DUBLIN, Jan. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bhbr7j/blockchain_what) has announced the addition of the "Blockchain - What You Need to Know " report to their offering.

Blockchains are a new data structure that is secure, cryptography-based, and distributed across a network. The technology supports cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, and the transfer of any data or digital asset. Spearheaded by Bitcoin, blockchains achieve consensus among distributed nodes, allowing the transfer of digital goods without the need for centralized authorisation of transactions. The present blockchain ecosystem is like the early Internet, a permissionless innovation environment in which email, the World Wide Web, Napster, Skype, and Uber were built.

Key Findings

- Different blockchains have unique balances of centralization, incentives, and business strategies but all share a connected grand vision for disruptive innovation. - One of the powerful innovations of post-Bitcoin blockchain technologies is the smart contract, a piece of software that codifies legal procedures with decentralized, autonomous execution. - Blockchains enable services and business models that are not viable using existing digital infrastructure, the broad categories of which are: cryptocurrencies, smart contract platforms, asset allocation blockchains, and decentralized autonomous ledgers. - While financial services are the low-hanging fruit of blockchain disruption, smart contracts are expected to disrupt legal services, and the public sector will adopt blockchain tools for radical transparency.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary - Key Findings

2. Methodology

- Research Methodology

3. Introduction to Blockchain - Blockchain - An Overview - Blockchain Application Stack

4. Bitcoin - The First Blockchain Application

- Bitcoin - The Background

- A Bitcoin Transaction

- Adding a Block to the Blockchain

- Bitcoin's Blockchain

5. Ripple-Financial Exchange Ledger - Ripple - The Background - Ripple's Blockchain - Ripple's Value Proposition

6. Ethereum-Blockchain Application Platform

- Ethereum - The Background

- Ethereum's Blockchain

- Ethereum's Value Proposition

7. The Blockchain Spectrum - Key Business Benefits of Blockchain Technology - Local, Distributed, Centralized, and Decentralized - Permissioned and Permissionless Systems - Tokenized and Tokenless Ledgers - Smart Contracts

8. Blockchains in Vertical Industries

- Introduction to Blockchains in Vertical Industries

- Financial Services

- Legal Industry

- Public Sector

9. Conclusions - The Final Word - Legal Disclaimer

Companies Mentioned

- Bitcoin - Ethereum - Ripple

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bhbr7j/blockchain_what

Media Contact:

Laura Wood, +353-1-481-1716, press@researchandmarkets.net

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com

SOURCE Research and Markets