What is Blockchain and How Can it Help My Business? (Extended Tutorial Summary)

The content of this tutorial is drawn from a recent textbook that the authors have published. The book aims at introducing blockchain from scratch, providing first an implementation-agnostic view of the mechanisms underpinning blockchain, like immutable databases, consensus mechanisms, and smart contracts. Then, it moves to presenting the most prominent blockchain systems and platforms currently available. These range from widely known public blockchains and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, to platforms for building private blockchain network systems, such as Hyperledger Fabric. Next, the book introduces a set of tools to support decision making regarding the suitability of blockchain for a given business scenario. The book explains how business models can be used to analyze blockchain-based business scenarios. The book ends with illustrating how a blockchain system can be part of an innovative business application landscape.