This book examines blockchain technology in depth and explains how consumers might benefit from it. Blockchain has contained both a social promise and new technology since its inception. Blockchains, which were first presented as a solution for Bitcoin's cryptocurrency record-keeping system, are currently utilized to store records for a wide range of applications. Intermediaries are used in core services that we all rely on, such as money transfers, voting, property records, IP rights, and identity. These old systems have begun to be replaced with blockchain software. The software takes on the role of a trustworthy record-keeping system, with the software's rules serving as intermediates. This book discusses the principles of blockchain technology and assumes that the reader knows nothing about it. Topics are explained as simply as possible while avoiding obfuscating details that may be important to the reader. It also provides the reader with an overview of the key distinctions in blockchain software, as well as a fundamental grasp of how and why these systems operate. After reading this book, the reader will be able to speak confidently about the subject and understand significant technological differences. The reader will also gain valuable insight into the security flaws and limitations of blockchain software.

Handbook of Research on Blockchain Technology presents the latest information on the adaptation and implementation of Blockchain technologies in real world business, scientific, healthcare and biomedical applications. The book's editors present the rapid advancements in existing business models by applying Blockchain techniques. Novel architectural solutions in the deployment of Blockchain comprise the core aspects of this book. Several use cases with IoT, biomedical engineering, and smart cities are also incorporated. As Blockchain is a relatively new technology that exploits decentralized networks and is used in many sectors for reliable, cost-effective and rapid business transactions, this book is a welcomed addition on existing knowledge. Financial services, retail, insurance, logistics, supply chain, public sectors and biomedical industries are now investing in Blockchain research and technologies for their business growth. Blockchain prevents double spending in financial transactions without the need of a trusted authority or central server. It is a decentralized ledger platform that facilitates verifiable transactions between parties in a secure and smart way. - Presents the evolution of blockchain, from fundamental theories, to present forms - Explains the concepts of blockchain related to cloud/edge computing, smart healthcare, smart cities and Internet of Things (IoT) - Provides complete coverage of the various tools, platforms and techniques used in blockchain - Explores smart contract tools and consensus algorithms - Covers a variety of applications with real world case studies in areas such as biomedical engineering, supply chain management, and tracking of goods and delivery

FinTech developers and managers understand that the blockchain has the potential to disrupt the financial world. Distributed ledger technology allows the participants of a distributed system to agree on a common view of the system, to track changes in the system, in a reliable way. In the distributed systems community, agreement techniques have been known long before cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (where the term blockchain is borrowed) emerged. Various concepts and protocols exist, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This book introduces the basic techniques when building fault-tolerant distributed systems, in a scientific way. We will present different protocols and algorithms that allow for fault-tolerant operation, and we will discuss practical systems that implement these techniques.

Blockchain technology has come a long way since the initial vision published by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. Big buzz words like "bitcoin," "blockchain," and "cryptocurrency" are everywhere. Companies and governments have started to use blockchain technology in earnest and will increasingly do so for the foreseeable future. This book takes an in-depth look at blockchain technology and how users can take advantage of its potential. Since its initial conception, blockchain has encompassed both a social promise and new technology. Originally proposed as a solution for Bitcoin's cryptocurrency record-keeping system, blockchains are now used to store the records of all types of applications. Core services we all depend on like the transfer of money, voting, land records, IP rights, and identity all rely on intermediaries. Blockchain software has begun taking the place of these antiquated systems. The software becomes the trusted record-keeping system, and the rules programed into the software become the intermediaries. This book explains the fundamentals of blockchain technology and assumes that the reader has little to no knowledge of the subject. Topics are explained as simply as possible, while not obscuring details that may affect the reader. It also gives the reader insight into the critical differences in blockchain software and will provide them with a basic understanding of how and why these systems work. After reading this book, the reader will be able to speak with confidence on the topic, know key differences in technology. The reader will also have critical insight into blockchain software's inherent limitations and shortcomings. This book is also the definitive guide to the Blockchain Technology Foundation (BTF) exam from EXIN. It will prepare the reader for the test, and each chapter ends with review questions for extra guidance in preparing for the exam.

The Blockchain Technology for Secure and Smart Applications across Industry Verticals, Volume 121, presents the latest information on a type of distributed ledger used for maintaining a permanent and tamper-proof record of transactional data. The book presents a novel compendium of existing and budding Blockchain technologies for various smart applications. Chapters in this new release include the Basics of Blockchain, The Blockchain History, Architecture of Blockchain, Core components of Blockchain, Blockchain 2.0: Smart Contracts, Empowering Digital Twins with Blockchain, Industrial Use Cases at the Cusp of the IoT and Blockchain Paradigms, Blockchain Components and Concepts, Digital Signatures, Accumulators, Financial Systems, and more. This book is a unique effort to illuminate various techniques to represent, improve and authorize multi-institutional and multidisciplinary research in a different type of smart applications, like the financial system, smart grid, transportation system, etc. Readers in identity-privacy, traceability, immutability, transparency, auditability, and security will find it to be a valuable resource. - Provides a snapshot of the state of current research based on the decentralized system that provides security and privacy to the smart applications - Chapters cover the fundamental concepts of the newly emerged Blockchain technology along with, the various smart applications - Helps to elucidate new trading platforms that provides business benefits like efficiency, auditability, traceability, transparency, feedback, and security

How the blockchain—a system built on foundations of mutual mistrust—can become trustworthy. The blockchain entered the world on January 3, 2009, introducing an innovative new trust architecture: an environment in which users trust a system—for example, a shared ledger of information—without necessarily trusting any of its components. The cryptocurrency Bitcoin is the most famous implementation of the blockchain, but hundreds of other companies have been founded and billions of dollars invested in similar applications since Bitcoin's launch. Some see the blockchain as offering more opportunities for criminal behavior than benefits to society. In this book, Kevin Werbach shows how a technology resting on foundations of mutual mistrust can become trustworthy. The blockchain, built on open software and decentralized foundations that allow anyone to participate, seems like a threat to any form of regulation. In fact, Werbach argues, law and the blockchain need each other. Blockchain systems that ignore law and governance are likely to fail, or to become outlaw technologies irrelevant to the mainstream economy. That, Werbach cautions, would be a tragic waste of potential. If, however, we recognize the blockchain as a kind of legal technology that shapes behavior in new ways, it can be harnessed to create tremendous business and social value.

From the author of Mind Hacking and founder of Bitcoin Market Journal comes the first book to explain the money-making secrets behind bitcoin and blockchain in a user-friendly format. When John Hargrave first invested in cryptocurrency, the price of a single bitcoin was about $125; a few years later, that same bitcoin was worth $20,000. He wasn’t alone: this flood of new money is like the early days of the Internet, creating a new breed of “blockchain billionaires.” Sir John has unlocked their secrets. In Blockchain for Everyone, Sir John reveals the formula for investing in bitcoin and blockchain, using real-life stories, easy-to-understand examples, and a healthy helping of humor. Packed with illustrations, Blockchain for Everyone explains how (and when) to buy bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and other blockchain assets, with step-by-step instructions. Blockchain for Everyone is the first blockchain investing book written for the layperson: a guide that helps everyone understand how to build wealth wisely. It’s the new investing manifesto!