Update: Thinking About Blockchains

The simplest phrase I use to describe a blockchain is this: it’s a database.

That oversimplifies in many ways. But blockchains are thought of as ledgers and ledgers are really just databases. You use databases all the time, sometimes deliberately and sometimes without realizing it. That spreadsheet meticulously maintained with every item in your house? That’s a database. I’ve spent my entire professional career dealing with databases, and love them dearly for numerous reasons.

Blockchains don’t introduce databases for the first time and certainly don’t make them obsolete. So, in my coming post, I’m going to explore some blockchain news and ideas and hopefully shed some light on where blockchain technology fits logically vs not.