Blockchain Technology: Practical P2P Computing (Tutorial)

Abstract

Blockchain technology comes with the promise to revolutionize the way current IT systems are organized as well as to revise how trust is perceived in the wider society. In spite of the wide attention that crypto-currencies (such as Bitcoin) have attracted, Blockchain technology is more likely to make an impact beyond ongoing speculations on crypto-currencies. Decentralized identity management, transparent supply-chain systems, and IoT governance and security are only few examples of research challenges for which this technology may hold substantial potential. Blockchain technology has emerged at the intersection of two well established research areas: peer-to-peer (P2P) computing and cryptography. In this tutorial, we provide a general overview of the main components behind this technology, we present the difference between the types of Blockchain available today, and we make a high level discussion on its potentials and limitations as well as possible research challenges.