Enterprise Monkey Logo
telephone icon
Rookie's Guide to Blockchain Technology

Blockchain Technology Guide by Rookie

Aamir Qutub
Aamir Qutub
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Table of Contents

Share this article

 

After the release of the first Bitcoin software in 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym for the person or group of persons who invented Bitcoin; devised the first Blockchain database as a part of Bitcoin’s implementation. It stands as a bulwark to Bitcoin.

Ever since that the concept of Blockchain technology has grown by leaps and bounds.

According to the Google searches for ‘Blockchain’ have risen by 1900% since 2013. It would only be legit to say that what internet did to information, Blockchain will do to the transactions.

Blockchain can completely transform the way the transactions are taking place today.

From government to big organisations, to investors, to entrepreneurs, to startups; have begun to understand the immense potential of Blockchain technology. Let us unfurl the fundamentals of this technology.

 

What is Blockchain Technology?

The invention of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin was the reason why Blockchain came into existence in the first place. However, it is just one of the many applications of a Blockchain technology. It is a means to record all the cryptocurrency transactions that have been executed till date.

It is a shared and the distributed ledger that can be used to track the movement of all kinds of assets, be it tangible, intangible or digital.

One ‘block’ of a Blockchain represents the record of some or all of the recent transactions. It is only after the completion of one block that the block is added linearly in the Blockchain as a permanent database.

Thus, there are countless blocks in a Blockchain that are positioned chronologically, each block containing a hash of the previous one.

 

Blockchain

 

Why do we need it?

The number of transactions worldwide is accelerating at a rapid pace. This, in turn, has magnified the complexities, vulnerabilities, insecurities and inefficiencies attached to them. In fact, many limitations of the current transaction system have made the invention of Blockchain all the more necessary. Some of the limitations such as:

  1. Third Party Validation Issue: Repetition of efforts and the need for third-party validation and the presence of intermediaries are only some of the problems that are faced in today’s transaction systems.
  2. Cyber Threats: No transaction today is free of cyber attacks and frauds, thereby making the whole process cumbersome and complex. Moreover, if a central organisation such as a bank is compromised, all the other participants involved are at risk as well.
  3. Time Constraint: The transaction time and the settlement time can vary and may even be longer at times.
  4. Cash Availability: The utility of cash has been limited to only local transactions and that too in small amounts.

To overcome these challenges and many other similar issues, we are in dire need of a payment network that is fast, trustworthy and transparent. Here is a video that will help you understand the basics better before we move ahead in this topic.

 

How does it work?

 

Blockchain Components

 

Take Blockchain as the database for recording numerous transactions.

Every block in a Blockchain; records and verifies the time and sequence of transactions.

These blocks are further attached to Blockchain within a discrete plexus administered by mutually agreed rules of the participants.

Each block has three components: A unique identifier timestamped batches of recent transactions and a hash to the previous block.

The hash to the previous block makes sure that no block is altered or added in between two existing blocks. In simple words, each block is a testimony of verification of the previous block. This way the whole Blockchain becomes a robust and tamper-proof nexus.

According to functionality Blockchains are of various types:

 

Public Blockchain

Everyone in the world has access to this Blockchain. One can easily become the participant in this network merely by downloading the software on one’s device. One is eligible to store, send or receive data here. All the members of this network have equal privileges. The most common example of this type of Blockchain is the Bitcoin and Ethereum. Users from all over the globe are able to transact in this network directly without the need of a third party.

Here is how Bitcoin works:

Limitations:

  • Since a large number of users need to verify in this type of Blockchain, so the verification process becomes quite time-consuming.
  • The transaction fee charged in this type of Blockchain is much higher than that in Private and Permissioned Blockchain.

 

Private Blockchain

Contrary to Public Blockchain, this one is administered by a single; user-approved organisation. It is the organisation’s prerogative to make or change the rules that govern the Blockchain. E.g., a bank or a financial institution can really benefit from a Private Blockchain.

The permission to read/write the data or carry a transaction is completely under the purview of the organisation.

Since the verification process has to happen between a limited number of devices, the transaction speed automatically increases and less fee is charged from the users. The fault detection also becomes easy with less number of devices.

 

Permissioned or Consortium Blockchain

It can be perceived as a crossover between Private and Public Blockchain. It is partially decentralised in a way that there are some preselected nodes that participate in the consensus process. E.g., there are 10 organisations, each operating one node. In order to render a block valid, it should have a majority of say 6 organisations. So each block can only be deemed valid after these 6 organisations sign for it. The participants may give the other participants the right to read or write on the Blockchain.

Hyperledger Fabric, hosted by Linux Foundation, is an example of Consortium Blockchain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=52&v=EKa5Gh9whgU

The transactions here are again very fast because the verification is in the hands of few nodes. The transaction fee is also minimalistic.

 

The Benefits of Blockchain for Enterprises

  1. Increases Transactional speed: Blockchain transactions are processed 24/7 and are independent of the working hours unlike those in inter bank transfers, where a transaction takes days to get cleared and finalised especially if done outside the working hours. By using Blockchain technology, it takes minutes for a transaction to get processed.
  2. Reduces Transaction Cost: Since there is zero involvement of third-party intermediaries, Blockchain transaction lowers the cost of exchanging assets and reduces the transaction fees by a substantial amount.
  3. Robustness: The whole system of Blockchain is decentralised. Hence there is no point of failure from a common point. It is therefore safe from malicious attacks as well.
  4. Simplification of Transactional Records: There is just one shared ledger for everyone in Blockchain, so there aren’t multiple ledgers embroiled in each other creating a tumult. One common ledger makes the whole process neat and tidy.
  5. Immutability: Writing data on a Blockchain is equivalent to etching on a stone. This means they cannot be altered or deleted. If any changes are made in the Blockchain, it is visible to all the parties; making it transparent.
  6. Trust: All the transactions abide by a protocol. The execution is fully reliable and requires no third-party to monitor that.
  7. User-Friendly: Two parties can exchange without the need of a third-party validation, reducing the counterparty risk. The user in complete control of all the information and transactions that have ever been executed by him.

Because of its amazing characteristics, Blockchain technology is finding its way into many industries, rendering them efficiency. Here are some of the examples:

 

Defence

The idea of applying of the most secure technology for a high-security sector does not require rocket science.

In most of the countries, the defence infrastructure is scattered across various locations. Unauthorised access to the high-security infrastructure can jeopardise the national security. Blockchain technology can solve this problem by ensuring a consent based access for all kinds of operating systems and network firmware, keeping the security intact.

 

Law

The concept of Smart Contracts that eliminates the need for middlemen like law firms and is electronically enforceable and not in the hands of a single party can bring about a revolution in this industry. Smart contracts make it possible to share anything in value, right from money, property to shares in a conflict free way.

In other words, if we digitise the process of paperwork all together in law firms, it can save us a lot of money, time and err. Not to forget that the digital proof would be immutable and hence could not possibly be refuted.

 

IoT

The divine unison of IoT and Blockchain would be the most unimaginable yet possible application. This stew is still cooking right now, but there are plenty of thoughts that are channelising in this direction.

Samsung and IBM are using Blockchain technology called ‘Adept’ to create a centralised network of IoT devices. It would operate like a public ledger and would eliminate the need for a central system to handle communication between the devices. The devices will be able to communicate to each other directly and perform tasks such as updating software, managing bugs and monitoring energy usage.

 

Digital Identity

The digitally recorded identities on a Blockchain protocol can serve as a means of verification of an individual. This further will reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft.

This disrupted trust model is a brand new development in the management of identities. It enables us to communicate with billions of users sitting miles apart. Blockchain has empowered consumers to sit back freely knowing that no single institution can compromise their identity.

 

Elections

A secure voting environment could be achieved through Blockchain. Everything from casting votes to counting votes could be done using Blockchain protocol preventing the common voting frauds. It can be used for voter registration, identity verification and vote counting.

Each vote could be like a transaction within the Blockchain. All the voters could then verify the final count of votes and the audit trail would make sure that no votes are changed, removed or illegitimately added.

A Blockchain voting could solve all the controversies that follow after the elections and make them fair and democratic.

 

Healthcare

One of the many challenges that are faced by hospitals is the dearth of a secure platform for storing and sharing sensitive data. Through Blockchains, the hospitals can store medical records safely and share them only with authorised professionals or patients.

The privacy of the health records could be kept intact with digital signatures on the Blockchain-based data.

Apart from that, the insurance company, hospitals, patients, doctors etc. could all be kept in the Blockchain to prevent frauds in healthcare payments.

 

Government

Blockchain can change the current scenario of government system which is slow, opaque and prone to corruption.

Blockchain implementation can significantly reduce the bureaucracy and increase security in government systems. Data can be linked to departments through Blockchain and be made available only after the consent of the department and citizen. This will increase the transparency and keep a check on corruption. E.g., by 2020, Dubai is planning to put all its government documents on the Blockchain.

 

Crowdfunding

The existing crowdfunding companies are centralised bodies that establish trust between creators and supporters. They connect the startups directly with the potential consumers to get funding. Having said that, they also charge a very high fee and influence the projects.

In Blockchain based crowdfunding, the trust would be created through smart contracts and online reputation systems. The startups could release their own form of cryptogenic shares that could later be exchanged for cash, services or other products.

The parent company CCEDK has come up with the project OpenLedger, which is aspiring to become a trading platform based on Blockchain technology. The investors would be able to trade their cryptoequity on this platform in no time.

 

Music Industry

In the music industry, Blockchain can transform the relationship between an artist and a fan. It can remove the financial brokers from the loop who take away hefty cuts, leaving only breadcrumbs for the artists, who have actually put in the most efforts.

Through Blockchain based cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, the consumers can directly pay the artists upon downloading or playing their songs. This can be a god sent means for all the new artists who do not have the resources to get branding from big records. PeerTracks, PledgeMusic, BitTunes are some of the startups that are working in this area.

 

Challenges

Although Blockchain has many advantages, still there are some areas that require work.

  1. Validation: The Blockchain technology has not been tested rigorously yet. Hence the issue of scalability still remains one of the challenges. The more the applications, the more the number of scalability issues will persist.
  2. Expenses: This technology surely does reduce the overall costs and time, but the initial setup cost is still very high. The amount of capital and energy consumed for implementing this technology will be tremendous.
  3. Regulation: No common set of standards have been finalised for writing transactions on the Blockchain. There is a dire need for one regulatory status for all the consortiums that exist today which have their own codes and standards.
  4. Integration: The Blockchain technology has no crossover with the existing state of affairs and hence will replace it completely. The kind of strategic planning that is required by the companies for adapting with its integration can be a tad challenging.
  5. Cyber Security: Although the security is one of the strengths of Blockchain technology, some cyber security issues persist, that need to be taken care of before the public switches over to Blockchain completely.

Blockchain technology is on its way to usurping the existing state of affairs. With transparency, robustness and trust as its foundation, it will attenuate the difficulties that currently persist in the realm of exchange of large amounts of data or capital all around the world.

If you work in an industry that deals with a lot of data and transactions of any kind, it is highly likely that it can be disrupted by Blockchain technology anytime soon!

Aamir Qutub
Aamir Qutub
Aamir Qutub is the founder and CEO of Enterprise Monkey, has a sincere passion for innovation and startups. With an experience of around a decade, he is a proud co-founder of 4 technology startups, focusing on real-world problems and their solutions. He also loves to cook and spend time with his onlyborn.
Aamir Qutub
Aamir Qutub
Aamir Qutub is the founder and CEO of Enterprise Monkey, has a sincere passion for innovation and startups. With an experience of around a decade, he is a proud co-founder of 4 technology startups, focusing on real-world problems and their solutions. He also loves to cook and spend time with his onlyborn.

Related Articles

web 3.0
Tech News

What is Web 3.0?

WHAT IS WEB 3.0? There is a lot of talk about Blockchain, Metaverse, Cryptocurrency, NFT’s and many