Imagine a notebook that everyone in your school can write in, but no one can erase or change what’s already been written.
Each page in this notebook is a block, and the notebook keeps getting new pages added to it. Once something is written on a page (a transaction, for example), it’s locked in. Then the next page (block) is added, and so on. That’s your blockchain—a chain of blocks filled with data, linked together in order.
Real-Life Example: The Class Lunch Money Tracker
Let’s say your class starts a Lunch Money Tracker. Every time someone lends or borrows lunch money, you write it down in a shared notebook:
- Alex gives Jordan $5
- Taylor pays Alex back $3
- Mia borrows $2 from Jordan
- Everyone in class has a copy of this notebook. That way, if someone tries to cheat (like Mia saying she never borrowed $2), the class can double-check the records and say, Umm, nope. It’s written right here.
- That’s what blockchain does—it keeps records that everyone agrees on, and no one can secretly change them.
Why Is Blockchain So Special?
It’s Trustworthy (Even Without Trust)
You don’t need to trust anyone in particular because the blockchain automatically keeps people honest. The records are stored on thousands of computers around the world, not just one place. So if someone tries to mess with the data, everyone else’s computers will say, That’s not right, and ignore it.
It’s Super Secure
Every block has a special digital fingerprint called a hash. When a new block is added, it includes the hash of the previous block, linking them together. If someone tries to change a block, the fingerprint changes—and it breaks the chain. Everyone will see that something’s fishy.
A Personal Analogy: My Strava Cycling Log
I use a cycling app called Strava. Every time I go for a bike ride, it records my distance, time, and route. Once the ride is saved, I can’t change it. It’s locked in history.
Blockchain works kind of like that—once a block (or ride) is added, it becomes part of a permanent record. It’s transparent, secure, and public, just like my Strava profile (even when I wish I could erase that super slow ride .
Next Article To Read: Should You Start With Crypto or Stocks? My Honest Take