The blockchain is a shared database, and the data or information stored in it has the characteristics of unforgeability, traceability, traceability, openness and transparency, and collective maintenance. Blockchain can be understood as a shared, immutable electronic ledger capable of recording transactions and tracking assets across the network. Assets here can be tangible (such as homes and cars) or intangible (such as intellectual property, patents, and brands). Almost anything of value can be tracked and traded on a blockchain network, reducing risk and cost in every way.
At present, the biggest application of blockchain technology is digital currency, because the essence of payment is to "increase the amount reduced in account A to account B". If one had a public ledger of all transactions to date for all accounts, then for any one account one could calculate the amount of money it currently holds. The blockchain is precisely the public ledger used for this purpose, which keeps all transaction records.
The blockchain originated from Bitcoin. On November 1, 2008, a self-proclaimed Satoshi Nakamoto published the article "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System", which elaborated on P2P network technology, The architectural concept of electronic cash system such as encryption technology, time stamp technology, blockchain technology, etc., which marks the birth of Bitcoin. Two months later, the theory entered into practice, and the first genesis block with serial number 0 was born on January 3, 2009. A few days later, on January 9, 2009, a block with serial number 1 appeared and was connected with the genesis block with serial number 0 to form a chain, marking the birth of the blockchain.