James Smith @floppy @ODILabs
Blockchains for global data infrastructure
“...in a relatively short time the word blockchain has become detached from its technological roots … to become one of those almost generic chromewash terms, like “big data” or “cloud” to deliver a superficial veneer of futurism.”
David Birch, Consult Hyperion, in Finextra
● Explain the differences between centralised, decentralised and distributed systems
● List the 5 core features of blockchain technology
● Understand blockchain security and privacy implications
● Assess critically when a blockchain is needed (or not!)
Learning Outcomes
What is data infrastructure?
It’s a database! But:
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
What is a Blockchain?
Distributed systems
From “On Distributed Communications” by Paul Baran, 1964 - http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_memoranda/RM3420.html
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
Private database
Shared database
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
Mutable
Immutable
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
No central authority
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
Decentralisation
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
Distributed
Consensus
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
Mining
“A” blockchain, or “THE” blockchain?
Scalability
● How many blockchains?○ security of network○ size of database
● Splitting & merging blockchains● Archiving
Is immutability always a good thing?
Immutable?
Discuss: why would you want to change history in a database?
● “Official Truth”● Right to be forgotten● Changing gender● Domestic abuse● Illegal information
Immutability
● Public blockchains● Private or “permissioned”
blockchains○ Within an organisation
● Different levels of access○ Hybrid systems
Access
● WWW● IPFS● Ethereum● MaidSafe
… and a whole load of more traditional database technologies
Distributed technologies
● Data in a public blockchain is inherently publicly shared
● Personal data can lie anywhere on the data spectrum○ conscious choice of position
● Transaction data
Privacy
Protecting Privacy
● Trusted network○ But then, why a blockchain?
● Hybrid systems● Encryption
○ Compromised keys○ Lost keys○ Broken algorithms
“it is once again important to note that blockchains do NOT solve privacy issues, and are an authenticity solution only”
“Privacy on the Blockchain” by Vitalik Buterinblog.ethereum.org/2016/01/15/privacy-on-the-blockchain
Do you need a blockchain?
https://medium.com/@sbmeunier/when-do-you-need-blockchain-decision-models-a5c40e7c9ba1
● widely distributed● allows many writers● don’t have to trust anyone● networked consensus● immutable
bit.ly/1onu7Cp
● Bitcoin● Everledger● Provenance
● DNS?● Document revocation?● International shipping?
Use cases
Standards
● Standards for a network of data● Ownership & licensing● Linking to the rest of the web
○ What’s the URL for a transaction?
○ Redirection
Linking
● Explain the differences between centralised, decentralised and distributed systems
● List the 5 core features of blockchain technology
● Understand blockchain security and privacy implications
● Assess critically when a blockchain is needed (or not!)
Learning Outcomes
Download fromhttp://theodi.org/publications
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