What is a Blockchain? (Animated + Examples)

Summary

This lesson breaks down what a blockchain actually is — a chain of blocks containing data, secured by cryptography and distributed across a network. You'll learn why blockchains are hard to tamper with and why that matters for cryptocurrency.

Key Concepts

Things To Remember

• A blockchain is a list of records (blocks) linked together using cryptography.
• Once data is added to the blockchain it is extremely difficult to change.
• The blockchain is stored on many computers (nodes) simultaneously.
• Blockchain is the technology that powers cryptocurrency — but they are not the same thing.

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