Crypto Basics #8 — Understanding Proof of Stake
Every blockchain needs a way to decide whose version of the record is the correct one. That process is called consensus, and proof of stake is one of the main approaches in use today.
Crypto Basics
Crypto Basics #7 — Understanding Nodes
A node is a single computer taking part in a blockchain network. If the network is the crowd, a node is one person in it.
Crypto Basics #6 — Understanding Blockchain Networks
We've covered what a blockchain is as a record. The blockchain network is the living system that keeps that record running.
Crypto Basics #5 — Understanding Smart Contracts
A smart contract is easier to grasp with a plain example. Imagine a vending machine. You put in the right amount, you press the button, and the machine releases your item. No cashier, no negotiation. The rules are built into the machine, and it follows them every time.
Crypto Basics #4 — Understanding Ethereum (ETH)
If Bitcoin showed that digital money could work without a bank, Ethereum asked a bigger question: what else could a blockchain do?
Crypto Basics #3 — Understanding Private Keys
In traditional banking, the bank holds your money and you prove who you are to access it. Crypto works differently, and private keys are the reason why.
Crypto Basics #2 — Understanding Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin is where the entire crypto market began. It launched in 2009 as the first working example of digital money that doesn't need a bank or a government standing behind it. Everything that came afterward is, in some way, a response to it.