Blockchain Architecture:

A blockchain is a continuously growing list of records (blocks) which are linked to each other as
shown in figure-1, and secured using cryptography. Each block is digitally signed and hashed.
Some of the distinguished features of blockchain technology can be classified as distributed
, immutable, decentralized, proof of consensus and ability to keep transactions details of assets.
Functionally, blockchain is a ledger available publically, not centrally controlled can record the
transactions efficiently with secure and everlasting manner [1].

Previous Previous Previous

Transacti
Hash Transacti
Hash Transacti
Hash
Timesta
on Timesta
on Timesta
on
Nonce
mp Nonce
mp Nonce
mp
Details
Current Details
Current Details
Current
Hash Hash Hash
Figure-1: An example of blockchain

The block is a basic unit of blockchain, created by the miners, the typical structure of a block is
very simple as shown in the figure-2, it consists of a block body and a block header. A block
body contains n-number of different transactions(Data) which are aggregated by the miner onto
the block [2].

Previous Hash

Transaction Details

Timestamp

Nonce

Current Hash

Figure-2: Typical structure of a Block

The header of block can have five major attributes:

i. Previous Hash: hash of the previous block (reason in forming a ‘chain’)
ii. Transaction Details: metadata of the transactions in this block
iii. Timestamp: the time at which block is found or created
iv. Nonce: a random value (number used once), that blockchain miners are solving for
v. Current Hash: the hash of the current block

The steps of operation of a blockchain (as explained in the flow chat figure-3) in a network starts with a
new transaction records occur by broadcasting the transaction to the entire network, then each node
work on running a distributed consensus algorithm typically involving the solution to a cryptographic
puzzle (proof of work). When a node finds this proof of work, it will broadcast this block to all network,
the network has a reliable copy of the ledger, which provides transaction transparency. All the nodes
confirm all transactions beside the ever-growing database, using the cryptographic hash of each block of
data in the chain that links it to its predecessor. [3]

Figure-3: How blockchain works

[1]: Mizzi, J., & Inguanez, F. (2018). Blockchain based E-Voting System. Journal of E-Technology,9(2), 44.
doi:10.6025/jet/2018/9/2/44-48

[2]: Zheng, Zibin & Xie, Shaoan & Dai, Hong-Ning & Chen, Xiangping & Wang, Huaimin.
(2017). An Overview of Blockchain Technology: Architecture, Consensus, and Future Trends.
10.1109/BigDataCongress.2017.85.

[3]: Angin P., Mert M.B., Mete O., Ramazanli A., Sarica K., Gungoren B. (2018) A Blockchain-
Based Decentralized Security Architecture for IoT. In: Georgakopoulos D., Zhang LJ. (eds)
Internet of Things – ICIOT 2018. ICIOT 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 10972.
Springer, Cham