As the foundational technology of Web3, blockchain is essentially a distributed ledger technology. By leveraging decentralisation, blockchain ensures data immutability and transparency. Specifically, a blockchain consists of a series of interconnected “blocks”, each containing a set of transaction records. These blocks are linked together in chronological order, forming a continuous chain. When a new transaction occurs, it is bundled into a new block, which is then verified by miners or validators within the network through solving complex mathematical problems. Once a majority of nodes reach consensus, the new block is added to the blockchain, and this information is permanently stored and cannot be altered.

To better understand how blockchain works, we can use a common analogy: Google Sheets. The concept of a ledger serves as a good starting point—it is a fundamental accounting tool used to track the inflow and outflow of funds within a specific account (such as a bank account).

Blockchain, however, is a distributed ledger, which can be likened to a Google spreadsheet that allows multiple people to view and edit the rows and columns simultaneously. This distributed nature means that everyone can participate, without the need to rely on a centralised authority for management.

Next, we can explore some key characteristics of blockchain:

Permissionless/Trustless: Blockchain is an open network, meaning that anyone with internet access can participate without the need to trust any central authority. It is a permissionless system, allowing users to join the network at any time to verify and record transactions.

Decentralised/Distributed/Democratic: Unlike traditional centralised systems, blockchain is not controlled by a single entity. Instead, it operates through the collaboration of multiple participants, with each node holding a complete copy of the data, ensuring transparency and resistance to censorship.

Immutable: Once data is added to the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted. This guarantees the authenticity and integrity of all transactions, preventing anyone from tampering with past records and thereby enhancing trust.

Censorship-resistant: Blockchain relies on a distributed network to store data, making it difficult for any single entity to censor or remove information. This censorship-resistant feature is crucial for protecting freedom of speech and preventing the unjust deletion of data.

Through these features, blockchain functions as a distributed ledger that not only ensures data security and transparency but also provides a decentralised and open platform for internet participants.

For more insights into Web3’s characteristics and its application in social movements, refer to our publication: “Decentralised Data Recording: A Beginner’s Guide to Web3 File Preservation” (Chinese only)

區塊鏈作為Web3的基礎技術，其本質是一種分佈式帳本技術。區塊鏈通過去中心化的方式，實現了數據的不可篡改和透明化。具體來說，區塊鏈是由一系列連接在一起的「區塊」組成的，每個區塊中包含了一組交易記錄，這些區塊按照時間順序連接，形成一條鏈。當新的交易發生時，這筆交易將被打包進一個新區塊中，然後由網絡中的礦工或驗證者通過解決複雜的數學問題來驗證這些交易。當大多數節點達成共識後，新區塊將被添加到區塊鏈中，而且這一信息將被永久保存，不可更改。

當我們談論區塊鏈時，可以用一個常見的例子來幫助理解其運作方式：Google表格。我們可以從帳簿（ledger）的概念開始解釋，這是一個會計中的基本工具，用來追蹤特定帳戶（例如銀行帳戶）中的金額變化，記錄每一次的資金進出。

而區塊鏈則是一個「分佈式帳簿」（distributed ledger），可以想像成是一個Google試算表，這個表格允許每個人同時查看、編輯表中的行與列。這種分佈式的特點意味著每個人都可以參與其中，而不需要依賴單一的中心化權威來進行管理。

接下來，我們可以探討區塊鏈的幾個關鍵特性：

自由 (Permissionless/ Trustless)

區塊鏈是一個開放的網絡，任何人只要能上網就可以參與其中，不需要信任任何中央機構。這是一個無需許可的系統，任何用戶都可以隨時加入網絡，驗證和記錄交易。

去中心化/ 無大台 (Decentralized/ Distributed/ Democratic)

區塊鏈不同於傳統的中心化系統，沒有單一實體能夠完全控制數據。這是一個由多個參與者協作完成的過程，每個節點都有一份完整的數據副本，確保系統的透明度與抗審查性。

不可變記錄 (Immutable)

一旦數據被添加到區塊鏈中，就不能被更改或刪除。這保證了所有交易的真實性和完整性，任何人無法篡改過去的記錄，從而增強了信任。

抵抗審查 (Censorship-resistant)

區塊鏈利用分散式網絡來存儲數據，使得任何單一實體無法輕易審查或刪除資訊。這種抗審查的特性對於保障言論自由和防止不當的數據刪除非常重要。

透過這些特性，區塊鏈作為一個分佈式帳簿，不僅保證了數據的安全與透明，還為互聯網的參與者提供了一個去中心化且自由的平臺。

如欲了解WEB3的特性和應用在社會運動的實例，請參閱我們出版的《「無大台」式資料記錄：Web3檔案保存入門手冊》。