Tech · ExplainerHow does a blockchain work, and why is it so hard to change?A blockchain is a shared record book that thousands of computers keep in sync without a boss. Here is how the pieces fit together, from a single transaction to a chain of blocks.8 min readSection
Tech
You do not need to code to understand how a blockchain stays in agreement or why a bridge can be hacked. You need clear diagrams and honest trade-offs.
10 pages in this section
Tech · ExplainerHow does a blockchain work, and why is it so hard to change?A blockchain is a shared record book that thousands of computers keep in sync without a boss. Here is how the pieces fit together, from a single transaction to a chain of blocks.8 min read
Tech · ExplainerProof of work vs proof of stake: how do blockchains agree on the next block?Every public blockchain needs a way for strangers to agree on one history. Proof of work spends electricity to do it; proof of stake puts money up as collateral. Here is how each works and what the trade-offs are.7 min read
Tech · ExplainerWhat are layer 2 rollups, and how do optimistic and ZK rollups differ?Rollups move most of the work off Ethereum's main chain but still lean on it for security. Here is how the two main designs work and what each asks you to trust.6 min readAll Tech pages
Tech · ExplainerWhat is a smart contract, and what can go wrong with one?A smart contract is a program that lives on a blockchain and runs exactly as written. That makes it powerful, and it is also why a single bug can be so costly.
Tech · ExplainerHow do crypto wallets and private keys work, and what happens if you lose them?A crypto wallet does not hold coins. It holds the secret that proves you control them. Understanding that one idea explains almost every way people keep, and lose, crypto.
Tech · ExplainerWhat is a zero-knowledge proof, and how can you prove something without revealing it?Zero-knowledge proofs let one party convince another that a statement is true while revealing nothing else. Here is how that trick works and why blockchains care about it.
Tech · ExplainerWhat is a blockchain oracle, and why do smart contracts need one?A smart contract can only see what is already on its blockchain. Oracles are the bridge to everything else, and they are often the weakest link in the chain.
Tech · ExplainerWhat is a cross-chain bridge, and why are bridges such a target for hackers?Blockchains cannot talk to each other on their own. Bridges fill the gap by locking, minting and burning tokens, and in doing so they concentrate a lot of value in one place.
Tech · ExplainerWhat is DeFi, and how does decentralised finance actually work?Decentralised finance rebuilds lending, trading and saving out of smart contracts on public blockchains. The plumbing is new; many of the risks are old ones in new clothes.
Tech · ExplainerWhat are token standards like ERC-20 and ERC-721, and why do they matter?Many different tokens can sit in the same wallet and trade on the same apps because they follow a handful of shared rulebooks. Here is what those rulebooks say.