It's on the Blockchain!?

What that actually means - and is there really just one?

You've heard the phrase. "It's on the blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers!"

Usually followed by a pause... and a face that says:

"I have no idea what that actually means."

And wait - is there just one blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers, or are people talking about dozens of different ones?

Let's fix that - clearly, simply, and without hype.

So - what is a blockchain?

At its core, a blockchain is just a shared digital notebook. But not just any notebook:

• Everyone in the network can read it
• No one can erase or change previous entries
• New pages (called blocks) are added one by one, and in public
• And once something's written down, it's there forever
• The only way to change a record is to add a new entry

A shared record that nobody can fake - and everybody can trust.

Nobody owns the notebook.

Everyone can verify what's in it.

But what is it actually used for?

Now that we've got the basics, let's bring it down to earth.

Blockchains aren't just theory or tech hype - they solve very real problems:

Storing value (without middlemen)

Blockchains let people holdA misspelling of 'hold,' used to mean holding onto cryptocurrency for long-term gains assets like BitcoinThe first decentralized cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto without a bank, and without asking anyone for permission.

Transferring money across borders - fast and cheap

Traditional international transfers can take days and eat up 5–10% in accumulated door-to-door fees. BlockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers networks like Ripple or Stellar can move money across the world in seconds, for pennies.

That's why crypto is already being used - and growing fast - as a remittance tool for foreign workers and immigrants sending money home. They avoid banks, skip wire fees, and often get the funds there in minutes, not days.

Proving ownership or origin

From real estate to fine art, blockchains can act like digital proof-of-ownership that can't be forged, lost, or faked.

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"If it's not on the block, it's not true. The end of the 'stories' era marks the beginning of mathematical precision and certainty."

Replacing paperwork and friction

Smart contractsSelf-executing code on a blockchain that automates transactions live on blockchains - they're self-executing agreements with no need for middlemen, lawyers, or back-and-forth. It's like a vending machine that never breaks down: you put in the coin on your end, and get the product or service on the other side, always.

Verifying identity and information

A blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers can secure your medical records, ID, or certificates - making them tamper-proof and instantly verifiable anywhere.

Even in culture and collectibles

Artists and creators are already using the blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers as a modern-day certificate of authenticity - replacing fragile covenants with code.

If something needs to be verified, tracked, or locked in - a blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers can probably do it better than what we've been using.

Now we see that blockchains are public, permanent, and tamper-proof - perfect for any system that needs trust without trust.

Analogy — The Poker Club Ledger

Imagine a poker club with no house dealer and no one in charge of the money.

After each round, the players all record who won, who lost, and how much. Every entry is agreed upon, timestamped, and shared.

If someone tries to cheat or back-edit an earlier entry? Everyone else's notebook catches the lie.

That's how blockchains work: decentralized, public, and tamper-proof.

Wait - is there just one blockchain?

Nope. That's another common misconception.

Think of it like this: Every blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers is its own notebook.

• BitcoinThe first decentralized cryptocurrency, created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto has one
• EthereumA decentralized blockchain platform that enables smart contracts and decentralized applications has another
• SolanaA high-performance blockchain known for fast transactions and low fees, Avalanche, Arbitrum… all separate notebooks

They don't share pages or rules - some don't even speak the same language.

There isn't one blockchain to rule them all - there's a growing library. Each blockchain is optimized for different things:

• Speed
• Security
• Smart contractsSelf-executing code on a blockchain that automates transactions
• Gaming
• Privacy
• …and more.

The Blockchain in Motion

So now that we know what a blockchainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers is - let's talk about how it works in motion.

Think of each block as a train carriage filled with verified transactionsA transfer of value or data recorded on a blockchain, verified by network participants, and permanently added to the distributed ledger. Once full, it's sealed and linked to the next carriage, forming a chainA decentralized, digital ledger of transactions maintained across multiple computers pulled forward by the "engine" - miners or validators.

That's how new pages get added - and the train moves forward forever.

We'll get to where it actually lives - and how - in a future article.

Next Up

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