In the previous article, I came to an important conclusion that Bitcoin was created not essentially for human use, but for computer use, that is, for machine or artificial intelligence. It is essentially a currency of the computer world, representing the evolutionary direction of a new civilization of mankind---
Digital Civilization.
Bitcoin leads mankind from the world of atomic physics into digital Bit world. We are moving toward a high-level civilization.
How would Bitcoin achieve that? First, let's take a look at the basic properties and essential characteristics of Bitcoin.
Put all the external information aside, Bitcoin is actually a ledger composed of databases. It is built on the foundation of mathematics. The followings are its primary characteristics:
- 1. The Bitcoin network is a distributed database, which is presented in the form of blockchain, whose main function is to store information. Any information that needs to be saved can be written into the parent chain of Bitcoin, recording transaction information for this ledger;
- 2. Its parent chain is of distributed storage for information with no centralized server or administrator. It is peer-to-peer and completely decentralized.
- 3.It adopts cryptographic algorithms to ensure that existing data is not tampered with. It has two features: cryptographic hash function and asymmetric encryption. The former guarantees that no data is changed while the latter has two keys, one public and the other private. Supposing one key is used for encryption, then the other is the only option in decryption. That is the basis for Bitcoin to establish trust and to accomplish machine trust through technical means.
- 4. It employs consensus algorithm to reach consensus on newly added data. The purpose of this algorithm is to allow all nodes to approve the new comer. Here, algorithm refers to rules and laws that all actions on this chain must abide by.
- 5. Data, valueless itself, can be endowed with value by consensus mechanism in Bitcoin, especially by collective consensus.
- 6. Value is circulated in the form of token, which can be divided and circulated. Therefore, the value created by collective consensus can be divided and circulated consequently. Bitcoin is a form of value storage.
Now we can see the nature of Bitcoin is a ledger, documenting all human data and giving value to these date, tamper-proof thanks to encryption algorithm, by collective consensus. That is the cornerstone of Bit Civilization.
We developed blockchain technology and built a prosperous crypto world on the basis of the underlying technology of Bitcoin. When the encrypted world transforms the traditional world little by little, all human assets, information, behaviors, actions, etc. can be sorted into data that can be written on blockchain and circulated in the form of token. Varied consensus mechanisms enable these data to generate value, become digital assets, and finally realize the division and circulation of these digital assets through smart contracts on the chain.
In this way, all human behaviors can be checked on blockchain in the form of data, which could be exchanged and transferred with the help of code, algorithm, rule and smart contract.
Essentially, it is humans who are machined and digitized. Bitcoin is leading human beings to migrate from the world of atomic physics to digital Bit world.Blockchain puts all data on chains to digitize and capitalize them, creating a brand new digital world where humans can work, study, live, get reward, trade and transfer assets freely. By that time, many of our work partners may no longer be humans, but different types of robots, some Silicon-based life forms. Blockchain functions as a common language.
So I said that Satoshi Nakamoto created a brand new world for mankind. Bitcoin, in substance, linked the atomic physics world of Carbon-based civilization with the digital Bit world of Silicon-based civilization. As Bitcoin transforms the existing world of mankind, these two worlds will eventually merge into one and evolve into a more advanced human civilization---
Bit Civilization.