Smart contracts are a groundbreaking innovation in blockchain technology that enable the execution of self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement written directly into code. Bitcoin’s scripting language has paved the way for several applications of smart contracts, such as the implementation of escrowed payment transactions. However, the scripting language’s limitations, which include a
Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology, has become one of the most vibrant altcoins due to its unique community values. Although it was created as a fork of Litecoin, its success can be attributed to its emphasis on generosity, tipping, and not taking cryptocurrency too seriously. Named after the popular “Doge” meme featuring a
Bitcoin Applications are changing the way we think about money and financial systems. While Bitcoin is primarily known as a digital currency, it has also revolutionized various other industries. Its decentralized nature, transparency, and security make it an ideal candidate for a wide range of applications. In this article, we will explore the top 3
This article is about the Bitcoin mechanism. Whereas the discussion in the first two chapters was relatively generalized, we now delve into the details. We’ll look at real data structures, real scripts, and learn the details and language of Bitcoin in a precise way to set up the discussion in the rest of this book.
Bitcoin Decentralization: We looked at the crypto basics that underlie Bitcoin and ended with the description of a simple currency called Scroogecoin. Scroogecoin achieves a lot of what we want in a ledger-based cryptocurrency, but it has one glaring problem—it relies on a centralized authority (Scrooge). We ended with the question of how to decentralize,
You will see the phrase ‘blockchain technology,’ or commonly just ‘blockchain,’ in many different contexts, and it can be confusing because different people use the words to mean different things. Purists will have a different understanding of the word from generalists. Angela Walch, Research Fellow at University College London—Centre for Blockchain Technologies, provides some excellent
Terminology is evolving quickly. While bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies are all referred to as ‘digital tokens’ in a generic sense (as in ‘a Bitcoin is a digital token’), a distinction now seems to be emerging between cryptocurrencies, such as BTC and ETH whose coins are tracked on their respective blockchains, and tokens which are usually
Bitcoin predecessors played a crucial role in its creation, as most innovative inventions are not developed in isolation. Bitcoin’s inventors drew inspiration from previous experiences and combined various proven concepts in an unprecedented way to create new characteristics for decentralized digital cash. Here are some technologies and ideas that may have directly or indirectly influenced
The Bitcoin blockchain is managed by software running on computers that communicate with each other forming a network. Although multiple compatible software implementations exist, the most used software is called ‘Bitcoin Core’ and source code to this software is published on GitHub. The Bitcoin blockchain is a decentralized, public ledger that records all Bitcoin transactions.
Bitcoin mining is the process of verifying transactions on the blockchain network by solving complex mathematical equations. This process requires high computational power and energy consumption, making it a lucrative but challenging activity. In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of Bitcoin mining, the role of ASICs, and the different types of mining hardware available.