Get the weekly summary of crypto market analysis, news, and forecasts! This Week’s Summary The crypto market ends the week at a total market capitalization of $1,070 trillion. Bitcoin is down by nearly 2% after intense seesawing this week. Ethereum increased by almost 2% over the past seven days. XRP lost more than 1% in value this week. Almost all altcoins are trading in the red, with a few exceptions. The DeFi sector decreased the total value of protocols (TVL)…
What Are Hybrid Blockchains?
A hybrid blockchain is a type of blockchain that combines the features of both public and private blockchains. Depending on the user’s needs, it allows public and private access to the blockchain network. For example, in a hybrid blockchain, some nodes may be designated as “public” nodes accessible to anyone on the network.
In contrast, other nodes may be designated as “private” and only accessible to a specific group of users. This allows for a balance of security and decentralization and the ability to handle sensitive transactions or data.
The hybrid blockchain can be set up in different ways, for example, with a public blockchain that allows private transactions via zk-snarks.
Hybrid Blockchain Benefits and Drawbacks
Hybrid blockchain has several benefits:
- Increased security: By combining the features of public and private blockchains, a hybrid blockchain can offer increased security for sensitive transactions or data.
- Flexibility: A hybrid blockchain allows public and private access to the blockchain network, depending on the user’s needs. This allows for a balance of security and decentralization.
- Scalability: The private side of a hybrid blockchain can handle a higher number of transactions per second (TPS) than a public blockchain, which can improve scalability.
- Interoperability: It allows for the integration of different blockchain systems, which can enable cross-chain communication and the exchange of assets between different blockchains.
However, it also has some drawbacks:
- Complexity: Setting up and maintaining a hybrid blockchain can be more complex than a public or private blockchain.
- Centralization: The private side of a hybrid blockchain may be controlled by a central authority, which can reduce decentralization.
- Cost: Setting up a hybrid blockchain can be more expensive than a public or private blockchain.
- Trust: Establishing trust in a hybrid blockchain system may be challenging because a central authority may control the private side.
The Purpose of Hybrid Blockchains
Since hybrid blockchains combine the benefits of public and private blockchains, it allows for a balance of security and decentralization. It can be used for different purposes, such as:
- Supply Chain Management: A hybrid blockchain can track the movement of goods through a supply chain while keeping sensitive information private.
- Financial Services: A hybrid blockchain can be used for financial services, such as digital payments and securities trading while keeping sensitive financial data private.
- Healthcare: A hybrid blockchain can store and share patient information while keeping sensitive data private and secure.
- Identity Verification: A hybrid blockchain can store and verify identity information while keeping sensitive data private.
- Public Administration: A hybrid blockchain can store and share public data, such as voting records, while keeping sensitive data private.
- Gaming: A hybrid blockchain can be used to handle in-game assets while also keeping sensitive information private.
The main goal of a hybrid blockchain is to offer a balance of security, transparency, and accessibility for the users, which is why it is a suitable solution for various industries and purposes.