What is

Bitcoin Basics: What Is an Atomic Swap?

Bitcoin Basics: What Is an Atomic Swap?

Investors, especially more adventurous ones, will sooner or later run into the problem of exchanging currency. You have to take a set of dollars and turn them into another set. It is expensive, it is obnoxious, it takes forever, and with altcoins, that may create a tax liability depending on […]

What Is Bitcoin Halving?

What Is Bitcoin Halving?

When you invest in bitcoin or an altcoin, the first thing to understand is where that coin originates. In the case of bitcoin, for example, blocks are “mined.” This means figuring out some extremely complicated and difficult-to-solve math problems. If you solve them, though, the reward is currently 12.5 bitcoin. […]

What Is “Proof of Authority” in Blockchain Terminology?

What Is “Proof of Authority” in Blockchain Terminology?

You know how bitcoin mining functions. Anybody can download the software and mine blocks, hoping to be the first to solve a complicated mathematical problem and get the coins hidden inside that precious block. But what about altcoins where the supply is more tightly controlled? Who does the mining then? […]

Bitcoin Basics: What Is a Tokenless Register?

Bitcoin Basics: What Is a Tokenless Register?

“Blockchain” is on the verge of becoming a meaningless buzzword. Everybody wants to add blockchain to everything, like a hot new vegetable or dish that seemingly turns up on every menu anywhere you eat out. But, much like there’s a valid reason to put kale and bacon in pretty much […]

What Is a Security, and How Does It Relate to Cryptocurrency?

What Is a Security, and How Does It Relate to Cryptocurrency?

The Securities and Exchange Commission has started to take a hard look at cryptocurrencies, sending out what the Wall Street Journal has described as “dozens of subpoenas and information requests” to companies trying to launch initial coin offerings. The agency itself has issued numerous warnings to companies that it might […]

What Is Fungibility and Why Does It Matter?

What Is Fungibility and Why Does It Matter?

When you spend a dollar, you do not really think about what kind of dollar it is. You do not check the serial number to compare it to the value of another dollar. Dollars are, well, dollars. One dollar on paper is worth the same as a digital dollar deposited […]

What Is Sharding in Blockchain Terminology?

What Is Sharding in Blockchain Terminology?

Imagine this. What if every time you spent a dollar, you had to update everybody who buys and sells dollars? What if you had to contact every bank, every merchant, and every investor and let them know that you were spending this dollar with this serial number? If that sounds […]

What Is an Orphan Block?

What Is an Orphan Block?

As a concept, the blockchain is simple. It is a big ledger, and each entry on that ledger, a block, is the foundation for the next block. That is how it is supposed to work in theory. In reality, however, sometimes there are blocks that never get built upon, and […]

What Is Polyswarm, and Why Do Its Creators Think It Will Work?

What Is Polyswarm, and Why Do Its Creators Think It Will Work?

“It’s a twist on a prediction market,” said Paul Makowski, speaking about the startup Polyswarm, of which he is Chief Technology Officer. “[It’s] designed to incentivize security experts around the world to proffer information on the latest malware threats.” At the Blockchain Unbound conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Bitcoin […]