By now, you’ve probably heard of Blockchain (if not, you’ve been living under the rock!). Blockchain is the technology behind the cryptocurrency - Bitcoin - that revolutionized the banking and financial sector.
But What is Blockchain?
According to Don and Alex Tapscott, the authors of “Blockchain Revolution,”
“The Blockchain is an incorruptible digital ledger of economic transactions that can be programmed to record not just financial transactions but virtually everything of value.” In simple words, a Blockchain is a chain of records or data spread across a network of multiple peers in a system, wherein each peer holds a copy of the complete chain. This is what makes Blockchain a distributed ledger, where the information is stored and managed by a cluster of computers/peers rather than a single entity.
The Blockchain consists of blocks that store data, and the first block called the Genesis Block. Each time new data is added to a block in the chain, it is connected to other blocks in chronological order. Each of the blocks is linked to the other via cryptographic principles - it contains a timestamp and a cryptographic key that connects it to the previous block. Thus, each block is uniquely encrypted. While all the peers in a Blockchain network have a copy of the complete Blockchain database, only the user having the unique cryptographic key to a specific block can add new information to a particular chain.
Here are five core features of Blockchain that make it much more safe and transparent than conventional ledger systems:
- Distributed - As we mentioned, the Blockchain ledger is spread across the whole network instead of a centralized system, thereby making it tamperproof.
- Cryptography for security - The ledger is secured by cryptographic keys and functions to prevent the misuse and violation of data.
- Peer-To-Peer - The network isn’t controlled or managed by a central authority. Instead, it facilitates direct communication among peers in the network for greater transparency. This eliminates the need for third-parties.
- Add-Only - Peers can add data in the Blockchain only in a time-sequential order. This means that once a piece of information is added to a block, it is nearly impossible to manipulate or alter that data. So, it is practically immutable.
- Consensus - One of the most crucial aspects of the Blockchain, Consensus is what makes the ledger decentralized. The ledger can only be updated via Consensus. This means that any update or changes that have to be made to the Blockchain are first validated against the strict Blockchain protocol. The change can be added to the Blockchain only when all the after all the participating peers (nodes) on the network have reached a Consensus.
How does Blockchain work?
We’ll break down the mechanism of a Blockchain into five simple steps:
1. The first step begins with a peer (a node in the network) initiating a transaction by creating it and digitally signing it with a private key (created through cryptography). In a Blockchain, a transaction can pertain to various actions. However, usually, a transaction is a data structure that represents a value transfer among the peers on the network. The transaction data structure contains some logic of the value transfer, relevant rules, source and destination addresses, and other important validation information.
2. To propagate the transaction to peers who validate the transaction based on the set criteria, a flooding protocol - known as the Gossip protocol - is used. Generally, a transaction must be verified by more than one node in the network.
3. After the peers validate the transaction, it is added in a block which is then propagated to the network. This is when the transaction is deemed as confirmed.
4. The newly added block now becomes part of the ledger, and the block that will be added next in the chain has to link itself cryptographically to this block. This cryptographic link is the “hash pointer.” This is the point where the transaction gets a second confirmation, whereas the block receives its first confirmation.
5. Further on, each time a new block is added to the chain, the transactions are reconfirmed. For a transaction to become final, six confirmation within a network are a must.
This is essentially how a Blockchain operates.
According to recent stats, Blockchain and Blockchain-related jobs in India are rising rapidly, particularly in the southern states. And being the tech hub of India, Bangalore leads in this regard - it accounts for 36% of all job postings in Blockchain tech in the country. Given Bangalore’s immense thirst for knowledge and technology, this does not seem surprising at all. Today, Bangalore has expanded far beyond the IT sector to include technologies like AI/ML and Blockchain as well. From small startups to established e-commerce companies and corporations in Bangalore, Blockchain holds an appeal for all. In Bangalore, there’s been a significant demand for Blockchain in a few core areas of the industry, including healthcare, banking, insurance, logistics, and governance. While many companies are collaborating with others to reap the collective benefits of Blockchain, others are treading the path solo. While the rise of Blockchain-based companies and firms in Bangalore is pushing the demand for skilled Blockchain professionals, it is also fuelling the growth of Blockchain courses in the region.
Blockchain Salaries in Bangalore
The salary or yearly compensation of Blockchain techies in Bangalore depends on the company size and reputation, job position, skill set, and experience. However, rest assured, Blockchain professionals can earn hefty remuneration for their skills in Bangalore. The starting salary for Blockchain freshers is usually around Rs. 3.5-4.8 LPA. After about 8-10 years, the salary package increases up to Rs. 10-15 LPA. Senior-level professionals in the field who have more than 12-15 years of experience can make around Rs. 35-50 LPA or more.
Blockchain Career Options in Bangalore
In Bangalore, you can find plenty of Blockchain career roles. Some of the most noteworthy and high-paying positions in Blockchain include Blockchain Developer, Blockchain Architect, Blockchain Engineer, Blockchain Web Designer, Blockchain Legal Consultant, and Blockchain Product Manager, Crypto Community Manager, and Blockchain Business Analyst.
Since Blockchain is a relatively new field with little formal educational resources present, you will need to be patient and understand that it might take you some time. However, there are plenty of dedicated online communities and so, you aren’t completely helpless either. Begin with these steps:
- Read about Bitcoin since it is one of the most elegant applications of Blockchain.
- Learn how exchanges work and familiarize yourself with wallets.
- Get coding in a Blockchain-friendly language like C++, C#, Javascript, etc.
- Get to know about smart contracts.
- Be part of a Blockchain community to stay up-to-date!
Below listed are 5 revolutionary uses of Blockchain:
- Banks - transactions can reflect in as little as 10 minutes. Secure funds exchange.
- Cryptocurrency - allows cryptocurrencies to operate without the need for a central, governing authority.
- Healthcare - enables the secure storage of patient records with a private key so that they are accessible only to select individuals.
- Property records - property ownership records can be verified and stored.
- Smart contracts - computer codes that can act as a mediator in a contract agreement.