What is a blockchain?

Why is cryptocurrency the future of the finance world?

Below you can find a deck I was preparing for a lighting talk at ESGgo.

Since I got some positive feedback on it, I wanted to share it broadly.

Hopefully, you will find it valuable.

What is a blockchain?

• A blockchain is a chain of blocks that contains information.
  • A block – a list of records/transactions/smart contracts.
  • When a block is complete, it’s added to the network.
• It is a digital ledger of transactions duplicated and distributed across the entire network (peer-to-peer).
• While any conventional database can store this information, blockchain is unique because it’s decentralized. In other words, many identical copies of a blockchain ledger are stored on multiple computers spread out across a network.
• These individual computers are called nodes.
• A blockchain is a distributed digital ledger that stores data of any kind. A blockchain can record information about cryptocurrency transactions, NFT ownership, or Defi smart contracts.

Characteristics of a blockchain

Immutable

Immutability means that the blockchain is a permanent and unalterable network.

A collection of nodes

• Every node in the network has a copy of the digital ledger.
• To add a transaction, every node checks the transaction’s validity, and if the majority of the nodes think it is a valid transaction, then it is added to the network.
• Without the approval of most nodes, no one can add any transaction blocks to the ledger.
• Any validated records are irreversible and *cannot be changed. *

Decentralized

• The blockchain network is decentralized, meaning *no central governing * authority will be responsible for all the decisions.
• A group of nodes makes and maintain the network.

Secure

• All the records in the blockchain are individually encrypted, which adds another layer of security.
• No central authority – BUT no one can update or delete data on the network.
• Every piece of information on the blockchain is hashed cryptographically, meaning every portion of data has a unique identity on the network.
• All the blocks contain a unique hash of their own and the hash of the previous block.
• The blocks are cryptographically linked with each other.

Consensus

• Every blockchain has a consensus to help the network to *make quick and unbiased decisions. *
• Consensus is a decision-making algorithm for the group of nodes active on the network to reach an agreement.
• Nodes might not trust each other, but they can trust the algorithm.

Unanimous

• Most network participants agree to the validity of the records before they can be added to the network.
• When a node wants to add a block to the network → It must get majority voting; otherwise, the block cannot be added to the network.
• Every record is updated simultaneously, and the updations propagate quickly in the network.
• It is not possible to make any change without consent from the majority of nodes in the network.

Asset Transfers

• Record and transfer the ownership of different unique assets.
• Digital assets like NFTs (= a representation of ownership of digital art and videos).
• To process the ownership of real-life assets, like the deed to real estate and vehicles.
  • The two sides of a party would first use the blockchain to verify that one owns the property and the other has the money to buy it.
  • They could complete and record the sale on the blockchain.

The Slides