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What is Blockchain and why is it the future of the world?

Blockchain is the underlying technology that powers numerous cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. As a result, it is critical for anybody interested in cryptocurrencies.

By P. MyburghPublished about a year ago 3 min read
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It should be emphasized that blockchain's distinct method of recording and transmitting information has broader uses outside of the cryptocurrency field, including healthcare, real estate, currency, and voting.

Stuart Haber and W. Scott Stornetta, two mathematicians who intended to find a means to timestamp data so that it couldn't be tampered with, proposed blockchain technology in 1991. Later in the 1990s, Nick Szabo proposed utilising blockchain to protect the BitGold digital payment system, but this was never implemented. It wasn't until 2009 that the blockchain application gained popularity due to Bitcoin's acceptance, with utility spreading through other cryptocurrencies, decentralised finance (De-Fi) apps, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and smart contracts.

A blockchain is a sort of distributed database that is shared among numerous computers on a network, known as "nodes." A blockchain, like a database, saves information electronically in digital format. Blockchains are best known in the bitcoin environment for their critical function in preserving a secure and decentralised record of transactions. What distinguishes blockchain is its capacity to guarantee the authenticity and security of data, thereby building trust without the need for a third party. This is because individual nodes, rather than a centralised point such as a computer server, check, authorise, and store data within a ledger.

Another key distinction between blockchains and more traditional storage databases is the structure of the stored data. A blockchain organises data into groups called blocks. Because each block has limited storage capacity, fresh blocks are constantly added to the ledger, producing a data chain, hence the name "blockchain." Any further information received after adding the new block to the chain is compiled and used to create another new block, which is then added to the chain, and so on. Because blocks are sequentially added to a chain and each assigned its own specific timestamp, they form an irreversible, chronological chronology of data.

A blockchain aims to simplify the recording and distribution of digital data while preventing its modification. As such, a blockchain, also known as distributed ledger technology (DLT), serves as the foundation for immutable ledgers or records of transactions that cannot be altered or tampered with.

How Does a Blockchain Transaction Work?

A buyer will first enter into a transaction while purchasing Bitcoin, for example.

The transaction is then routed through a network of peer-to-peer computers located anywhere in the world. Following that, the network will work to solve a series of equations in order to validate the transaction. After being verified, transactions are grouped into blocks before being added to the chain, resulting in a permanent and unchangeable record of the transactions. Before a block may accept new data entries, the majority of the computers on the network, known as nodes, must agree. Blockchains are safeguarded with an extra technique known as POW (Proof of Work) or POS (Proof of stake) to prevent prospective saboteurs from confirming bad or duplicate transactions.

Because of the speed with which transactions may be performed, the high level of security, and the low cost, blockchains are particularly well-suited for cryptocurrency transactions.

So, in this is a decentralisation of blockchain technology is a key feature. Because blockchains allow data to be stored across multiple individual nodes (miners) in different geographical areas, they can avoid the data risks associated with a single point of failure. If an issue or attempted sabotage occurred in one section of the database, the other nodes would be untouched, limiting the impact of the occurrence.

Another advantage of blockchain technology is that it is completely transparent; all transactions can be examined in real-time using a personal node or blockchain explorers. Users can view Bitcoin wherever it moves since each node has its own copy of transactions. As a result, any Bitcoins taken by a hacker can be monitored and traced in the case of their usage or movement, even if the perpetrator's name remains anonymous due to the encryption protections in place on a blockchain.

People are finally realising the breadth of the benefits that blockchain technology can provide, thanks to its adoption by the cryptocurrency industry. With its ability to streamline widespread operations through accuracy, efficiency, security, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to work without the interference of a third party, it can only be a matter of time until traditional enterprises seek to capitalise on its benefits. It has already proven its worth in terms of asset tokenisation and NFT propagation. There is little doubt that blockchain technology will experience tremendous growth in the future.

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About the Creator

P. Myburgh

I started by writing my own book and then took time out to hone my skills. I want to cover everything from breaking news to in-depth feature stories. I love Crypto Currencies, Finance, self-help matters and world politics.

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