BlockChain : Developer's Guide & Use Cases

Living in the digital era, we are quite sure you would have heard the term "Blockchain", majorly due to the rise of cryptocurrencies. If not, you might be missing the next big thing in the technology market. It is the methodology that will redefine the way transactions happen today. Let’s have a deeper look into the enormous potential it has, how it might directly impact us, the technology behind this solution and the future.

What is Blockchain?

Blockchain, in its most basic form, is a general ledger. It contains the information of financial transactions performed by an organization over its lifetime. So, if a unit is purchased, or loaned or taken on lease, such financial transactions are recorded in the general ledger, i.e the blockchain.

The blockchain is an electronic ledger, a peer-to-peer platform with a distributed time-stamping server that is shared among users and creates unalterable records of transactions. Each time a transaction is recorded, it creates a block and allows either an open or controlled set of users to access the electronic ledger.

Each block is created having a unique cryptographic hash when a new transaction is entered. It is linked to a specific participant which can only be updated on consensus between participants and once created it can never be erased.

This makes blockchain perfect for record keeping and auditing purposes.

How does a Blockchain work?

Each block in the blockchain contains a hash which is generated by a cryptographic function that takes into account the details o the transaction such as time, date, and place and makes a key out of this to encrypt the block. Further, when the blocks are added to the chain, the hashes link them to each other. This encryption protects the block from any external tampering, thus protecting its integrity.

Further, the General Ledger is protected by its basic function of double entry accounting as the blockchain also works on same book balancing concept. To contain the authenticity of the record, a balancing block is created on seller’s side of the book to record the sale.

The Concept

The blockchain is an entirely new concept for software engineers, it represents a paradigm shift of how the applications will be developed in future. To understand the building blocks of a blockchain we need to have a deeper knowledge of key concepts and how they are interrelated. The five concepts act more or less like catalyst towards the creation of decentralized applications, a step ahead of distributed computing architectural constructs.

Decentralized Consensus

A central database used to be the king and rule transactional validity. This old paradigm has been broken by decentralized consensus, which transfers authority to a decentralized virtual network and enables its nodes to sequentially record transaction on a network block. This creates a unique chain where each successive block is secured via hash code and hence, removing the need for a central intermediary. This combination of blockchain and cryptography ensures there is no duplicity of transactions. Conesus acts as the first layer of decentralized architecture which governs a blockchain’s operation.

The consensus logic is a separate entity from the application. This enables applications to be coded organically decentralized. This is the basis for system changing innovations in application architecture.

The Blockchain

Block is a storage space for any data which is to be stored in a linear form. Once you create a block, anyone can verify by your signature that information has been stored by you, but the contents of the block can be unlocked only by you (or the program) as you hold the private keys to the block. This characteristic makes blockchain similar to a database, the only difference being the header is public. Thus, a blockchain works on public –private control where the address is public which what holds the address is encrypted by private keys.

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The software design approach behind a blockchain is to bind a number of peers that obey same “consensus” for storing or accessing the information held. All the related transactions are further verified by cryptography.

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Smart Contracts

A smart contract is a small program that is entrusted with a unit of value and rules around the same. These are thus building blocks for a decentralized application. The idea behind smart contracts was laid to nullify the need of any central arbitrator and two parties can transact directly via blockchain. For a transaction to occur, the two parties agree on simple rules and embed them inside transactions enabling end to end resolution. This helps in self-management of computers and represent direct interests of users. Smart properties are digital assets differentiated by their owners and this ownership is linked to the blockchain.

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Trusted Computing

The concepts of the blockchain, smart contracts, and decentralized consensus enables trust in peer to peer computing at a very detailed level. Due to rules of trust, authority, governance, compliance, contracts, law, and agreements; a trust develops between each peer and hence they can proceed with secure transactions. Blockchain acts as a validator of transactions for two consenting parties without either of them knowing their trusted intermediary.

Arguably, “trusted computing” on the web is a key tenet of the new crypto-driven paradigm.

Proof of work

Proof of work is the right to participate in a blockchain’s system. Information once recorded in a blockchain system cannot be undone and is secured via cryptographic hashes to ensure the authenticity. Proof of work is expensive to maintain, however, there is an upgraded solution called proof of stake which it is more expensive but tougher to compromise. In addition, to determine the owner of the consensus it prevents unwanted branching of the underlying blockchain.

Blockchain in Action

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Use Cases

Internet of Things(IoT)

Internet of Things is communication among a certain type of electronic devices, for instance switching on the air conditioners 10 minutes before you reach home.

Smart contracts make the automation of remote systems possible. A combination of sensors, network facilitators, and software is required to attain a communication among devices which improves cost monitoring and system efficiency. The industry giants in this field IBM, Samsung, and AT&T are contesting for IoT power. 

Crowd Funding

Blockchains can potentially create crowdsourced venture capital funds. There are a couple of websites built on the technology and their popularity suggests that people want to have a direct say in product development. 

At present, there are crowd funding initiatives like Gofundme and Kickstarter that are utilizing this technology for advance work in the emerging peer to peer economy. 

Supply Chain Auditing

The concept of distributed general ledgers will certify the genuineness of products. This transparency is possible due to timestamping of the transaction on a particular product number.

This technology has been used in supply chain auditing for a range of consumer goods, a pilot project has been developed in Japan which ensures that 'Sushi' sold in restaurants are sustainably harvested by Indonesian suppliers. 

Prediction Markets

We have already seen how prediction markets have evolved that pay according to the outcome of an event. In near future, the blockchain will be “wisdom of the crowd” and develop newer applications in this domain. 

Prediction of outcome of such events will make people earn money due to correct prediction. Based on a prediction outcome people can ask questions, create a market and even collect half of the transaction fee generated by the market.

Identity Management

Distributed ledgers are the enhanced methods which prove the identity of a user or a program. This will give the flexibility to store digital personal documents. This personal identity will further be useful in transacting online.

A digital identity will have its challenges as a universal online identity solution requires cooperation between government and private entities in addition to following various rules of different countries.

Stock Trading

Trade confirmations become instantaneous on peer to peer executions. This will eliminate the need for any middlemen such as auditors, clearinghouses, and custodians.

Among the exchange groups of the world, first mover advantage is taken by Nasdaq’s Linq. It is a platform for private market trading, recently a development of trial blockchain is announced by Nasdaq for proxy voting on Estonian Market.

Governance

The use of blockchain will make results fully transparent and publically accessible. This distributed database will make any kind of polls completely transparent.

There are apps developed on blockchain that enables organizational decision making. This makes a company’s governance fully verifiable and transparent. 

File Storage

File storage over networks can be decentralized, which can help organizations avoid data loss or getting hacked by third parties.

The web is in dire need of currently overloaded content delivery systems and IPFS is built on blockchain to conceptualize the operation of distributed web. This will decentralize websites, speed up file transfer and stream times. 

The Sharing Economy

Our current economy is sharing one, where companies are coming up with ideas of sharing rides to destinations. Blockchain can enable peer-to-peer payments and hence a direct connection between parties.

Currently, OpenBazaar is using blockchain to create peer-to-peer eBay. With this direct connection with sellers, a personal reputation is more important than current eBay methodology. 

Land Title Registration

Properties are most susceptible to fraud where too much cost is involved in administering it.

A number of countries have undertaken blockchain land registry projects including Sweden and Republic of Georgia which are commissioning blockchain system for property tiles.

Data Management

Today, people are using social media platforms in exchange for their personal information. blockchain brings the future where people can sell the data that is generated by their online activity.

 

A number of projects are undergoing which understands that key to a personal marketplace is a users’ privacy. Cryptographic techniques are being used to split data between nodes as well as group them to run bulk computations.

KYC

The KYC practices require a labor-intensive multi-step process for every new customer. With blockchain technology, these costs can be reduced through cross-institution client verification. 

Polycoin is a startup that provides a solution to the process of  KYC by analyzing transactions.

Suspicious transactions are then forwarded to compliance officers. While another startup TiM, also known as Instagram for KYC allows customers to store their documents digitally, once the documents are verified, data validation by the bank is cryptographically stored on a blockchain. 

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The possible use cases of this technology are endless which can be uncovered once the need is assessed in each domain.

IBM BlockChain and Hyperledger Fabric

Blockchain networks are deployed in various domains including universal basic income programs, financial sector and even for humanitarian purposes. IBM saw the potential and launched its own “Blockchain as a service” by implementing a first of its kind enterprise ready blockchain. 

IBM’s blockchain is based on The Linux Foundations' open source Hyperledger fabric. This fabric is like an operating system for data sharing networks, marketplaces, micro-currencies and decentralized digital communities. This further reduces cost and complexities involved in routine activities in various domains. 

The applications and solutions developed under Hyperledger project follow a modular architecture where Hyperledger Fabric allows consensus and membership services to be plugged and play. Also, the component of smart contracts in Hyperledger host “chain code” that comprises of application logic system. Further, Hyperledger Fabric is a product of contributions by Digital Asset and IBM.

Blockchain technology at IBM aims at helping customers to create, deploy and manage blockchain network via cloud-based services. To bring blockchain technologies for commercial adoption, an open software development framework and approach is required which can ensure interoperability, longevity, transparency, and support. 

For secure services to enterprise users, IBM has added another layer of security services and a highly auditable way of tracking activities. 

At present, IBM isn’t just limited to enterprise mode of the blockchain; in 2015 IBM along with Samsung present a proof of concept for implementing blockchain with IoT, this was named as “Autonomous Decentralized Peer-to-Peer Telemetry”. This will be a revolutionary step for future of digital security and transparency.

Future

Be it any new technology, businesses must be cognizant of it before completely adopting it. For blockchain, the technology is still emerging into reality from a concept. The products are blooming and are being presented to the market.

At present, there are about 15 blockchain distributed ledger platforms being developed for specialist applications. The industry still needs to lay down standardization in order to encourage the adoption of blockchain technology. IBM with Hyperledger project is putting positive efforts in the same direction.

There are challenges in adopting every new technology but Blockchain is surely the next big global revolution. So get ready to embrace all the future possibilities!