@ -6,13 +6,13 @@
((("bitcoin", "overview of", id="BCover02")))((("central trusted
authority")))((("decentralized systems", "bitcoin overview",
id="DCSover02")))The Bitcoin system, unlike traditional banking and
payment systems, is based on decentralized trust. Instead of a central
trusted authority, in Bitcoin, trust is achieved as an emergent property
from the interactions of different participants in the Bitcoin system.
payment systems, does not require trust in third parties. Instead of a central
trusted authority, in Bitcoin, each user can use software running on
their own computer to verify the correct operation of every
aspect of the Bitcoin system.
In this chapter, we will examine bitcoin from a high level by tracking a
single transaction through the Bitcoin system and watch as it becomes
"trusted" and accepted by the bitcoin mechanism of distributed consensus
and is finally recorded on the blockchain, the distributed ledger of all
single transaction through the Bitcoin system and watch as it
is recorded on the blockchain, the distributed ledger of all
transactions. Subsequent chapters will delve into the technology behind
transactions, the network, and mining.