What is a blockchain?

A blockchain is a kind of digital ‘spreadsheet’ that keeps track of any data loaded and locked into it. Its use can range from recording and keeping track of transactions, to sales, or even keeping track of an electoral vote. Its strengths as a technology include its immutability, meaning that any information loaded into the blockchain can’t be tampered with, its security, and transparency. 

In the crypto world, blockchain serves as the backbone of cryptocurrency network on which all transactions made with a cryptocurrency are recorded. For example, the Bitcoin blockchain is the ledger, or the spreadsheet, on which all the transactions that have ever been made with Bitcoin are recorded. Each node in the Bitcoin network has a copy of the entire Bitcoin blockchain.