China explores 'token banks' for SMEs, aiming for low-cost computing access by 2028

China will pilot computing power bank or supermarket to tackle a growing shortage of computing power, as authorities move to lower barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt artificial intelligence.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology outlined a nationwide campaign on Thursday to make computing resources "more accessible, flexible, and affordable" for smaller businesses — a segment seen as critical to scaling the country's AI ambitions.

By the end of 2028, authorities aim to establish a broadly accessible computing service system characterized by wide coverage, low costs, high-quality services, a dynamic ecosystem, and a strong talent base.

Under the plan, at least 10 out of 15 major industry categories defined for SMEs will be covered, with a focus on significantly reducing the cost and complexity of accessing and deploying computing resources. The effort is also intended to support SMEs in moving up the value chain toward little giant enterprises.

Notably, policymakers are encouraging experiments with "computing power banks", where companies can deposit idle computing capacity and withdraw it later, and "computing power supermarkets", a marketplace-style platform for on-demand access to pooled resources. The move is intended to iron out mismatches across regions and time cycles, effectively turning computing power into a tradable, storable asset.

At the core of the plan is also a push to match fragmented demand from SMEs with underutilized computing supply, using upgraded national platforms. Dedicated sections on the China Computing Power Platform and the SME service network will be expanded to enable a more precise, real-time allocation of resources.

Authorities will also promote flexible pricing schemes, allowing firms to pay based on usage — including token consumption — mirroring billing practices used by major cloud and AI service providers.

To ease the strain, the government will also roll out targeted subsidies, including computing power vouchers, distributed through SME service platforms. Local authorities are encouraged to streamline application and redemption processes to speed up adoption.