What is Blockchain?
In simple terms, the definition of blockchain is a shared digital book or database of financial transactions that are stored on multiple computers in different locations. The database grows constantly as new transactions or “blocks” are added to it.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In recent years, you may have noticed the term “blockchain,” which has appeared more frequently. It is understandable if you consider that many people are comparing the importance of blockchain technology with World Wide Web technology in the 1990s. But what is it? How does it work?
Most importantly, how can you position yourself to capitalize – which could be – a massive opportunity for growth. Read this article to find out!
1.- Definition of Blockchain
2.- The Story of Blockchain
3.- What is Blockchain Technology
4.- Why is it a Game Changer?
5.- How does Blockchain work?
6.- Public Vs. Private Blockchain
7.- Main advantages of Blockchain Technology
8.- How is Blockchain in addition to cryptocurrencies?
9.- Still want to know more about Blockchain?
1- Definition of Blockchain
In simple terms, Blockchain is a shared digital book or database of financial transactions stored on multiple computers in different locations. The database constantly grows as new transactions or “blocks” are added, forming a continuous data chain where the records are public and completely verifiable. Since there is no central location, it is more difficult to hack the system, as the information exists on millions of different sites.
2- The Story of Blockchain
What is the history of Blockchain?
The first Bitcoin article was published in 2009 by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto. It provided the economic fundamentals and technical keys for creating a new cryptocurrency.
It was the first innovation in technology and resulted in a price bubble with exponential growth. Today, Bitcoin is used by millions of people for payments. Other digital currency alternatives are already emerging, as well as innovative contract platforms, such as Ethereum.
In 2015, the first tests outside of Bitcoin took place. That year, Nasdaq (the leading North American automated stock market for technology issues) decided to roll out the first blockchain-based test products.
Many financial and stock market companies started to conduct tests linked to the Blockchain from that moment on. The Hyperledger project, for example, operates on a global scale and is run by the Linux Foundation. Launched in December 2015, it is the largest open source community related to the Blockchain on the planet.
As of 2017, these conceptual tests have been transformed into fully functional development. At that time, new partnerships were formed with other sectors to manage large blockchains. Companies like IBM already integrate blockchain technology for some of their foremost transactions.
3- What is Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain is a shared and immutable ledger that facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a business network. An asset can be tangible (a house, a car, money, land) or intangible (intellectual property, patents, copyrights, and branding). Virtually anything of value can be traced and traded on a blockchain network, which reduces risks and costs for everyone involved making this technology a true Game Changer.
4- Why is it a Game Changer?
Three leading technologies combine to create a blockchain. It includes encryption of the private key, a distribution network with a shared ledger, and an incentive to maintain network transactions, maintenance, and security. These factors are combined with:
Decentralization
Most traditional forms of payment are centralized. For example, your bank stores your money and, to pay someone else, you need to go through the bank.
This process has several vulnerabilities:
- All data is stored in one place, making it an easy target for hackers.
- If the centralized entity is closed or corrupted, no one will have access to the information it has.
In a decentralized system, like the one created using blockchain technology, information is not only stored by a single entity. Everyone on the network knows and can access the transaction history but cannot change it. This immutability is another fundamental pillar of blockchain technology.
Immutability (Proof of Work)
According to the proof of work principle, the network involved in the operations gains a unique and cryptographically calculated identification based on the exact time.
After something is inserted into the Blockchain, it cannot be tampered with. There is no way to “tinker with the books.” It is because this technology uses encryption in your data.
In the context of payments, this means that transactions are treated as input and executed using a hash algorithm that provides output with a fixed length and size so that each hash can identify an extensive set of calculations or data streams.
Transparency
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of blockchain technology is that it offers a high level of transparency and privacy at the same time. A user’s identity is hidden behind complex encryption and can only be identified by his public address.
At the same time, as long as the user’s identity is secure, you can still view all transactions made on your public address. This level of transparency does not exist in any current financial system, which is why blockchain technology is changing the area of finance, as we will discuss later in our article.
Concensus/P2P
Valid transactions that take place on the network are certified by a consensus of most participants. It means that a large chain of operations indicates which block will be accepted by the majority, reinforcing the lack of need for a central figure.
Synchronization
This last principle defines that any member that temporarily disconnects from the network will be immediately obliged to approve the largest chained block of transactions as soon as it returns. This feature reduces the structure for the transfer processing to continue.
5- How does Blockchain work?
As an example, let’s say that David intends to send money to John using blockchain technology. This transaction would be represented online as a block. This block would be distributed over the blockchain network, a particular type of peer-to-peer network in which the workload is divided between the participants instead of a central server.
After the network verifies that the transaction is valid, the block is added to the chain and joined by the network, creating a permanent record. David’s record on the ownership of the money passes to João. In short, technology helps eliminate the middleman, but with complete transparency and privacy.
6- Public Vs Private Blockchain
Like a peer-to-peer network, combined with a distributed timekeeping server, public blockchain ledgers can be managed autonomously to exchange information between the parties. There is no need for an administrator. In effect, Blockchain users are the administrator.
The second form of Blockchain, known as private or permissioned Blockchain, allows companies to centrally create and manage their transactional networks that can be used inter or intra-company with partners.
In addition, Blockchain networks can be used for “smart contracts” or scripts for business automation that are executed when certain contractual conditions are met.
For example, after a bad batch of lettuce made customers sick with e-coli, Walmart and IBM created a blockchain-based supply chain to track products from the field to the table.
Walmart asked its product suppliers to send their data to the Blockchain database by September 2019. Once on the Blockchain, production can be automatically tracked through intelligent point-to-point contracts, removing human intervention and error.
De Beers, which controls about 35% of the world’s diamond production, has also launched a blockchain-based supply chain to track the authenticity of diamonds and help ensure they are not coming from war-torn regions, where miners are exploited.
Smart contracts can also be used to approve the transfer of assets, such as real estate.
Once the conditions are met between buyers, sellers, and their financial institutions, sales of properties can be confirmed on the DLT. For example, ShelterZoom, based in New York, is launching a real estate app that allows real estate agents and customers to view all offers and acceptances in real-time.
It will also enable online access to property titles, mortgages, legal documents, and home inspection through the Ethereum-based encrypted ledger.
7- Main Advantages of Blockchain Technology
The BlockChain system may seem confusing, but, as we mentioned above, it is straightforward and has significant advantages for the future of companies, fintech, and other technology areas.
Among these main advantages are:
- Power to users dependent on the system’s trust, with control over their information and transactions carried out over the network;
- Exclusion of intermediaries, making it a cheaper system, as there is no need to pay for it;
- End of lack of confidence in transactions;
- Two parties can make exchanges without any intermediary, reducing any risk and cost of the counterparty;
- Greater quality in the data being stored and passed on to other users;
- All blockchain data is dated, consistent and fully complete. In addition, of course, they are available for the entire network, being one of its main functions in the fintech market;
- It is a healthy, transparent, durable system, with reliability and resistant to hacker attacks because it does not have a central point of failure;
- All information made through transactions cannot be deleted and / or altered in BlockChain, that is, greater security and less corruption;
- Transactions made through BlockChain must be processed in minutes and since it is something virtual, it can be executed every day at any time;
- Among others.
- But as technology is still at the beginning of its advances, these are just some of the benefits it can bring to the market. Over the next few years, mainly with this dispute between the great world powers to become a reference in BlockChain, the system will bring other great advantages and benefits for citizens and companies worldwide.
- It is a healthy, transparent, durable system, with reliable and resistant to hacker attacks because it does not have a central point of failure;
- All information made through transactions cannot be deleted and altered in BlockChain, that is, greater security and less corruption;
- Transactions carried out through BlockChain must be processed in minutes, and because it is a virtual process, they can be executed every day at any time;
But as this technology is still at the beginning of its advances, these are just some of the benefits it can bring to the market.
Over the next few years, mainly with this dispute between the great world powers to become a reference in BlockChain, the system will bring other significant advantages and benefits for citizens and companies worldwide.
8- How is blockchain in addition to cryptocurrencies?
As we have seen, one of the most valued attributes of this technology is security. It can go beyond cryptocurrencies and be helpful in several areas, being possible to apply Blockchain in digital marketing, in the logistics chain, in the approval of public budgets, and in the protection of privacy and intellectual property.
Regardless of your industry, it is essential to understand the way that Blockchain can be applied in the most diverse types of services, such as:
Cybersecurity
- Guardtime – This company is creating “keyless” signature systems using blockchain which is currently used to secure the health records of one million Estonian citizens.
- REMME is a decentralized authentication system which aims to replace logins and passwords with SSL certificates stored on a blockchain.
Healthcare
- Gem – This startup is working with the Centre for Disease Control to put disease outbreak data onto a blockchain which it says will increase the effectiveness of disaster relief and response.
- SimplyVital Health – Has two health-related blockchain products in development, ConnectingCare which tracks the progress of patients after they leave the hospital, and Health Nexus, which aims to provide decentralized blockchain patient records.
- MedRec – An MIT project involving blockchain electronic medical records designed to manage authentication, confidentiality and data sharing.
Financial services
- ABRA – A cryptocurrency wallet which uses the Bitcoin blockchain to hold and track balances stored in different currencies.
- Bank Hapoalim – A collaboration between the Israeli bank and Microsoft to create a blockchain system for managing bank guarantees.
- Barclays – Barclays has launched a number of blockchain initiatives involving tracking financial transactions, compliance and combating fraud. It states that “Our belief …is that blockchain is a fundamental part of the new operating system for the planet.”
- Maersk – The shipping and transport consortium has unveiled plans for a blockchain solution for streamlining marine insurance.
- Aeternity – Allows the creation of smart contracts which become active when network consensus agrees that conditions have been met – allowing for automated payments to be made when parties agree that conditions have been met, for example.
- Augur – Allows the creation of blockchain-based predictions markets for the trading of derivatives and other financial instruments in a decentralized ecosystem.
Manufacturing and industrial
- Provenance – This project aims to provide a blockchain-based provenance record of transparency within supply chains.
- Jiocoin – India’s biggest conglomerate, Reliance Industries, has said that it is developing a blockchain-based supply chain logistics platform along with its own cryptocurrency, Jiocoin.
- SKUChain – Another blockchain system for allowing tracking and tracing of goods as they pass through a supply chain.
- Blockverify – A blockchain platform which focuses on anti-counterfeit measures, with initial use cases in the diamond, pharmaceuticals and luxury goods markets.
- Transactivgrid – A business-led community project based in Brooklyn allowing members to locally produce and cell energy, with the goal of reducing costs involved in energy distribution.
- STORJ.io – Distributed and encrypted cloud storage, which allows users to share unused hard drive space.
Government
- Dubai – Dubai has set sights on becoming the world’s first blockchain-powered state. In 2016 representatives of 30 government departments formed a committee dedicated to investigating opportunities across health records, shipping, business registration and preventing the spread of conflict diamonds.
- Estonia – The Estonian government has partnered with Ericsson on an initiative involving creating a new data center to move public records onto the blockchain. 20
- South Korea – Samsung is creating blockchain solutions for the South Korean government which will be put to use in public safety and transport applications.
- Govcoin – The UK Department of Work and Pensions is investigating using blockchain technology to record and administer benefit payments.
- Democracy.earth – This is an open-source project aiming to enable the creation of democratically structured organizations, and potentially even states or nations, using blockchain tools.
- Followmyvote.com – Allows the creation of secure, transparent voting systems, reducing opportunities for voter fraud and increasing turnout through improved accessibility to democracy.
Charity
- Bitgive – This service aims to provide greater transparency to charity donations and clearer links between giving and project outcomes. It is working with established charities including Save The Children, The Water Project and Medic Mobile.
Retail
- OpenBazaar – OpenBazaar is an attempt to build a decentralized market where goods and services can be traded with no middle-man.
- Loyyal – This is a blockchain-based universal loyalty framework, which aims to allow consumers to combine and trade loyalty rewards in new ways, and retailers to offer more sophisticated loyalty packages.
- Blockpoint.io – Allows retailers to build payment systems around blockchain currencies such as Bitcoin, as well as blockchain derived gift cards and loyalty schemes.
Real Estate
- Ubiquity – This startup is creating a blockchain-driven system for tracking the complicated legal process which creates friction and expense in real estate transfer.
Transport and Tourism
- IBM Blockchain Solutions – IBM has said it will go public with a number of non-finance related blockchain initiatives with global partners in 2018. This video envisages how efficiencies could be driven in the vehicle leasing industry.
- Arcade City – An application which aims to beat Uber at their own game by moving ride sharing and car hiring onto the blockchain.
- La’Zooz – A community-owned platform for synchronizing empty seats with passengers in need of a lift in real-time.
- Webjet – The online travel portal is developing a blockchain solution to allow stock of empty hotel rooms to be efficiently tracked and traded, with payment fairly routed to the network of middle-men sites involved in filling last-minute vacancies.
Media
- Kodak – Kodak recently sent its stock soaring after announcing that it is developing a blockchain system for tracking intellectual property rights and payments to photographers.
- Ujomusic – Founded by singer-songwriter Imogen Heap to record and track royalties for musicians, as well as allowing them to create a record of ownership of their work.
It is exciting to see all these developments. I am sure not all of these will make it into successful long-term ventures, but if they indicate one thing, then the vast potential the blockchain technology is offering.
9- Still want to know more about Blockchain?
IBM’s Blockchain for Dummies is now in its third edition. IBM has already introduced the Blockchain to more than 68,000 readers.
Download the “Blockchain for beginners” here:
Check our other “Complete Guides:
What is Cryptocurrency?
What is Blockchain?
What is Bitcoin?
What is DeFi?
