Over the last few years, if you have been following the news, a technology generally makes an appearance concerning digital banking, investing, or cryptocurrency, you may have heard about “blockchain”. It is the record-keeping technology behind the Bitcoin network. But the use of this technology is not restricted to cryptocurrency but many other industries.

Let us broaden our knowledge horizons in this article.

What is Blockchain technology?

Blockchain technology is most simply defined as a distributed record that registers the source of a digital asset, just like a database, to form a chronological single-source-of-truth for the data. It stores encrypted blocks of data then chains them together. It is an especially favorable and revolutionary technology because it helps lower risk, stamp out fraud and bring transparency in an accessible way for numerous uses.

Digital assets are distributed instead of copied or transferred, creating an unchangeable record of an asset. The asset is then distributed, allowing full real-time access and transparency to the public. Further, the transparent ledger of changes preserves the integrity of the documents, which additionally entrusts trust in the asset. Blockchain’s inherent security measures and public ledger make it a prime technology for the majority of sectors.

How does blockchain work?

Blockchain comprises three important concepts: blocks, nodes, and miners.

Blocks

Every chain consists of multiple blocks and each block consists of the data, a nonce (randomly generated when a block is created) which then generates a block header hash (a 256-bit number wedded to the nonce)

Miners

Miners create new blocks on the chain through a process called mining. In a blockchain, every block has its unique nonce and hash but also mentions the hash of the previous block in the chain, so mining a block is not simple, especially on large chains.

Miners use different software to solve the exceptionally complex math problems of finding a nonce that generates an accepted hash. When a block is successfully mined, the change is recognized by all of the nodes on the network and the miner is rewarded financially. 

Nodes

One of the most important models in blockchain technology is decentralization. It is a distributed ledger by the nodes connected to the chain. Nodes can be any kind of electronic device that maintains copies of the blockchain and keeps the network functioning.

Blockchain revolutionizing industries

Real-estate

Cryptocurrencies have made a strong impression on payments, settlements, and foreign exchange. Initial coin offerings (ICOs) have dared stock investing, startup loans, and venture capital. Real estate is also a part of the blockchain disruption.

Real estate transactions are often conducted offline involving a face-to-face engagement with various entities. Blockchain, however, opened avenues to change this. Presently, the introduction of smart contracts in blockchain platforms allows assets like real estate to be tokenized and be exchanged like cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether.

Online Advertising

Unlike with some blockchain products such as cryptocurrency, advertising can utilize blockchain in several unique ways. The functions of this technology in advertising will help to better target the audience via ad creatives, share data, make users safer and more private, and ensures who controls the data that the industry relies on. 

One of the most remarkable features of blockchain as a finance application is anonymity which sometimes can be counter-productive to advertisers. Blockchain solutions for advertising will instead make use of the strong accountability that the technology provides, wiping the slate clean for all participants.

Healthcare

Fixing health care is a practice that is surely lengthy, and it involves many factions within the business, science, and political worlds. Even as arguments have raged about large-scale issues with the industry, technological advances have helped to increase efficiency in minor but important ways like new software allows for the safer and quicker transmission and storage of health records by providers.

With blockchain technology, health care systems could store records confidentially, update patient data across multiple facilities and locations in real-time and with assured security. This would rid time and resources in health facilities to be further dedicated towards patient care and innovation, rather than focusing all efforts on administration.

Conclusion

The blockchain technology branches are not restricted to handling cryptocurrency like bitcoin but are slowly penetrating all sectors and providing the best of technological facilities and ensuring smooth functioning and processes.