructure around agents and AI services, policy support for the token economy could provide a more stable institutional foundation for these business models to take hold.

Key areas to watch include the release of specific policy documents, scope definitions, and whether token circulation, trading, and cross-border usage will be addressed in the regulatory framework.