What is Blockchain Technology?

“Bitcoin is just one example of something that uses a blockchain. Cryptocurrencies are just one example of decentralized technologies. And now that the Internet is big enough and diverse enough, I think we will see different flavors of decentralized technologies and blockchains. I think decentralized networks will be the next huge wave in technology. The blockchain allows our smart devices to speak to each other better and faster.” Melanie Swan, author of Blockchain: Blueprint for a New Economy by Swan, Melanie (2015) Paperback

Blockchain is now making the biggest revolution in the finance industry. As a technologist, we should evaluate and apply the concept of Blockchain without thinking Cryptocurrency. It can unveil many possibilities and can lead to innovations. Cryptocurrency is becoming a distraction to the possibilities of blockchain as people have started using terminologies vice-versa.

What is blockchain technology and why it is safe?

Blockchain provides a protocol for building a shared, replicated and distributed online ledger network. Each participant in this blockchain network maintains their own copy of that database, or collection of organized information.

If you simply put,  blockchain is made up of a series of blocks of data that are securely tied together. Since all records are connected to each other, they are entrenched. It is impossible to modify or alter a previous record without changing the copy of every participant in the blockchain.

Read here to understand the concept of blockchain technology?

There are some disruptions too!

Contracts, transactions, and ledger are the defining structures which set the boundaries of our economic, legal and political systems. Today these involve people and corruption. With blockchain, contracts can be embedded in digital codes, stored in shared databases, protected from tampering.

Blockchain may be disruptive, but the question is if it’s too disruptive for its own good.

Although blockchain is one of the hottest and intriguing technologies currently in the market but it comes with its own challenges. Many business leaders and industrialists are skeptical about blockchain.

Let’s see what are those skeptics:

• It will be hard for established business in the industry where blockchain will push uncomfortable transparency which can lead to price corrections and change in business models. It can be so much disruption that it can lead to the foundation of new technologies.
• Adoption problem of Blockchain technology
• Time-consuming: Blockchain-based transactions can only complete when all parties update their respective ledgers – which is a very time-consuming process.

Eight reasons to be skeptical about blockchain.