[*Note: this article is a compilation of my favorite links for newbies who are looking to get started with blockchain. Originally published on my blog shamirozery.com- it's not necessarily for savvy Steemers like yourselves, but rather as an answer to all my friends who are asking "WTF is blockchain?"]
What is blockchain? Some links to get newbies started
Here's a bold prediction: Blockchain will do to transactions what the internet did to information.
It sounds far-reaching, because it is.
Blockchain is a digital record;
At its heart, a blockchain is a record of transactions, like a traditional ledger. These transactions can be any movement of money, goods or secure data. It's designed to store information in a way that makes it virtually impossible to add, remove or change data without being detected by other users making it extremely secure, and since verification comes from the consensus of multiple users - it's completely decentralized, essentially cutting out middle-men and authorities such as governments, credit cards or clearing houses.
"Okay cool - where can I learn more about blockchain"
- is a question I occasionally get. So if you too are interested in better understanding the basic concepts and lingo - keep reading, these links are for you:
"The Blockchain and Us" by Manuel Stagars is a fantastic documentary that gives a great overview of the potential role blockchain will play in the future of tech:
Nick Szabo ("smart contract" ideator) and & Naval Ravikant (of AngelList) delve deep into the philosophy of transactions and discuss Bitcoin, Ethereum, Blockchain, ICOs and much more with Tim Ferris in this podcast episode
If you're looking for a deeper understanding of the mechanics of Blockchain - check out this video.
Blockchain news & updates
Coindesk and CoinTelegraph are my go to destinations for staying informed with blockchain news.
Coindesk release a "Q1 2017 State of the Blockchain" whitepaper that can be found here.
Cryptocurrencies
Coinmarketcap is where I go to see real time crates and transaction data of all cryptocurrencies.
"Wait, there are other cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin?" Yes - 850 and counting. Should you know all of them? Heck no. Most of them are copycat garbage at best. This article gives a nice overview of the cryptocurrencies worth knowing (although there are certainly some additional ones that deserve an honerable mention IMO including Golem, Steem, Basic Attention Token and more...).
What is Ethereum?
Interested in digging deeper into Ethereum? My buddy Alex Fisher put together this Intro to Ethereum presentation
These are just some of my favorites. Have anything to add? Leave your comments below and I'll be happy to build the list!
