Welcome to "What is Blockchain, Really?" In this episode, we clarify that blockchain is more than just a distributed database. We uncover how a blockchain is a shared, tamper-resistant ledger that’s decentralized, immutable, and transparent. Unlike a shared Google Sheet, a blockchain is like an open notary book: permanent and verifiable. This unique architecture builds trust and integrity directly into the system.

We then explore consensus mechanisms, the core of blockchain security and functionality. We compare Proof of Work (PoW) (e.g., Bitcoin) where miners solve puzzles, with Proof of Stake (PoS) (e.g., Ethereum), where validators stake crypto. Discover how each impacts decentralization (PoW limited by hardware costs; PoS by stake distribution), security (PoW: economic cost of attack; PoS: financial penalty via slashing), and finality (PoW: probabilistic, slower; PoS: faster, economically final).

Finally, we address the challenge of a multi-chain world. With institutions demanding access to over 60 blockchains for diverse assets and use cases, Fireblocks steps in to abstract this complexity. Learn how Fireblocks achieves this through a Unified API & SDKs, a Transaction & Policy Engine for consistent policy enforcement, and MPC-CMP Wallet Infrastructure applying uniform cryptographic principles across chains. We delve into how it normalizes transaction workflows across distinct chains like Ethereum, Solana, and Algorand, providing a standard API and pre-built adapters. The result? One workflow, many chains – a single platform with unified security, dramatically reducing development overhead and operational risk for institutions.