A basic user guide for the blockchain

By Philippa Ryan

Most people agree we do not need to know how a television works to enjoy using one. This is true of many existing and emerging technologies.

Most of us happily drive cars, use mobile phones and send emails without knowing how they work. With this in mind, here is a tech-free user guide to the blockchain – the technology infrastructure behind bitcoin, and many other emerging platforms.

What does the blockchain do?

The blockchain is software that stores and transfers value or data across the internet.