Blockchain Technologies

Blockchain

A blockchain is an expanding list of cryptographically signed, irrevocable transactional records shared by all participants in a network. Each record contains a time stamp and reference links to previous transactions. With this information, anyone with access rights can trace back a transactional event, at any point in its history, belonging to any participant. A blockchain is one architectural design of the broader concept of distributed ledgers.

Sidechains/ Channels

Any mechanism that allows tokens from one blockchain to be securely used within a completely separate blockchain, but still moved back to the original chain if necessary. By convention, the original change is normally referred to as the "main chain", while any additional blockchains that allow users to transact within them, in the tokens of the main chains, are referred to as "sidechains"

Cryptocurrency Mining

The process whereby transactions submitted to a blockchain are validated by participating network nodes, resulting in transaction verification and in compensation to the miner via the creation of a new token(s). The creation of this token marks confirmation of the submitted block of transactions. Mining is an attribute of public blockchains and cryptocurrencies.

Smart Contracts

a computer program or protocol, typically running on a blockchain-based technology platform, which facilitates, verifies or executes business processes that could be triggered by events, on-chain and off-chain transactions or interactions with other smart contracts. Rules are defined in the smart contract by allowing the performance of a transaction without third parties, making a smart contract a self-executory contract

Postquantum Blockchain

a form of blockchain technology using quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms that can resist attack by future quantum computers

Distributed Storage in Blockchain

a mechanism where data is stored across multiple computers in a network and managed using blockchain. the data is encrypted and broken into chunks ("shards") and stored on participating computers. the details of the shards and the hash of the shards are stored on a blockchain. the user holds the cryptographic keys that control access to the stored data

Multiparty Computing (MPC)

a method of cryptography that enables entities (applications, individuals or devices) to work with data while keeping that data in a protected, confidential and private state. Specifically, it allows for multiple parties (i.e. users) to share data while maintaining confidentiality without exposing encryption keys

Blockchain PaaS (bPaaS)

a set of blockchain software platform services offered in the cloud by a vendor, for subscriber. Services can include some or all of the distributed ledger, node or consensus mechanisms, and other ancillary services to manage a network of distributed ledgers on the vendor's cloud infrastructure. Another term for these services is blockchain as a service (BaaS)

Blockchain Wallet Platform

allow a user to create, store, exchange or manage tokens held in blockchain platforms (tokens representing cryptocurrencies, assets, information, IDs and smart contracts). They deliver the functionality either by offering it as a core part of the platform, or by acting as an integration layer supporting API calls between the wallet and other blockchain applications.

Distributed Ledgers

an umbrella term for technologies that store an expanding list of cryptographically signed, irrevocable transaction records shared by all participants in a network. Each record contains a time stamp and reference links to previous transactions. With this information, anyone with access rights can trace back a transactional event, at any point in its history, belonging to any participant.

Decentralized Applications (Dapps)

applicaitons that cryptographically store their data and records of operations in a distributed ledger. Decentralization in this context is not an "all or nothing"- they typically leverage the capabilities of a blockchain platform to autonomously manage "digital asset state changes" or "digital asset transactions", enabled by programmatic terms and conditions (also known as smart contracts) in response to events and/or transactions

Metacoin Platforms

emerging platforms for generalized, distributed value exchange that will enable the programmable economy. Uses concepts pioneered by the bitcoin blockchain, such as globally distributed ledger, peer-to-peer decentralized network, cryptographically defined identity and the philosophy of "trustless trust" (i.e. algorithms replaced centralized institutions/control), smart contracts and programmable transactions

Quantum computing

new model of computing that can solve previously intractable computational problems, including those used to protect data in blockchain platforms and in other financial systems

Zero Knowledge Proofs (ZPKs)

privacy-preserving messaging protocols that enable entities to prove that information available to both of them is correct, without the requirement to transmit or share the underlying information

Consensus Mechanisms

process by which all nodes in a distributed network agree on proposed transactions, which ensures data integrity, immutability and consistency for information recorded in the ledger. Distributed network governance rules and protocols that enable the recording, completion and execution of transactions under certain conditions.

Smart Contract Oracle

software mechanisms that allow smart contracts to interact with external systems, access data as needed or be notified of events. they serve a variety of needs and examples include fetching stock prices, getting notified of changing interest rates or accepting traditional payments

cryptocurrency hardware wallets

stores essential information (such as private keys) needed by a user to access and conduct transactions using cryptocurrency (such as bitcoin and Ether). It is a physical client-side system, as opposed to a software server-side digital wallet, in which users trust a third party system to keep the user's identity and record of value

Blockchain Interoperability

the ability of blockchain platforms that use different distributed ledgers to seamlessly interact and transfer assets and other information from one blockchain network to another and to other systems of record.