What is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a revolutionary technology that has been developed to create an unchangeable record of transactions.

The blocks are linked together by cryptography and stored on every system in the network, which makes it almost impossible for any single entity or hacker within this space to change information without being detected by network.

One of the best features Blockchain is offering is high security, transparency, and risk-free transactions.
By transmitting identical copies of a database across a network, blockchain makes it very hard to cheat or hack the system.

Another great thing about this technology is that it is completely decentralized.
What this means is that these types of networks try to reduce the trust levels between participants and discourage their ability to apply their authority to one another in a way that humbles the network functionality.

While cryptocurrency is the most popular use for blockchain today, the technology has the potential to serve a very wide range of applications.

How does Blockchain work?

Unlike a database that structures its data into tables, Blockchain works a little bit differently.

Blockchain stores, or structures its data into blocks that are strung together.

This kind of structure makes a very strict timeline of data when in decentralized surroundings.

Once a block is stored, there is no changing anything about it, as it becomes a part of a timeline, and each block is given a timestamp when added.

So really it’s like it is set in stone.
The main goal of Blockchain is to let digital information be recorded and distributed, like it has to be, but not edited. This way, any records of transactions can’t be deleted, modified, or destroyed. 

What are transactions?

Blockchain allows for near instantaneous transfers of funds from one party to another without any interference from a third party. It does this by employing an interconnected system where each node communicates with every other node; confirming the validity of transactions before they’re recorded on the shared ledger.

Transactions are mainly secured using cryptography, meaning the nodes need to solve complex equations to process a transaction.
What are these complex equations you may ask? Transaction processing occurs with every computer solving an equation. When new data enters the system, it is sent out to a global network of peers. Once calculated, the answer for these difficult problems will determine whether or not there was validation for this specific transaction request.

Once it is confirmed that they are truly legitimate transactions, they are arranged into blocks.
These blocks are then chained together creating a long timeline, as we mentioned, of all permanent transactions. In a public blockchain, anyone can read, audit, write or rewrite the data.

It’s very difficult to change the transactions logged in a public blockchain, as there is no single authority that has controls over the network, or nodes. However, a private blockchain is controlled by a group or an organization.
They are the only ones who can decide about who is invited to the system, and they also have the authority to alter the timeline, the data of blockchain.

Even though users can have access to transaction details, they cannot access information about users making the transactions, they remain confidential. The transactions are very efficient because blockchain is working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year. So there is no waiting for a couple of days for the transactions to be settled.

Decentralization

Decentralization is one of the key defining features of blockchain technology.
By its very nature, blockchain is a decentralized system that allows for secure, transparent and tamper-proof transactions.

This makes it an ideal platform for a wide range of applications, from financial services to supply chain management.
One of the main benefits of decentralization is that it eliminates the need for a central authority. This not only makes the system more efficient and resistant to censorship, but also reduces the risk of fraud and corruption.

Furthermore, decentralization also increases security and resilience, as there is no single point of failure that can be exploited by hackers. In short, decentralization provides many advantages that make blockchain an extremely powerful tool for businesses and organizations.

Blockchain decentralization suggests a transfer of supervision and decision-making from an individual, corporation, or even a group of people to a scattered network, meaning there is no one person in command.

The idea of decentralization is not new. It first came about in the wake of World War II, when nations began trying to get away from centralized economies and control over their money supply through inflation or Bazooka Joe-style military force, but it wasn’t until recently that we saw this trend towards autonomy come full circle with blockchain technology bringing us back down again by giving power over decision making (or at least part) onto many bodies rather than just one individual or group while also providing improved security via transparency, thanks mostly due its open nature which allows everyone involved access so there’s no need anymore worry if you’re going stir crazy

When in a decentralized system, trusting other members is not necessary.
That is because every member in the network has a duplicate or almost the same information as a distributed record. So in any case, if any member’s record is altered or modified in any way, it will be dismissed by the individuals in the network.

There are many more benefits of decentralization, such as trustless setting, improving data recovery, reduced degree of shortcoming, optimized assets dispersion.

Smart Contracts

Smart contracts are programs that are stored on a blockchain, that run whenever pre-established conditions are met.

They are typically used to automate the realization of an agreement so that all members can be instantly certain of the result, without any time loss or involvement of an intermediary.
When conditions are met, they trigger the next action, and so on.

Smart contracts work by following statements that are implemented in the code on a blockchain. Those are the simple “if/when/then” statements. Then a network of computers executes the action when those conditions are met and more importantly, verified.
Then the blockchain is updated and the transaction is completed, and cannot be changed, only the members who have been granted permission can see the outcome.

With a smart contract, there can be as many conditions as necessary to satisfy the members and ensure them that the process will be completed thoroughly.
To set up the terms, members must decide how their data and transactions are represented on the blockchain, they must agree on the mentioned statements “if/when/then” rules, explore all the possible outcomes.

Then a developer can program the smart contract, even tough organizations that use blockchain for business tend to provide web interfaces, templates, and online tools to simplify the structure of smart contracts.

The benefits of smart contracts are speed, accuracy, and efficiency for there is no paperwork or errors that occur when filing the documents manually, trust, transparency, and security are other great benefits.

Cryptocurrencies 

Cryptocurrency is a digital payment system, a virtual currency, that doesn’t depend on banks and is secured by cryptography, which makes it almost impossible to falsify.

Many cryptocurrencies are decentralized and based on blockchain technology, as we mentioned before, meaning that they are in theory resistant to manipulation or interference of government. The advantages of cryptocurrencies are faster money transfer, costing a lot less, and a system that doesn’t collapse at a single error.

Cryptocurrencies enable online payments that are secure and third-party intermediaries free. They can be mined or obtained from cryptocurrency exchanges.
There are many popular cryptocurrencies, like Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), Ada(ADA), Polkadot(DOT) and the most popular one Bitcoin (BTC), and each one of them has a completely different function and specification.

Cryptocurrencies are out of scope of legalization in most countries, but that doesn’t mean they will stay this way. Blockchain adoption is growing steadily and could pave the way for cryptocurrencies becoming fully covered by word of law.

Investing in cryptocurrencies can generate profits.
Their markets have increased in value over the past decade, reaching almost $2 trillion. However, there are a few disadvantages. Even though they claim that transactions are completely anonymous, they are really pseudonymous. They leave, in simple words, a digital trail that can be decoded by organizations, leaving them with possibilities to track the financial transactions.

With all of the advantages and disadvantages, cryptocurrencies are an uprising system of payment, promising better, faster, and safer exchanges.

Cryptocurrencies vs Blockchain

It can be confusing trying to understand and separate cryptocurrencies from the blockchain. Many believe that they are the same thing, but they are completely two different things.

Cryptocurrency is a digital asset that uses cryptography to secure its transactions and to control the creation of new units. Cryptocurrencies are decentralized, meaning they are not subject to government or financial institution control.

Blockchain, on the other hand, is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent and tamper-proof recording of transactions. Blockchain technology was first implemented in Bitcoin, but has since been leveraged by a number of other blockchain platforms. Ethereum, for example, is a blockchain platform that supports smart contracts and allows developers to build decentralized applications.

So while all cryptocurrencies use blockchain technology, not all blockchain platforms support cryptocurrency transactions. Bitcoin is

Security

One of the key benefits of blockchain technology is security. By using cryptographic hashes, blockchain creates a tamper-proof record of transactions.
This means that once a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted.

This makes blockchain an appealing option for security-sensitive applications such as financial transactions. Smart contracts add an additional layer of security to blockchain by automatically executing transactions when certain conditions are met.

For example, a smart contract could be used to release funds from escrow only when both parties have signed the contract. This reduces the risk of fraud and enhances security for all involved parties.

Wrap up

Blockchain technology is still in its early stages and there are many unknowns about how it will be used in the future. However, the potential for this technology is great and it has already started to revolutionize the way businesses operate. We believe that blockchain has the potential to change many industries, including marketing, and we are excited to see what the future holds.

This is a very high-level overview of how blockchain technology works and the various components that make it up. Obviously, this is just scratching the surface – if you want to learn more, we suggest checking out some of the resources we linked to throughout the article. At its core, blockchain is all about decentralization and security, which is why so many people believe it has the potential to revolutionize not just financial transactions but also other aspects of our lives.