In my experience most people have never heard of a "blockchain".
"So what's the big deal about blockchain anyway?", you ask? Oh where do I begin?!
Block chain is simply going to change everything, and by everything I mean everything!
Supply chain management
Uber will be utterly transformed, and air bnb, and any other service that is basically a middleman, lawyers, banks, insurance companies... everything.
Maybe I should avoid the hype here, there is enough out there already. So here is a VERY simplified explanation of why it will be great for everyone that block chain is out "in the wild", as they say.
Simplified explanation: Block chain is a distributed, Per-to-per, encrypted, immutable, unhackable ledger (spreadsheet, database), that will allow users to trust in the validity of the information in said ledger.
Or said another way:
A spreadsheet that is saved on millions of computer... that can be read by anyone, and can only be changed by valid users that the other tens of thousands of users validate. This process if making any change by a very precise process that requires others in the "block chain network" to validate the changes has the effect of preventing hacks and preventing theft or unauthorized modification.
If this is vague, I agree, that is intentional for purposes of brevity. Deeper explanations in a future post, also see:
https://steemit.com/blockchain/@edwardv00/the-internet-of-trust
This is where I get the blowback: "un-hackable!? BBBBB! SSSSSSS!" Or "No-way!!!" People say... "can't be" all this is "arguable", please do so in the comments. I'll do my best to reply to all comments... as long as the number of comments are practical to reply to all of them.
If you can "suspend disbelief" for at least a while, let's go to this brave new world, what can you do with a database you can trust, a database that will be "on the internet"... AND ... "written in stone"? Boy I just added some weight to that "suspend" part of disbelief, didn't I? If your still with me, this database can hold much more than the value of a given currency in it, it could hold the true and rightful owner of a plot of land, it can hold the true and accurate count of the votes for a politician or proposed law, it can hold... well anything of value, your baby's pictures, a supply chain, the true source of Tuna meat or true source of diamonds... How do we know if they are "blood diamonds" or "valid diamonds"? The block chain can proof it.
There are a whole lot of logistical details I'm leaving out on purpose... but think about it... strangers can now trust what is being sent across the internet... can you think of some uses? No matter what you can imagine, you can not imagine all possible uses... it would be like predicting all the websites that were to come... and it was 1996... so get ready... it is being built, and they will come, all those mind bending uses, all the amazing things you can think of, and those you can't.
"So what?!" you ask? Well, this blog, this article your reading is a HUGH "so what"... not because I'm some great writer, or because the information is so compelling... no, this article is a big deal because I could have written this on any number of hundreds? Thousands? of blog sites, but I have chosen to write it here on "www.steemit.com". This website competes directly with another site: www.reddit.com. If you don't know about reddit, it is a compilation and blogging site, it is very cool... it allows you to post articles, facts, information, they are famous for their "ask me anything" where people post questions to famous people real time and you can see the questions and answers long after the fact. Like an interview by the internet itself. Reddit has you make an account if you want to post something, and if you post stuff people enjoy you get "Reddit points"... if you get enough points you get a reputation and people read your post just because you've become "guilded" and make a few bucks, but the VAST majority of people only get "fake" internet Reddit points you can do nothing with. But here on steemit.com, you get PAID! Not in cash directly, but in three types of "steem" block chain money, explained here:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@ndell/a-beginner-s-guide-to-help-with-with-understanding-steemit
Go to the home page of this website: www.steemit.com, just look at how much money people are making. Look at what is trending here, $2000 bucks, $1000 bucks, $500 bucks and the list goes on and on, some people make $16,000! On a single post! So if you like this post, make an account, upvote this article, or any of my other articles. If you don't like, give feedback by leaving a comment... if people like your comment, you can get paid for your comments. So no matter what, make an account! All you need is a phone number and an email address!
What else you may ask?
Well I suggest you go down the rabbit hole and dig around, I'm finding new uses everyday... when you poke your head up and you are ready to invest in bitcoin (or ethereum or lite coin), use this link, spend $100 or more, and get $10 worth of bitcoin free! Use this link:
www.coinbase.com/join/592e45e9a01b690515f74e6b
You must have questions... ask them, I'll do my best to give a researched answer, I am a "future evangelist", I love this stuff!
Take the red pill and see for your self just how far down the rabbit hole goes!
-Ed