talk:Blockchain

{{dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment | course = Wikipedia:Wiki_Ed/New_York_University/Research_Process_and_Methodology_-_FA24_-_Sect_200_-_Thu_(Fall) | assignments = Mak9991 | start_date = 2024-09-05 | end_date = 2024-12-13 }}

— Assignment last updated by Sp7930 (talk) 05:10, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

{{edit semi-protected|Blockchain|answered=yes}}

The statement that "blockchain transactions are irreversible in that, once they are recorded, the data in any given block cannot be altered retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks" is misleading. Blockchain records can be altered, typically through consensus achieved by the network via a consensus mechanism. I recommend revising the statement to clarify that blockchains, in conjunction with their consensus mechanism or decentralized network, prevent illegitimate alterations to past data, thereby preventing malicious activity, such as double spending, transaction reversal, fraudulent blocks, transaction censorship, and counterfeiting digital assets. HistorianAtNight (talk) 22:07, 10 December 2024 (UTC)

:Hi @HistorianAtNight, do you have any good, high quality sources that describe this and exact proposed text? Skynxnex (talk) 23:01, 19 December 2024 (UTC)

::A blockchain is the collective blockchain that the network agrees to. Generally speaking, if a blockchain's network chooses to alter past transaction data it can do so through its consensus mechanism. For a PoS, this just requires a certain amount of nodes agreeing to a new version of the blockchain. This can be done for legitimate or malicious purposes called a 51% attack. For an example, if an entity controls more than half of the nodes in the network, it can rewrite blockchain data by getting the majority of nodes to adopt the altered version, and updating the network's blockchain. Any version of the blockchain that does not conform to the new version will be ignored. It can be done on PoW consensus mechanisms as well, but through mining power.

::Sources:

::https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/51-attack.asp

::https://beincrypto.com/learn/51-attacks-explained/ HistorianAtNight (talk) 00:10, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

:::I would say something similar to this:

:::Consequently, blockchain transactions are resistant to alteration because, once recorded, the data in any given block cannot be changed retroactively without altering all subsequent blocks and obtaining network consensus to accept these changes. This protects blockchains against nefarious activities such as creating assets "out of thin air", double-spending, counterfeiting, fraud, and theft. HistorianAtNight (talk) 00:26, 20 December 2024 (UTC)

::::{{done}} After I finished I noticed you now have WP:AUTOCONFIRM status so in future you can edit semi-protected articles yourself. Ultraodan (talk) 04:16, 27 December 2024 (UTC)

:::::For future reference, neither WP:INVESTOPEDIA nor beincrypto.com are high quality sources. Grayfell (talk) 20:29, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

{{Edit COI|G}}

No strong COI here, but proposing to merge the now redirected [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mainnet&oldid=1275157305 Mainnet] as per Talk:Mainnet, and similar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blockchain&diff=prev&oldid=1287998098 recent merge] of Testnet. / Urbourbo (talk) 12:40, 30 April 2025 (UTC)

:{{Respond|bluecheck2|Go ahead:}} I have reviewed these proposed changes and suggest that you go ahead and make the proposed changes to the page. Valorrr ^{(lets chat)} 17:32, 16 May 2025 (UTC)

::Thanks, now done! /Urbourbo (talk) 20:25, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

30px

The redirect [//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Data_structure_(blockchain)&redirect=no Data structure (blockchain)] has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at {{section link|1=Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2025 May 18#Data structure (blockchain)}} until a consensus is reached. Shhhnotsoloud (talk) 13:13, 18 May 2025 (UTC)