Blockchain

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Bitcoin is emerging as a significant digital currency, but the underlying blockchain technology holds even greater potential. This book explores the evolution from currency ("Blockchain 1.0") and smart contracts ("Blockchain 2.0") to the blockchain's role as the fifth disruptive computing paradigm, following mainframes, PCs, the Internet, and mobile/social networking. Author Melanie Swan, Founder of the Institute for Blockchain Studies, presents the blockchain as a public ledger capable of serving as a global, decentralized record for registering, inventorying, and transferring all types of assets—financial, property, and intangible assets like votes, software, health data, and ideas. Key topics include the concepts and features of Bitcoin and blockchain, automated tracking of digital endeavors, censorship-resistant organizational models, decentralized digital repositories for identity verification, and the potential for more efficient services traditionally provided by governments. The book also discusses the application of blockchain in science for better data utilization, personal health record storage including genomic data access, and open access academic publishing. This work is part of an O’Reilly series, which includes titles that delve into the technology behind Bitcoin and the broader implications of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies.