A brief discussion on the four realms of blockchain technology

These levels are summarized from the practices and changes in thinking that PPkPub has experienced in the field of digital cryptocurrency over the past three years. They are different perspectives on blockchain at different times, corresponding to different ways of thinking and acting, and are shared for discussion.

1. Only the coin is seen but not the chain

For those who are exposed to digital cryptocurrency, most of them started by hearing about and buying and selling Bitcoin. In addition, there are also some who invest in some altcoins that simply copy the Bitcoin code and make slight changes, such as Litecoin, Dogecoin, etc.
At this time, it is more of an external financial investment. You can only see the currency but not the chain. You have not touched the nails and have not got the hammer. It can be said to be "empty and colorless".

2. See blockchain is blockchain

I started to understand the technical architecture of Bitcoin, and I know that Bitcoin is a token in the public billing system generated by its underlying blockchain technology, and is the "nutrient" for the operation of the entire ecosystem. However, the "coin" is only a superficial phenomenon, and the original value lies in the "chain". Based on the mastery of the core technology of Bitcoin blockchain, many technical teams at home and abroad have strengthened or improved the blockchain technology to extend and expand to support more powerful or more specific applications, such as Contract Coin, BitShares, Future Coin, Ethereum, Smart Square, etc., which can all be counted in this category.
At present, this is the mainstream idea surrounding blockchain technology, focusing on the needs of actual application scenarios to adjust and use blockchain technology. It can be said that we have the "blockchain" hammer in our hands, and we are a little excited. We want to use this hammer everywhere.

At this point, people already know about blockchain technology, but are eager to use it, which tends to lead to its use in various forms, which can be described as "over the top".

3. See blockchain is not blockchain

We need to consider the general value of Bitcoin’s underlying blockchain technology to the entire information technology industry based on its core value of being “the first decentralized technology in history that has reached a consistent consensus in logic.”
We will find that blockchain is not "just" a blockchain, but also a new generation of network infrastructure that will be able to promote the "evolution" of information networks to a new type of "consensus" network.
At this time, we try to explore the general universal value of blockchain technology. We are clear about the problem, but there is still a gap between the concept and the actual application scenarios, so we temporarily stop at "excessive use".

4. See blockchain is blockchain

Grasping the core value of blockchain as a new generation of network infrastructure, knowing its advantages and disadvantages, neither exaggerating nor belittling, means treating blockchain as one of the unique information technologies, integrating its innovative features with other emerging information technologies such as IPFS, NDN, etc. to promote the definition and implementation of some specific and open basic protocols, and using these basic protocols to support more upper-level applications, and allowing the upper-level application services to be decentralized in form while achieving logical consistency and interoperability at the bottom layer because of the blockchain. The unique value of blockchain technology is brought into play to promote a "qualitative change" in the peer-to-peer interconnectivity of information networks, data openness and liquidity, and consensus mechanisms, and truly achieve "network is data, network is platform."

This ideal state is to grasp the essence of blockchain to leverage its strengths and avoid its weaknesses, integrate more technologies to adapt to specific application scenarios, have a nail in mind and a hammer in hand, which can be said to be "empty and colorful".