What is Blockchain?

Blockchain is basically a type of data structure that stores transaction records, which are public to everyone. It can also be defined as a distributed computing innovation where every transaction is saved in blocks and added to the public ledger (ledger means an ordered list).

What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is just one of the many applications of blockchain technology. It was invented to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions without the presence of government or central authority. Though bitcoins are not truly anonymous, they are senders, and bitcoin addresses identify receivers. This means that the blockchain only holds records of bitcoin transactions, not the people behind them.

In short, Blockchain is made up of decentralized networks, but bitcoin is the digital currency operating under Blockchain networks.

How do Blockchain and Bitcoin Work?

The term blockchain is thrown around a lot, but the technology itself is fairly complex.

The principle behind blockchain is simple. It's nothing more than an evolution of other technologies like peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, the internet, and even the printing press. A network of computers validates and shares information among themselves before storing this information in a public ledger anyone can access and read. How it works then is not very complicated:

Each computer on the P2P network acts as a node (station) that stores a block part of the ledger.

Every 10th minute, one of these blocks gets selected to be added to the blockchain. This is done by a predefined process that puts together valid transactions to create an entirely new block.

Once the new block has been created, it gets sent across all computers on the network for validation before it gets added to the blockchain.

The transactions that are put together to create this new block can be about anything. They can represent financial exchanges or contracts between parties, but in the case of digital currencies, they're mostly sales of goods and services using decentralized money.

For a transaction to be validated, it needs at least three out of five computers on the network to confirm it. The reason for this extra layer of security is that any computer can be part of the blockchain, which means anyone could theoretically add nonsense transactions to the ledger.

If a single entity controls at least one-third of all nodes, said entity would have complete control over the information in the blockchain. In the case of Bitcoin, it takes an average of 10 minutes for a block to be validated by enough nodes that it gets attached to the chain.

Examining the Broader Scope of Blockchain Applications

Many people were surprised to learn that blockchain offers a wide range of applications outside cryptocurrency networks because of its close ties to Bitcoin. The following are just a few examples of how blockchain may be used in non-crypto currency contexts:

• Smart contract execution: Blockchain is well-known for enabling digital transactions, but it may also formalize digital relationships through smart contracts. A smart contract may issue automatic payments after the contract requirements are met, saving time and reducing inconsistencies or disputes.
• Keeping a shared, transparent record system: Blockchain is perfect for keeping a long-term, safe, and transparent record of assets (like land rights) that all stakeholders can access securely.
• Supply chain auditing: Blockchain enables users to track ownership records of products back to their origin.

Summary

• Blockchain and Bitcoin are not the same things in any manner.
• Blockchain is the underlying technology behind Bitcoin
• The blockchain is a distributed digital ledger that can be used to record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way
• A block of information about any given transaction is added to the blockchain after it has been verified, making it difficult for anyone to alter or erase data
• Bitcoin’s value fluctuates wildly based on market demand, while the value of blockchain remains stable even if its use becomes widespread
• Blockchain offers an immutable ledger system with transparency for all transactions, while Bitcoin does not provide this level of security or transparency
• Blockchains are more versatile than Bitcoins because they have many potential applications outside of just currency exchanges.