Let’s talk about blockchain, which is the concept behind popular Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and Litecoin. Blockchain seems complicated, but its core concept is really pretty simple – it’s a type of database. To be able to understand blockchain, it helps to first understand what a database actually is. A database is a collection of information that is stored electronically on a computer system. Information or data in databases is typically structured in table format to allow for easier searching and filtering for specific information. A simple example for most people to visualize is a spreadsheet, like what you’d use in Excel. The main difference is that spreadsheets are designed for one or a few people to store and access small amounts of information. By contrast, a database is designed to house huge amounts of information that can be accessed, filtered, and manipulated quickly and easily by any number of users at once. In either case, data is traditionally housed/stored in a centralized location. This helps us imagine a starting point, but how is blockchain different from a database? After all, a database isn’t a new concept, and blockchain is a new technology. One key difference is the way the data is structured. A blockchain collects information together in groups, also known as blocks, that hold sets of information. Blocks have certain storage capacities and, when filled, are chained onto t