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Blockchain is not the same as a blockchain. Blockchain is a hashed data structure from bitcoin. While "blockchain technology" is used in completely different co

• aforwardslash 5y ago
  But in the end, they are the same. The major difference between a merkle tree (or patricia trie or whatever is implemented in x or y) and "blockchain technology" is the distributed consensus algorithm. Blockchain - by your own definition, is "blockchain", because its a hashed data structure with a distributed consensus algorithm. Now, of course I'm splitting hairs; and the reason for it is that merkle trees (or hashed variants) aren't groundbreaking or new - they've been around for decades. What is somewhat interesting is the proposition of a distributed structure with the same properties. The groundbreaking innovation from "blockchain technology" stops there.
  • space_rock 5y ago
    But then not the same because one as you say is just a datastructure that has existed already and uses standard computer science constructions. But the data structure is also revolutionary? That's a contradiction. So the other blockchain is not a datastructure but a separate unrelated concept
    • aforwardslash 5y ago
      You misunderstood my comment. The novel part isn't the data structure, its the consensus mechanism tied to that specific datastructure. The fact that is used to implement cryptocurrencies and whatnot is irrelevant - you can implement crypto without "blockchain" (by using a typical non-distributed datastructure, called "a database"). In fact, the buzzword for that is "private blockchain".
      • space_rock 5y ago
        Ok so we agree blockchain and blockchain are different. Also private blockchain would be a 3rd definition as that's another nonsense word that people use