Why is blockchain important and why does it matter? [2022] | just learn (2023)

What is blockchain technology?

Blockchain began1991 as a way to store and protect digital data. Blockchain is an open ledger that can be accessed by multiple parties at the same time. One of the main advantages is that the registered information is difficult to change without the consent of all parties involved.IBM explainedthat each new record becomes a block with a unique ID hash. Linking the blocks in a chain of records forms a chain of blocks.Bitcoin cryptocurrencyuses blockchain technology.

Blockchain helps in verification and traceability of multi-step transactions that need to be verified and tracked. You can provide secure transactions, reduce compliance costs, and speed up data transfer processing. Blockchain technology can help manage contracts and verify a product's provenance. It can also be used in voting and title and deed management platforms.

Note: Data is recorded in chronological order. In addition, data once written cannot be changed.

What are the advantages of blockchain technology?

Here is a list of the top benefits you can expect from the acquisitionBlockchain Technologyin your company:

• It is an immutable public digital ledger, meaning that once a transaction is recorded, it cannot be altered.
• Because of the encryption feature, blockchain is always safe.
• Transactions are instant and transparent as the ledger is updated automatically
• Since it is a decentralized system, there are no brokerage fees
• The authenticity of a transaction is verified and confirmed by the participants.

Build trust in government

ONEStudie des Pew Research CenterThe study, released last May, suggested US confidence in government is near an all-time low. Only about a quarter of Americans say they can trust the Washington government to do the right thing "usually" (2%) or "usually" (22%). Only 18 percent of Americans say they can trust government to do the right thing most of the time.

Bebida Allen HamiltonThe consulting firm wrote that the government could benefit from blockchain-based applications because they offer transparency through decentralization and allow interested parties to view and verify data. Aside from that,Blockchainmay allow independent verification of government claims. The company wrote that Sweden, Estonia and Georgia are experimenting with blockchain-based land registries that could help resolve or prevent property disputes quickly.

Blockchain security

One of the negative aspects ofdigital Transformationis the increase in theft of personal data. Government databases are a target for hackers. Database hacks exposed the names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and driver's license numbers of millions of Americans, such as the Equifax database breach in 2017. Booz Allen Hamilton wrote that the structures of blockchain data strengthen network security and reduce the risk of a single point of failure, making it more difficult to break into a database.

The Department of Homeland Security is studying blockchain approaches to data security such as online identity management and internet access.McKinseyHe said the technology could store hash values ​​of citizen documents on the blockchain, allowing governments to provide a verifiable electronic version of those documents when needed.

Greater government responsibility

In certain applications, blockchain can reduce governance redundancy, streamline processes, reduce auditing, increase security, and ensure data integrity. One process to simplify is GSA's FASTLane process, which manages quotes received from suppliers. Booz Allen Hamilton wrote that it currently takes 40 days to process incoming submissions. However, the GSA expects a blockchain solution to help process them within 10 days.

Reducing Government Corruption

Blockchain doesn't prevent crime, but it doesWorld Economic Forum(WEF) wrote that there are five use cases for dealing with vulnerabilities in government systems.

• Public Tenders / Government Contracts

The WEF wrote that government contracting is the largest area of ​​government spending with the greatest potential for corruption in the world. A blockchain-based process can make it easier for third parties to monitor transactions and provide more objectivity and consistency through automated contracts. There would also be more transparency and accountability of transactions and participants. However, implementation can be hampered by the type of implementation. The WEF wrote that the easier the blockchain platform is to access and use, the more vulnerable it is to abuse. Additionally, when offline transactions continue outside of the blockchain platform, their anti-corruption potential is limited.

• Title Records

As mentioned above, blockchain is a way for some countries to increase efficiency in property title registration. The WEF wrote that Honduras and India are working to use blockchain to expand ownership and improve transparency in a process known for corrupt practices. Blockchain-based land registries can provide a secure, decentralized, publicly auditable, and immutable system of registration for people to prove their land rights. One limitation would be that countries without land registers would have to build and digitize the information before the blockchain could be used.

• Electronic voting

Governments are considering blockchain-based voting platforms due to concerns about voting security, voter registration integrity, voting accessibility, and voter turnout. The information security qualities of blockchain can help fight voter fraud and improve poll accessibility. The WEF said one limitation would be the vulnerability of the blockchaincyber attacksand other security issues.

• Records of Beneficiary Company ownership

According to the WEF, companies operating undercover represent a means of laundering money, influencing and targeting government investments. Blockchain can develop centralized ledgers to track conflicts of interest and criminal activity. It could also ensure transparency and disclosure. However, there are several limitations as most countries do not require companies to maintain beneficial ownership information themselves. In addition, a blockchain-based ledger would require the involvement of politicians, lawyers, banks and large corporations, which can be cumbersome in some places.

• Subsidy Payouts

With millions of dollars awarded to various institutions, the opaque approval process is prone to inefficiency and corruption. Blockchain can reduce the number of actors and administrators, streamline the process, and improve verification. The WEF said one caveat would be those less tech-savvy people who could be excluded from grant payment processes. Additionally, it would not address how grant recipients spend their donation money.

How will blockchain affect the industry?

Diverse industries like Unilever, Walmart, Visa etc. They use blockchain technology and have gained advantages in terms of transparency, security and traceability. Given the benefits that blockchain offers, it will revolutionize and redefine many industries.

Here are the top 5 featured industriesdisrupted by blockchain technologynot in the near future:

1. Bank clerk
2. Internet security
3. supply chain management
4. health care
5. government

1. Bank

before blockchain

The bank has transfer fees which can be expensive and time consuming for people. Also, sending money abroad becomes even more difficult due to the exchange rate and other hidden costs.

to blockchain

Blockchain eliminates the need for an intermediary. Blockchain is revolutionizing banking by providing a peer-to-peer payment system with the highest level of security and low fees.

• Blockchain technology offers instant, borderless payments worldwide
• Cryptocurrencies (likeEthereal, Bitcoin) remove the third-party transaction requirements
• Blockchain records all transactions in a public ledger that can be accessed by Bitcoin users worldwide

Consider an example from ABRA

• Abra is a financial cryptocurrency app that helps conduct peer-to-peer money transfers
• This app allows cryptocurrency users to store, send and receive their digital money on their electronic devices.

2. Cyber ​​Security

before blockchain

Previously, cyber attacks were a major threat to the public. Several organizations developed an effective solution to protect data from unauthorized access and manipulation.

to blockchain

• Blockchain quickly detects malicious attacks based on point-to-point connections where data cannot be tampered with
• All data stored in the blockchain network is verified and encrypted with acryptographic algorithm
• By eliminating the centralized system, blockchain provides a transparent and secure way to record transactions (without sharing your private information with anyone).

For example, a security software company called Guardtime offers blockchain-based products and services.

Instead of following the centralized system, the company uses blockchain technology and distributes data to its nodes.

3. Supply Chain Management

before blockchain

Due to a lack of transparency, supply chain management often faced challenges such as service redundancy, lack of coordination across multiple departments, and lack of reliability.

to blockchain

Tracking a product can be done using blockchain technology, facilitating traceability throughout the supply chain.

Blockchain provides the ability to verify and audit transactions from various supply chain partners involved in the supply chain management system.

• Blockchain records the transaction (history, timestamp, date, etc.) of a product on a decentralized distributed ledger
• Each transaction is recorded in a block.
• Blockchain allows anyone to verify the authenticity or status of a delivered product

Consider an example from the Pacific Tuna project.

Here, blockchain supply chain management provides a step-by-step verification process to track tuna. The procedure leads to the prevention of illegal fishing.

4. Health

before blockchain

In healthcare, patients can connect to other hospitals and collect their medical data instantly. In addition to the delay, since the information is stored in a physical memory system, there is a high possibility of data corruption.

to blockchain

• Blockchain removes a central authority, resulting in instant access to data
• Here each block is linked to another block and distributed via computer nodes. This makes it difficult for a hacker to corrupt the data.

For example, United Healthcare is an American healthcare company that has improved its privacy, security, and interoperability of medical records using blockchain.

5. Government

before blockchain

Voter rigging is an illegal activity that occurs in most traditional voting systems. Also, citizens who want to vote have to wait a little longer in line and vote for a commune, which is a time-consuming process.

to blockchain

• Voters can vote without revealing their identity in public
• Employees count votes with pinpoint accuracy, knowing that each ID can only be assigned to one vote.
• Once the voice has been added to the public record, the information can never be deleted.

Consider an example from MiVote

• MiVote is a token-based blockchain platform similar to a digital ballot box.
• With MiVote, voters can deposit their ballots using a smartphone, with the records securely stored on the blockchain.

In the future, let's understand the basics of blockchain.

Blockchain Basics

1. Distributed public books

• A blockchain is a decentralized, publicly distributed ledger used to record transactions across many computers.
• A distributed ledger is a database shared among blockchain network users.
• Users connected to the Bitcoin network access and verify transactions, making it less vulnerable to cyberattacks.

2. Encryption

• Blockchain eliminates unauthorized access using a cryptographic algorithm (SHA256) to ensure blocks remain secure
• Each user on the blockchain has their own key

3. Proof of Employment

Proof of Work (PoW) is a method of validating transactions on a blockchain network by solving a complex mathematical puzzle called mining.

Note: users trying to solve the puzzle are called miners.

4. Mining

When miners spend their resources (time, money, electricity, etc.)

Note: The miner receives 12.5 BTC (Bitcoins) as a reward

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frequently asked questions

1. What is a blockchain in simple terms?

Blockchain is a data storage method that makes it difficult or impossible to update, hack or cheat the system. A blockchain is simply a digital ledger of transactions that is replicated and distributed across a network of blockchain computing systems.

2. Why is blockchain technology the future?

Blockchain facilitates multi-level transaction verification and tracking that require verification and traceability. You can ensure secure transactions, reduce compliance costs and speed up data transfer processing. Blockchain technology can help with contract management and product testing.

3. How many blockchains are there?

There are currently over 10,000 other cryptocurrency systems running on the blockchain. However, blockchain has proven to be a reliable method of recording data about other types of transactions as well.

4. Difference between a private blockchain and a public blockchain?

Public blockchains are accessible to everyone; Private blockchains are only accessible to a limited number of users; and permissioned blockchains are a mix of public and private blockchains that anyone can access as long as they have permission from administrators.

5. What is a blockchain platform?

A blockchain platform allows users and developers to build new applications on top of the existing blockchain infrastructure. An example is Ethereum, which has its own cryptocurrency called Ether (ETH). However, the Ethereum blockchain allows for the development of smart contracts, programmable tokens used in initial coin offerings (ICOs) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). They are all based on Ethereum technology and secured by Ethereum network nodes.

6. Are Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain the Same?

Blockchain is the technology that (among other things) enables the existence of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is the most well-known cryptocurrency, which is why blockchain technology was established.

7. What is the scope of blockchain?

Blockchain technology has been used brilliantly in the banking sector. Financial institutions were unable to cope with the additional demand for demonetization, which increased the need for a centralized specialist to handle financial transactions.

8. What does a block mean in a blockchain?

Blocks are used to store batches of valid transactions that have been encrypted and encoded in a Merkle tree. Each block contains the cryptographic hash of the previous block in the blockchain connecting the two. A chain consists of linked blocks.

Conclusion

Blockchain technology will only grow in the fields of business, finance, law, medicine and real estate. Whether you are an experiencedBlockchain developer, or would you like to get into this exciting industry by signing up with ourBlockchain Certification TrainingThe program will help people of all experience levels learn blockchain development techniques and strategies.

Do you have any questions for us? Feel free to leave them in the comments section of this article; Our specialists will contact you as soon as possible.