The financial landscape keeps undergoing significant changes as a result of technological advancements. One technology that stands out because of its disruptive impact is blockchain technology. Blockchain technology supports various cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. A significant difference between blockchain technology and fiat currency is that the former lacks the governments’ backing. This means that the controls of Big Brother don’t bind the blockchain technology. Due to its decentralized manner, blockchain technology has transformed the financial sector in significant ways. If you’re a beginner in Bitcoin and wish to understand what blockchain is and how it’s disrupting the economic field, please stay tuned.
What’s Blockchain Technology?
Blockchain technology keeps information in the form of blocks that are joined together through multiple chains. The technology is linked via peer-to-peer nodes. You can also refer to this public storage as a digital ledger. Many of the digital currencies, like Bitcoin, operate on blockchain technology.
Due to its various characteristics, the technology has transformed the financial sector in multiple ways. Blockchain technology has specific features that have disrupted the financial industry. The main ones include:
Decentralized Network
Blockchain runs on a decentralized platform that operates on a peer-to-peer basis. Unlike a bank whose transactions are centrally monitored, blockchain technology lacks a central authority. Thanks to the decentralization property, Bitcoin doesn’t have intermediaries, like banks, which may slow down the rate of transacting. So the platform vests power to its users.
Secondly, information on the blockchain is kept all over its network through blocks. All the past and present blocks are linked together and permanently captured safely. By maintaining communication across the web, the platform removes the danger of holding the information centrally. Data held centrally is subject to manipulation and may attract shady deals.
One of the challenges you face with the standard payment systems is that your information is centrally stored. This means that you don’t have your information’s autonomy because third-parties can do anything with it. For example, banks may decide to play fast and lose your money, leading to inflation. However, blockchain overcomes this challenge because you can see everything happening on the network.
Encourages Transparency
Information on blockchain technology is distributed openly through a public ledger. The general ledger allows the sharing of different pieces of information that are valuable to the users. Because the digital ledger is open to its users, no shady deals can happen behind your back. And this fosters trust and openness among all the users of the platform. Each computer in the blockchain technology network captures a record of the ledger for more transparency.
Immutable information
One of the critical properties of blockchain technology is immutability, making it impossible for data to be reversed or modified once sent. The entire blockchain environment observes specific protocols for endorsing the latest blocks. The platform doesn’t allow any changes once the original standards are set. Altering of data requires that all the platform users must reach a consensus.
Immutability disrupts the standard payment systems that accept chargebacks from buyers. Chargebacks may come from dishonest clients who may claim that they didn’t receive the sent goods and services. Besides being an expense to your business, chargebacks can also soil the name of your company.
Payment through blockchain technology is irreversible, and the issue of chargebacks doesn’t arise.
Enhanced Safety
Multiple attributes make the blockchain platform more secure than the standard record-storing systems. All parties involved must agree on settlements before executing them. Once the transactions are endorsed, they’re encrypted and connected to past payments. Also, information stored across the entire blockchain network makes it more secure than stored in a single server. So fraudsters may find it challenging to hack the network.
Standard payments through credit/debit cards are prone to fraud because they may leak sensitive information to malicious elements that may trick you. Blockchain technology is their best bet for clients who mind about their personal and financial information secure.
Furthermore, blockchain security is improved through the use of private and public keys. While the private key is used for entry, the public access is accessible to other nodes that confirm requester info. This blockchain safety of user entry is designed to make it hard for the hacking of identities.
Enhanced Traceability
Companies that deal in products that go through a complicated supply system may find it challenging to trace back an item’s origin. However, if records of the traded goods are captured on blockchain technology, you can quickly evaluate its source and its current location. With blockchain technology, you can check the authenticity of assets and minimize scams.
Improved efficiency and speed
The traditional payment systems are time-consuming and prone to multiple human errors. Such transactions must go through third-parties for approval, a procedure that wastes time. Thanks to the blockchain platform, transactions happen almost instantaneously. Since records are captured through the decentralized system that each user accesses, there is no need to reconcile different ledgers. This procedure enhances transparency and eliminates time wastage.
Cost Reduction
Minimizing expenses is a priority for many businesses. The standard payment systems aren’t the best on this front as they’re expensive to most enterprises. They have multiple middlemen who make the cost of transactions high. For example, when you’re paying for goods or services online through credit cards, your transactions must pass through banks for approval. And the verification procedure has some costs that you must bear.
Fortunately, the blockchain system is affordable because it lacks the control of intermediaries. Therefore, if you’re looking for a rapid and cost-effective method, blockchain is the best for you.
Syndicated Lending
Thanks to blockchain technology, syndicated lending is possible through the platform. Standard processing of such credits can take a long time because multiple participants are involved. While processing such loans, banks must check important info like KYC and AML needs. Blockchain enhances the procedure and makes it more open. The use of such concepts, like smart contracts, has helped to make the process quick and straightforward. All the banks involved can exchange critical information through the blockchain platform. And this lowers the cost of regulatory needs for such loans and saves time.
Easy International Payments
Cross-border payment through the traditional methods is an expensive affair that many businesses may not afford. Transactions through blockchain, however, are quick and affordable. When you use legal solutions, payments must pass through intermediaries for approval. However, blockchain eliminates the need for third-parties and their verification procedures, which saves time and money.
Multiple Helpful Tools
While standard systems require individuals to understand the investment environment well before investing their money, you don’t need to be a professional to invest in Bitcoin, supported by blockchain. With such software, like the Bitcoinera.app, you can start your investment journey immediately whether you understand the market or not.
Besides, while investing in cryptocurrency, which operates on blockchain technology, you don’t need various mediators, like brokers, CCPs, CSDs, and others. The elimination of the go-betweens mentioned above makes the process cost-effective and fast.
Trade Finance
Multiple trade finance tasks entail massive paperwork, like invoices, letters of credit, etc. All parties involved in the trade financing procedure must have an updated record of transaction documents. Besides the task being time-consuming, it also entails a lot of paperwork.
Blockchain systems can assist in the entire process of trade finance by removing massive paperwork and employees. The technology eliminates the need to have multiple copies of a similar document and can combine essential data in a single form. Furthermore, through blockchain technology, the document’s updates are done in real-time, and each participant in the network can see it.
Prompt transactions in stock markets
Stock markets are overwhelmed by the number of activities as the market attracts more people. Multiple challenges afflict the market, like settlement time and operational expenses. Thanks to blockchain technology, stock markets can explore the system’s opportunities to offer quicker transactions and minimal settlement costs. The use of smart contracts can primarily provide much-needed efficiency in stock market transactions.
Blockchain technology offers the stock market participants the transparency they require while conducting their transactions with its decentralized approach. Additionally, the decentralization feature helps to reduce transaction time and the price of operating the business. Traditionally, the cost of running the company has been high due to the high numbers of intermediaries involved in the whole chain. Blockchain removes these go-betweens as everything is conducted through smart contracts.
Multiple stock exchanges of the world explore how they can exploit the opportunities in blockchain to improve their businesses. For example, NASQAD uses the technology when issuing and administering private stocks.
Final Thoughts
Any entrepreneur desires to have an efficient payment solution that overcomes the challenges of the traditional methods. Blockchain technology has disrupted the way companies and individuals do business. When you need a quick and efficient payment solution, blockchain can help you. The decentralized system has various features captured here that make it an efficient payment method.
