OnChain

Basics

Blockchain company, Shanghai-based, that developed (2-11-2020) NEO and Ontology.

NEO’s founders Da HongFei and Erik Zhang founded a company called OnChain. Understanding OnChain is critical to understanding NEO. They’re not the same company, but their interests align and they have a partnership together. OnChain’s system, known as DNA (Decentralized Network Architecture) aims to work with Chinese businesses and government. NEO acts as the foundation of DNA. If OnChain can integrate with Chinese businesses and government, that could spur adoption of NEO.
Ultimately, DNA develops public and private blockchains for businesses. These blockchains then link up to NEO to join the decentralized economy. Businesses then have all the benefits of both private and public blockchains. Think of NEO as providing the public blockchains and OnChain’s DNA providing the private blockchains. Then, they can link up and get the best of both worlds.
OnChain also has several projects and partnerships and newsworthy mentions that all contribute to the DNA ecosystem:

Established in 2014, this is not a fresh-off-the-shelf company
First Chinese blockchain company to join Hyperledger — a collaboration of projects that work towards integrating blockchain with established businesses.
Legal Chain — works with Microsoft China in digitizing and securing signatures via blockchain technology.
Strategic partner of Microsoft China on multiple projects
Worked with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Voted as KPMG’s top 50 Fintech Company in China
Partnership with Alibaba to provide an email certification service for Ali Cloud
Investment from Fosun Group—China’s largest private conglomerate — to integrate OnChain across their businesses.
Collaboration with Chinese regional government — using OnChain to develop public services and digital identity.

OnChain’s recent development was of the ICO Ontology. Ontology uses the same architecture as NEO but ultimately works with businesses in creating a private, encrypted data network. Essentially, this is important when we have information that we need securing, but we also need it to be private. This will enable people to bring this information in a secure manner to blockchains.