Blockchain technology is getting lots of attention because of it’s potential to revolutionize various industries. One big choice people and developers have to make is picking between different types of Blockchains.

In this article, we’ll break down the basic differences between types of Blockchains, looking at what makes them unique, how they’re used, and what benefits and challenges they bring. Let’s dive in.

Categories of Blockchains types.

The types of Blockchains are grouped into two categories. Permissionless and Permissioned Blockchains

1. Permissioned blockchains

• require participants to have explicit approval to join the network and access data.
• Permissioned blockchains are typically used in enterprise settings for privacy and control

Example is the private blockchain and cryptocurrencies that uses Permissioned blockchains include Hyperledger Fabric, R3 Corda, and Quorum.

These are often used in business and enterprise applications where controlled access is important.

2. Permissionless Blockchains

• Allows anyone to participate and validate transactions without needing approval.
• Permissionless blockchains, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, emphasize decentralization and openness.

An example is the public blockchain And Example of cryptocurrencies  include Bitcoin and Ethereum. In these systems, anyone can join the network, validate transactions, and participate in the consensus process without requiring explicit permission.

Types of Blockchains

There are 4 types of blockchain:

• Public Blockchain.
• Private Blockchain.
• Hybrid Blockchain.
• Consortium Blockchain.

Let’s discuss each of these topics in detail.

1. Public Blockchain

Public blockchains are decentralized, transparent, and open networks where anyone can participate, validate transactions, and contribute to the consensus process.

Key characteristics of public blockchains include:

• Decentralization: No single entity has control over the entire network. Nodes in the network work together to reach consensus and validate transactions.
• Transparency: All transactions on the blockchain are visible to anyone. This transparency enhances trust and accountability.
• Permissionless: Anyone can join the network, validate transactions, and participate in the consensus mechanism without requiring explicit approval.
• Security: Public blockchains often use robust consensus mechanisms (e.g., proof-of-work, proof-of-stake) to secure the network against malicious activities.
• Cryptocurrency: Many public blockchains are associated with cryptocurrencies. For example, Bitcoin operates on a public blockchain, and Ether is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum public blockchain

Advantages of Public blockchains

  1. Decentralization: Public blockchains are distributed across a vast network of nodes, promoting decentralization and reducing the control of a single entity.

  2. Transparency: Transactions on public blockchains are transparent and accessible to anyone, fostering trust and accountability.

  3. Security: The consensus mechanisms, like proof-of-work or proof-of-stake, enhance the security of public blockchains against attacks.

Disadvantages of Public Networks

  1. Scalability: Public blockchains often face challenges in scaling to accommodate a large number of transactions quickly.

  2. Energy Consumption: Some public blockchains, especially those using proof-of-work, can be energy-intensive.

  3. Privacy Concerns: Full transparency can be a drawback when it comes to privacy, as all transactions are visible to anyone.

Use Cases of public blockchains

  1. Cryptocurrencies: Public blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum are widely used for decentralized digital currencies.

  2. Smart Contracts: Ethereum’s public blockchain facilitates the creation and execution of smart contracts.

  3. Tokenization: Public blockchains enable the creation and transfer of digital tokens representing various assets.

Public blockchains are suitable for scenarios where openness, decentralization, and transparency are essential, such as in the case of global financial transactions, decentralized applications (DApps), and creating digital assets with a wide reach.

2. Private Blockchains

Private blockchains are decentralized ledgers where access to the network and participation in the consensus process is restricted to a specific group of participants. Unlike public blockchains, where anyone can join and contribute, private blockchains are permissioned and typically used within a closed ecosystem. Here are key characteristics of private blockchains:

Key characteristics of public blockchains include

• Permissioned Access: Participants in a private blockchain require explicit permission to join the network. This controlled access allows for a more centralized governance structure.
• Limited Transparency: Private blockchains may limit the visibility of transactions only to authorized participants. Unlike public blockchains, where transactions are visible to anyone, private blockchains can restrict access to transaction details.
• Centralized Control: Unlike the decentralized nature of public blockchains, private blockchains often have a more centralized control structure, where a governing entity or a consortium of entities has more authority over decision-making.
• Increased Efficiency: Since private blockchains operate within a known and trusted network of participants, they can achieve higher transaction throughput and faster consensus mechanisms compared to some public blockchains.

Advantages of Private Blockchains:

1. Controlled Access: Private blockchains allow for controlled participation, limiting entry to authorized entities. This enhances security and trust among participants.

• Privacy: Restricted visibility of transactions provides enhanced privacy compared to public blockchains, making private blockchains suitable for sensitive enterprise applications.

• Increased Efficiency: With a controlled group of participants, private blockchains can achieve higher transaction throughput and faster consensus mechanisms, improving overall efficiency.

• Tailored Consensus: Private blockchains can implement consensus mechanisms tailored to the specific needs of the participants, potentially optimizing performance for the use case.

• Centralized Governance: Centralized control in private blockchains can streamline decision-making processes and governance, facilitating faster updates and modifications.

Disadvantages of Private Blockchains

1. Limited Decentralization: The restricted nature of participation can result in lower decentralization compared to public blockchains, potentially leading to a single point of failure or increased susceptibility to collusion.

• Less Trustless: Participants in private blockchains often need to trust the governing entity or consortium, reducing the trustless nature inherent in fully decentralized systems.

• Potential Single Point of Control: The centralized governance structure may lead to a concentration of control, raising concerns about the abuse of power or influence by the controlling entities.

• Scalability Challenges: While private blockchains may achieve higher efficiency, they can still face scalability challenges when dealing with a large number of transactions or participants.

• Limited Network Effects: The closed nature of private blockchains restricts the network effects and collaboration opportunities that can arise from open, public ecosystems.

Private blockchains are advantageous for specific use cases where controlled access and privacy are paramount. However, they come with trade-offs, such as reduced decentralization and potential scalability challenges, compared to their public counterparts.

Differences between Private blockchains and Public blockchains.

Here’s a simplified table highlighting key differences between private blockchains and public blockchains.

FEATURE	PPRIVATE BLOCKCHAINS	PUBLIC BLOCKCHAINS
Access	Restricted, permissioned	Open, permissionless
Transparency	Limited visibility to authorized participants.	Full transparency to anyone
Control	Centralized control by a governing entity or consortium	Decentralized control, no single authority
Privacy	Enhanced privacy for participants	Full transparency, reduced privacy for transactions
Efficiency	Higher transaction throughput, faster consensus	Varied transaction speeds, potentially slower
Use Cases	Cryptocurrencies, decentralized applications (DApps), digital assets	Cryptocurrencies, decentralized applications (DApps), digital assets
Trust Model	Trust among known participants	Trustless model with cryptographic verification
Consensus Mechanisms	Tailored mechanisms (e.g., PBFT	Proof-of-work, proof-of-stake, diverse consensus models
Decentralization	Lower decentralization, potential single points of control	Higher decentralization, resistant to single points of failure
Scalability	Potentially better scalability with a controlled group	Scaling challenges due to open participation and transparency
Governance	Centralized governance structure	Decentralized governance, community-driven decisions

Note: This table provides a general overview, and specific implementations may vary in their characteristics.

So, there you have it – the different types of blockchains each have their own way of working. Understanding these types helps people and businesses choose the right one for their needs. As blockchain keeps growing, it’s clear that this technology has a lot of potential to make things more secure and efficient. By knowing the ins and outs of these blockchains, we can use them to bring in a new era of trustworthy and streamlined digital processes.

NEXT READING: How to Protect Your Digital Assets From being Hacked: Security Measures in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency