Transfer records deleted, chat records lost, even the bank can't find third-party proof, and in the end, you can only suffer this dumb loss.
In fact, these frustrating matters have long been solved by blockchain. Don't think that when you hear 'blockchain,' it's just a suit-wearing big shot playing complex tricks. To put it simply, it's just a shared notebook that everyone on the network can keep an eye on. Whatever anyone records or transfers, everyone has an identical backup, so there's no longer a fear of someone secretly altering records or being unreasonable.
Do you still remember the nightmare of playing the 'telephone game' as a child? The teacher asked us to bring the 'math homework notebook,' and by the end, it turned into 'bring a basketball to the competition.' It's even more ridiculous in reality, where contract terms are changed, transfer amounts get mixed up, and in the end, no one can clarify the truth. But this 'notebook' called blockchain inherently comes with a 'pitfall prevention buff,' specifically designed to seal these loopholes.
The logic of its bookkeeping is ridiculously simple; I can explain it in three plain statements:
Every page is an 'iron ledger': this page is filled with transactions (for example, who transferred how much money to whom). Once it's filled, it gets locked; to change even a single character, you'd have to tear the entire page out and rewrite it — but everyone in the world is watching, so there's no chance.
Every page has a 'theft-proof password': each page is engraved with a unique mark from the previous page, tightly linked like a chain. If someone touches any one page, all the marks will get messed up, and the entire network will instantly raise an alarm.
Everyone is a 'supervisor': it's not a particular company or person managing this notebook, but rather hundreds of thousands or millions of computers around the world storing identical copies. Want to secretly change the content? Unless you can get all the computers to agree at the same time — this challenge is harder than keeping a cat from stealing fish.
In summary, this thing relies on three major abilities to make people feel secure:
No one can be a 'local emperor': data is not in the hands of any single company; thousands of computers worldwide have backups. Even if a few computers break down, the records in the others remain intact.
Once recorded, it’s 'nailed down and immovable': as long as a transaction is recorded in the notebook, even if you want to change a number, the entire chain will immediately 'flash a red light,' making it impossible to change.
Clear yet unpredictable: everyone can check all transaction records; it's obvious who transferred how much money and how many times, but who are the buyers and sellers? Unless they say so, outsiders won't be able to guess even if they stare at the screen.
It's already usable in life; for example, many merchants are now accepting digital asset payments: after you scan to pay, the money goes directly into the merchant's wallet without any intermediaries taking fees. There won't be any 'delay in receiving funds' or 'system failures' nonsense, and transaction records are permanently stored. Want to default on a payment? No chance.
Speaking of which, I need to mention two 'old acquaintances' in the blockchain circle; beginners should not get confused:
Bitcoin: regarded as the 'big brother' of blockchain, somewhat like the gold of the digital world, with only 21 million coins in existence. Not one more can be created, which is why people often say it is 'scarce.'
Ethereum: equivalent to an 'upgraded version of blockchain,' with the added capability of 'smart contracts' — for example, if you and the merchant agree to 'automatically transfer money when the goods arrive,' it can monitor the logistics information itself and execute automatically once it reaches the destination, without needing you to remind or the merchant to wait. Many popular digital collectibles and decentralized finance applications rely on it.
Of course, it is not a perfect 'magical technology': in the early days, it did consume a lot of electricity to maintain network security, and transfers might be slow during peak times. But now, Layer 2 technologies are rapidly optimizing, like installing a turbocharger on a car, significantly improving speed, and the power consumption issue is also gradually being addressed.
Lastly, let me say something heartfelt: there are still people who think blockchain is a 'scam.' In fact, they can't distinguish between 'the technology itself' and 'people who use technology to deceive.' Just like a kitchen knife can cut vegetables and harm people, you can't just say that kitchen knives are bad, right?
The next time you encounter someone saying 'blockchain is just a way to exploit people,' or if you yourself fall into the 'no proof, tampered' trap, remember to come back and read this article. Follow me, and I will share more practical insights about blockchain in the future, from how to avoid pitfalls to how to use technology to protect yourself, all explained clearly.
By the way, have you ever encountered the situation of 'suffering losses without proof'? Let's chat in the comments, and I'll help you analyze whether blockchain can solve it!
