What is the difference between bitcoin and blockchain?

Smita Verma
3 min readMay 3, 2021

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Are Bitcoin and blockchain technology synonymous? No, they aren’t. They are, however, inextricably linked. As Bitcoin was launched as an open-source code, it was packaged with blockchain as part of the same solution. Since Bitcoin was the first implementation of blockchain technology, people sometimes mistook the term “Bitcoin” with “blockchain.” This is where the confusion began. While blockchain technology has since been extended to other sectors, and one can find a string of certified bitcoin expert in the market dealing with bitcoins, there is still some ambiguity.

What is the difference between Bitcoin and blockchain?

Invented in 2008 by Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin is a type of unregulated digital currency. It was created to bypass government currency restrictions and simplify online transfers by eliminating third-party payment service intermediaries. It is also regarded as a “cryptocurrency.” Of course, more than just money was needed to do this. There had to be a safe way to conduct cryptocurrency transactions.

Bitcoin transactions are processed and exchanged using a distributed ledger on a free, transparent, and private peer-to-peer network. Certified bitcoin experts always keep the system streamlined. The underpinning infrastructure that keeps the Bitcoin transaction ledger up to date is blockchain.

How does the Bitcoin blockchain work?

In the most basic form, the Bitcoin blockchain is a database or ledger that contains Bitcoin transaction documents. Because this database is spread through a peer-to-peer network with no central authority, network members must agree on the authenticity of transactions before they can be registered. This decision, referred to as “consensus,” is reached by a mechanism known as “mining.”

Miners check the validity of a transaction after someone uses Bitcoins by solving complicated, resource-intensive numerical equations. An “evidence of work” that satisfies those criteria is produced by mining. The proof of work is a piece of evidence that is expensive and time-consuming to create but can be quickly validated by anyone. An individual document must provide proof of work to prove the consensus was reached to be deemed a legitimate transaction on the blockchain platform. Transaction documents can’t be tampered with or updated since they’ve been applied to the blockchain because of this nature.

A short rundown of the Key distinctions

To wrap it up, here’s why blockchain and Bitcoin are two entirely different things:

  • Blockchain is a public database, while Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency.
  • Blockchain technology underpins Bitcoin, while Blockchain has a wide range of applications.
  • Anonymity is promoted by Bitcoin, while openness is promoted by blockchain. Blockchain technology must comply with strict Know Your Customer rules in order to be used in some industries (particularly banking).
  • Bitcoin is used to move money between users, while blockchain can be used to transfer something from details to land ownership rights.

Wrapping up

You’re not alone if you’ve been using the words interchangeably; many people are, owing to the near relationship between blockchain and Bitcoin. Blockchain is the infrastructure that underpins Bitcoin and was created with Bitcoin in mind. Bitcoin was the first use of blockchain, and Bitcoin does not function without blockchain. As a consequence, the two terms are often interchanged.

It’s now up to you to learn more about Blockchain technology and get bitcoin certification. The certified Blockchain credential courses from the Blockchain Council concentrate on the skills and expertise you’ll need to get a job, and all is bundled into a lightweight learning module that blends into your schedule.

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