What is Blockchain Technology

Swarnim Goyal
3 min readAug 31, 2022

--

Blockchain is the digital ledger for all cryptocurrency transactions. It keeps growing as the “ready” block is added with a new set of shots. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data.

Blockchains, by design, are tolerant of data changes. It is an open distributed ledger that allows efficient, traceable, and persistent recording of transactions between two parties.

In its simplest form, a blockchain is a digital ledger of transactions. When a transaction occurs, it is recorded as a “block” in the ledger. Each subsequent transaction is chained to the previous one, creating an immutable record of all activity.

This distributed ledger system has several key advantages over traditional ledgers. First, it is decentralized, so no central authority is required to confirm or approve transactions. Second, each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, making it secure and tamper-proof. Finally, it is transparent as all users can see the entire history of the blockchain.

These properties make blockchain technology suitable for applications such as payments, supply chain management, and identity verification. Blockchain networks are highly resilient as there is no central control point or single point of failure.

When blockchain technology introduced

Blockchain technology was first introduced in 2008 as part of the Bitcoin system. However, it received widespread attention in 2016 when it began to be used for other purposes such as smart contracts and distributed ledgers.

There has been a lot of talk about the potential of blockchain technology in recent years. The concept of distributed ledger systems is not new but was first popularized by the Bitcoin protocol. Since then, many other applications of blockchain technology have been proposed and developed.

Essentially, this is a way to store data in a decentralized, secure, and tamper-proof way. This makes it ideal for applications such as cryptocurrency transactions that need to be fast and secure.

Blockchain technology is still in the early stages of development, but it shows promise for the future. In the years to come, we will see more and more applications of this innovative technology.

How blockchain technology works explained

Blockchain technology is a system that allows for secure, decentralized online transactions. The key to understanding how blockchain works are to understand the concept of a distributed ledger.

A distributed ledger is a database that is spread across multiple computers, each of which has a copy of the entire database. This means that there is no central point of control and no single point of failure.

Blockchain technology uses cryptography to ensure that each transaction is unique and cannot be tampered with. This makes it an ideal platform for handling sensitive data, such as financial information or medical records. When a transaction is added to the blockchain, it is verified by all the computers in the network. This verification process makes it impossible to alter or delete any data in the blockchain.

The decentralization of the blockchain means that it is not subject to the same vulnerabilities as traditional centralized systems.

For our purposes, think of blockchain as a digital notary public. Transactions are bundled into digital “blocks” that are then chained together using cryptography. This creates an unbroken record of each transaction — or anything else of value — that can be programmed to trigger actions according to preset rules.

How many blockchain protocols are there

As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the number of blockchain protocols also increases. So far, there are already more than a dozen different protocols that have been developed and implemented by various organizations.

Each blockchain protocol has its unique features and purpose. For instance, some protocols are designed for general-purpose use while others are created specifically for enterprise applications. Some of the most popular protocols include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, and Corda.

With so many different blockchain protocols to choose from, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. However, understanding the different features and capabilities of each protocol is essential to making the best choice for your needs.

Copyright 2022 © Swarnim Goyal

--

--

Swarnim Goyal
Swarnim Goyal

Written by Swarnim Goyal

Analyst and Researcher with demonstrated experience. Talks about product, innovative solutions.

No responses yet