Technical principles of blockchain
blockchain is an important concept of bitcoin, which is essentially a decentralized database and serves as the underlying technology of bitcoin. Blockchain is a series of data blocks generated by cryptography. Each data block contains the information of a bitcoin network transaction, which is used to verify the validity of the information (anti-counterfeiting) and generate the next block
blockchain is public on the network and can be queried in every offline bitcoin wallet data. The function of bitcoin wallet depends on the confirmation with the blockchain. An effective inspection is called a confirmation. Usually, a transaction needs to obtain several confirmations. The lightweight bitcoin wallet uses online confirmation, that is, it will not download the blockchain data to the device storage
many of bitcoin's competitors also use the same design, but the workload proof and algorithm are slightly different. For example, the use of proof of interest and scrypt and so on
in addition, digital cryptocurrencies such as Laite coin, Ethereum, Weimeng coin, doggy coin and Ruitai coin also use blockchain technology.
In a narrow sense, blockchain is a kind of chain data structure that combines data blocks in a sequential way according to the time sequence, and it is a distributed account book that can not be tampered with and forged by means of cryptography
broadly speaking, blockchain technology is a new distributed infrastructure and computing method, which uses blockchain data structure to verify and store data, uses distributed node consensus algorithm to generate and update data, uses cryptography to ensure the security of data transmission and access, and uses intelligent contracts composed of automated script code to program and operate data
working principle
blockchain system is composed of data layer, network layer, consensus layer, incentive layer, contract layer and application layer. Among them, the data layer encapsulates the underlying data blocks and related basic data and algorithms such as data encryption and timestamp; The network layer includes distributed networking mechanism, data transmission mechanism and data verification mechanism; The consensus layer mainly encapsulates all kinds of consensus algorithms of network nodes; The incentive layer integrates economic factors into the blockchain technology system, mainly including the issuance mechanism and distribution mechanism of economic incentives; The contract layer mainly encapsulates all kinds of scripts, algorithms and smart contracts, which is the basis of the programmable characteristics of blockchain; The application layer encapsulates various application scenarios and cases of blockchain. In this model, chain block structure based on timestamp, consensus mechanism of distributed nodes, economic incentive based on consensus computing power and flexible and programmable smart contract are the most representative innovations of blockchain technology
Seeing some answers to the debate on the definition of blockchain, I suddenly realize that my answer to this explanation principle has always been directed at bitcoin. There is no specific and unique answer in the instry between the definition of blockchain. Here I first summarize the characteristics of "blockchain" according to the papers I read:
1; Hash chain & quot There are several nodes participating in the system operation (distributed)
3. Reach a consensus on the consistency of basic data (consensus agreement / algorithm) through a certain protocol or algorithm
since bitcoin is currently one of the most typical and influential applications of blockchain, it will be much easier to understand how bitcoin uses blockchain before understanding other forms of blockchain applications
What kind of blockchain technology is popular recently? Blockchain technology is considered to be the brightest star in financial technology, and it may continue to develop in the future. It has many characteristics, including data distribution, data trust and collective consensus mechanism, and most importantly, openness, transparency, anonymity and privacy, According to the data in the blockchain, we can get some basic information of contemporary society
blockchain technology is such a safe and scientific database. It can be simply understood as an authoritative database, in which the basic content is true, verified and audited by others. In terms of financial technology, it is very easy to find some desired data, which is very good for business people
Block is a record in the blockchain, which contains and confirms the transactions to be processed< br />
mining refers to the formation of new blocks through calculation. It is a process in which the supporters of the transaction use their own computer hardware to do mathematical calculation for the network to confirm the transaction and improve the security. Take bitcoin as an example: the transaction supporter (miner) runs bitcoin software on the computer and constantly calculates the complex cryptography problems provided by the software to ensure the transaction. As a reward for their service, miners can get the Commission included in the transaction they confirm, as well as the newly created bitcoin< br />
Peer to peer network is a system that allows a single node to interact directly with other nodes, so that the whole system can operate like an organized collective. Take bitcoin: the network is built in such a way that each user is spreading the transactions of other users. And importantly, banks or other financial institutions are not required as third parties< br />
Hash is a classical technology in cryptography, which transforms the input of any length into the output of fixed length composed of letters and numbers through Hassi algorithm< br />
Digital signature is a mathematical mechanism that allows people to prove ownership< br />
Private key is a secret data block that proves that you have the right to consume e-money from a specific wallet. It is realized by digital signature< br />
Dual consumption refers to the user's illegal attempt to pay e-money to two different payees at the same time, which is one of the biggest risks of e-money< br />
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The origin of blockchain: an underlying technology supporting bitcoin
The concept of blockchain was first proposed in bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system by Satoshi Nakamoto in late 2008. In this paper, block chain technology is the basic technology to build bitcoin data structure and transaction information encryption transmission, which realizes the mining and transaction of bitcoin. Nakamoto believes that: first, the mode of using third-party organizations to process information has the inherent weakness of lack of trust between points. In order to guard against their customers, businesses will ask customers for completely unnecessary information, but still can not avoid certain fraud; Second, the existence of intermediaries increases the transaction cost and limits the practical minimum transaction scale; Third, digital signature itself can solve the problem of e-money identity. If the third party support is needed to prevent double consumption, the system will lose value. Based on the above three existing problems, Nakamoto Cong has created bitcoin on the basis of blockchain technology< br />
On January 3, 2009, Nakamoto proced the first bitcoin block in the world, genesis block, and excavated 50 bitcoins< br />
On May 21, 2010, Florida programmers bought $25 worth of pizza coupons with 10000 bitcoin, which gave birth to the first fair exchange rate of bitcoin< br />
In July 2010, the first bitcoin platform was established, with a surge in new users and prices< br />
In February 2011, the price of bitcoin reached US $1 for the first time. Since then, exchange trading platforms with British pound, Brazilian real and Polish zloty have opened< br />
In 2012, ripple released that as a digital currency, it uses blockchain to transfer foreign exchange of various countries< br />
In 2013, bitcoin soared. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued the regulations on the personal management of virtual currency to clarify the definition of virtual currency for the first time< br />
In 2014, the mining machinery instry chain represented by China became more and more mature. In the same year, the U.S. it community realized the cross era innovation significance of blockchain in the digital field< br />
In 2015, the US Nasdaq Stock Exchange launched LINQ, a digital ledger technology based on blockchain, to record trading and issue stocks
the principle of blockchain can be understood clearly from each application case, and the application of blockchain principle is becoming more and more popular. Recently, Citigroup, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, UBS and Deutsche Bank will also apply "blockchain" technology to build a fast, convenient and efficient blockchain Low cost trading system. In addition to the financial field, blockchain technology has also begun to be applied to the protection of intellectual property rights, notarization by lawyers, online games and other fields where there is a need for transparent information disclosure and permanent records.
"now the college entrance examination is a lifetime, but if we use the form of blockchain, we can record all the learning records and extracurricular activities of a child from the age of six to the college entrance examination. So the examiners of the college entrance examination don't need to pass an exam or an interview to decide the selection of talents. They can decide what kind of talents they want through all their records. "
about the application of blockchain technology, Qin Yi, partner of Deloitte global financial services, said when introcing it to Jinping media
as for blockchain, more explanations in China still stay at the conceptual level, and there is no really large-scale popular application in China, so we have to say that blockchain still keeps a certain distance from the public. In this interview, I believe it can help you have a deeper understanding of blockchain
blockchain is disintermediation
blockchain, and many explanations are decentralization. Different from the general explanation. "It's not decentralization, it's disintermediation," says Qin
because data is distributed in a distributed way, there is a strong security mechanism in it. Qin Yi said: "because no matter which server is serving, the entire data storage is not easy to detect. But most importantly, because of the reliability of the data, we don't need an intermediary to prove who you are, but rely on a record that we can trust each other to promote any transaction in our life
in her opinion, blockchain is actually a database, but when storing data, it has its own characteristics, such as security, integrity, authenticity, non tamperability, etc
for this technology, Qin Yi concluded: such technology will bring earth shaking changes to life
how to embody the commercial value
compared with foreign blockchain technology, domestic blockchain technology is still in a stage of popularization and cognition. What kind of business value will the future blockchain bring us? Looking at the progress abroad, maybe you can see some possibilities
"two weeks ago (on April 20), Bank of Ireland and Deloitte jointly issued a statement. Three months ago, Ireland's International Investment Banking Department asked Deloitte to help design and track the investment behavior of its clients. Strengthen the understanding of customers. In order to meet the regulatory requirements of Europe, they have successfully completed the validation model through the efforts of the past three months. "
a Deloitte executive also said that if this technology can be applied, it will greatly rece the transaction costs of the instry
Deloitte also published a report in 2016, saying that 2016 will be the first year for blockchain to move from laboratory to real life. Bubi (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Bubi) is a leading blockchain technology service provider in China. Since its establishment, Bubi has been focusing on the R & D and innovation of blockchain technology and procts. It has a number of core technologies, and has made substantial innovation in many aspects, forming a number of core technology achievements, such as mathematically proven distributed consensus technology, distributed consensus technology, and so on Fast large-scale account book access technology, multi chain general ledger technology supporting business form expansion, interconnection technology between heterogeneous blockchains, etc. We have developed our own blockchain basic service platform, which has been applied in equity, supply chain, credit and other fields. Bubi has been committed to building an open value circulation network with the core of decentralized (polycentric) trust, so that digital assets can flow freely
with the in-depth development of many companies, the effect of blockchain technology on the life of ordinary people is becoming more and more obvious.