Features of Blockchain - GeeksforGeeks (2024)

Here In this article, we will discuss the features of blockchain technology and how they make it a revolutionary and highly desirable platform for various applications.

A blockchain is a chain of blocks that contains information. Most people think that Blockchain is Bitcoin and vice-versa. But it’s not the case. In fact, Bitcoin is a digital currency or cryptocurrency that works on Blockchain Technology. Blockchain was invented by Satoshi Nakamoto. As the name suggests, Each block consists of a number of transactions, and each transaction is recorded in the form of a Hash. Hash is a unique address assigned to each block during its creation and any further modification in the block will lead to a change in its hash.

Let’s have a look at the primary features of the blockchain technology:

1. Immutable

Immutability means that the blockchain is a permanent and unalterable network. Blockchain technology functions through a collection of nodes. Once a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, it cannot be modified or deleted. This makes the blockchain an immutable and tamper-proof ledger that provides a high degree of security and trust.

• Every node in the network has a copy of the digital ledger. To add a transaction every node checks the validity of the transaction and if the majority of the nodes think that it is a valid transaction then it is added to the network. This means that without the approval of a majority of nodes no one can add any transaction blocks to the ledger.
• Any validated records are irreversible and cannot be changed. This means that any user on the network won’t be able to edit, change or delete it.

2. Distributed

All network participants have a copy of the ledger for complete transparency. A public ledger will provide complete information about all the participants on the network and transactions. The distributed computational power across the computers ensures a better outcome.

Distributed ledger is one of the important features of blockchains due to many reasons like:

• In distributed ledger tracking what’s happening in the ledger is easy as changes propagate really fast in a distributed ledger.
• Every node on the blockchain network must maintain the ledger and participate in the validation.
• Any change in the ledger will be updated in seconds or minutes and due to no involvement of intermediaries in the blockchain, the validation for the change will be done quickly.
• If a user wants to add a new block then other participating nodes have to verify the transaction. For a new block to be added to the blockchain network it must be approved by a majority of the nodes on the network.
• In a blockchain network, no node will get any sort of special treatment or favors from the network. Everyone will have to follow the standard procedure to add a new block to the network.

3. Decentralized

Blockchain technology is a decentralized system, which means that there is no central authority controlling the network. Instead, the network is made up of a large number of nodes that work together to verify and validate transactions. Each and every node in the blockchain network will have the same copy of the ledger.

Decentralization property offers many advantages in the blockchain network:

• As a blockchain network does not depend on human calculations it is fully organized and fault-tolerant.
• The blockchain network is less prone to failure due to the decentralized nature of the network. Attacking the system is more expensive for the hackers hence it is less likely to fail.
• There is no third-party involved hence no added risk in the system.
• The decentralized nature of blockchain facilitates creating a transparent profile for every participant on the network. Thus, every change is traceable, and more concreate.
• Users now have control over their properties and they don’t have to rely on third-party to maintain and manage their assets.

4. Secure

All the records in the blockchain are individually encrypted. Using encryption adds another layer of security to the entire process on the blockchain network. Since there is no central authority, it does not mean that one can simply add, update or delete data on the network.
Every information on the blockchain is hashed cryptographically which means that every piece of data has a unique identity on the network. All the blocks contain a unique hash of their own and the hash of the previous block. Due to this property, the blocks are cryptographically linked with each other. Any attempt to modify the data means to change all the hash IDs which is quite impossible.

5. Consensus

Every blockchain has a consensus to help the network to make quick and unbiased decisions. Consensus is a decision-making algorithm for the group of nodes active on the network to reach an agreement quickly and faster and for the smooth functioning of the system. Nodes might not trust each other but they can trust the algorithm that runs at the core of the network to make decisions. There are many consensus algorithms available each with its pros and cons. Every blockchain must have a consensus algorithm otherwise it will lose its value.

6. Unanimous

All the network participants agree to the validity of the records before they can be added to the network. When a node wants to add a block to the network then it must get majority voting otherwise the block cannot be added to the network. A node cannot simply add, update, or delete information from the network. Every record is updated simultaneously and the updations propagate quickly in the network. So it is not possible to make any change without consent from the majority of nodes in the network.

7. Faster Settlement

Traditional banking systems are prone to many reasons for fallout like taking days to process a transaction after finalizing all settlements, which can be corrupted easily. On the other hand, blockchain offers a faster settlement compared to traditional banking systems. This blockchain feature helps make life easier.

Blockchain technology is increasing and improving day by day and has a really bright future in the upcoming years. The transparency, trust, and temper proof characteristics have led to many applications of it like bitcoin, Ethereum, etc. It is a pillar in making the business and governmental procedures more secure, efficient, and effective.

More Features of Blockchain

Smart Contracts – Blockchain technology enables the creation and execution of smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts that automatically execute when certain conditions are met. Smart contracts have the potential to revolutionize various industries by providing a secure and transparent way to execute contracts.

Transparency – The blockchain ledger is public and transparent, which means that anyone can access and view the transactions on the network. This makes it a highly transparent system that is resistant to fraud and corruption.

Applications of Blockchain – Blockchain technology has a wide range of applications across various industries. Some of the most well-known applications include cryptocurrency, supply chain management, identity verification, and voting systems. However, blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize many other industries as well, such as healthcare, real estate, and finance.

Conclusion: In conclusion, blockchain technology is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to transform various industries. Its decentralized, secure, transparent, and immutable nature make it a highly desirable platform for various applications. As the technology continues to evolve and mature, we can expect to see more innovative use cases for blockchain technology in the future.