For hashing, prime numbers are used since they provide a better chance of creating unique values for a hash function. Hash functions (if you don’t know what hashing is please read this article) use modulus, and the use of composite numbers (i.e. non-prime) increases the probability of hash collisions (i.e. different inputs to result in the same hash). Prime numbers will increase the chance of creating unique values when hashing by multiplying values by the prime number. This is just the nature of mathematics. For example, if you have a string “Unblockchain”, multiplying each letter with a prime number and…

Random numbers are probably the single most important thing in the world of cryptography. Without random numbers, cybersecurity couldn’t exist. Random numbers are the pillar of internet security and what allows us to transact securely on the internet. Every time we visit an HTTS website, we use random numbers. The S at the end of HTTPS stands for “Secure”, and it means the website’s data is encrypted at transit with TLS — Transport Layer Security — formerly known as SSL — Secure Sockets Layer. AND random numbers also help us to create Bitcoin addresses.

SSL uses an RNG — Random…

I’m sure you have heard of RSA. If you haven’t heard, I can tell you that you have already used RSA on your computer today! What is this RSA thing about? Digital signatures! RSA encryption is pretty much used everywhere, including in Bitcoin and most blockchains!

In the previous two articles of this cryptography series, I have talked about:

• Random Numbers: the single most important thing in blockchain! and
• Prime numbers — and why blockchains can’t exist without them!

If you want to learn more about what makes a strong private key, please also read those articles!

RSA is used…

What’s behind all those fields in the Bitcoin block? You probably have already used a block explorer to check the status of a transaction or check wallet transactions or balance (yes, everything is super transparent in the blockchain), but what are all those fields and long numbers, right?

You don’t really need to know what are all those fields and long numbers. Just like an email user doesn't need to know how the internet and email protocols work from the technology perspective, a blockchain or Bitcoin user doesn’t really need to know how does it work to send a transaction…

This article is part of a series of articles where I talk about other consensus mechanisms. You can check the links below after you finish reading about PBFT ⚔

• What’s Proof of Elapsed Time
• Bitcoin Proof of Work — The Only Article You Will Ever Have to Read
• Proof of Stake — What is and how does it work?
• Proof of Importance Consensus Mechanism
• Delegated Proof of Stake
• Proof of Burn

Let’s go to war!

A blockchain is like a constant war between good nodes and evil nodes. Being a distributed network with dozens, hundreds or sometimes thousands of nodes need to agree on…

“Burnt coins are mining rigs!”

Iain Stewart

There’s many consensus mechanisms that I will be covering in a series of articles. You can check some of them in the links below:

• What’s Proof of Elapsed Time
• Bitcoin Proof of Work — The Only Article You Will Ever Have to Read
• Proof of Stake — What is and how does it work?
• Proof of Importance Consensus Mechanism
• Delegated Proof of Stake

So… do we just burn the coins?

Invented by Iain Stewart, Proof of burn is an experimental consensus mechanism and a fascinating concept: Slimcoin, a defunct cryptocurrency used to use it. …

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

Winston S. Churchill

There’s a number of consensus mechanisms that I will be covering in a series of articles. You can check some of them in the links below:

• What’s Proof of Elapsed Time
• Bitcoin Proof of Work — The Only Article You Will Ever Have to Read
• Proof of Stake — What is and how does it work? (by the way, DPoS was created to deal with Proof of Stake limitations)
• Proof of Importance Consensus Mechanism

What is a Consensus Mechanism

A consensus mechanism allows distributed systems and blockchains to work together…

There’s a number of consensus mechanisms that I will be covering in a series of articles. You can check some of them in the links below:

• What’s Proof of Elapsed Time
• Bitcoin Proof of Work — The Only Article You Will Ever Have to Read
• Proof of Stake — What is and how does it work? (by the way, to better understand proof of importance, you should also learn about proof of stake and its limitations!)

So…. What is Proof of Importance Consensus?

A consensus mechanism allows distributed systems and blockchains to work together and stay secure. …