In its brief history, Bitcoin has transformed itself from a currency of unregulated illegal activities into a legitimate and convenient promoter of global commerce. Of course, cryptocurrencies are subject to myriad factors that conspired to make them one of the world’s most unpredictable currencies. But despite this uncertainty, more than 300,000 Bitcoin transactions are taking place every day, and the numbers are still growing.

Today, bitcoin is clearly far beyond the peer-to-peer cash system envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto eight years ago. Global computer networks mine new bitcoins every minute, e-commerce sites are booming, and even large bricks-and-mortar companies like Tesla and Virgin Galactic are beginning to accept bitcoins as payment.

That said, Bitcoin, and cryptocurrencies as a whole, are still relatively in the early stages of adoption and are evolving. While cryptocurrencies hold promise as the universal currency of the future, the more promising trend seems to be decentralized applications (Dapps).

As cryptocurrencies become the norm in the coming years, experts assume that peer-to-peer applications will surpass the valuations of the world’s largest software companies, utilities and web companies in terms of user base due to their excellent incentive structures, transparency, resilience and flexibility, and distributed nature.

The emergence of Dapps

The visionaries describe a completely decentralized world in which there is no central authority to manage digital networks and every bit of communication or transaction takes place directly between two parties. Ideally, this depicts a society in which online applications, websites, and utilities do not need intermediaries to run, and even the entities that create the system do not control user information.

Of course, the first innovation to take advantage of this thought-provoking concept is Bitcoin and it’s an open source, peer-to-peer, encrypted store of records — commonly known as a blockchain. However, it doesn’t take long for developers to start grasping the bigger picture. The Bitcoin model gives Internet users complete control over how they exchange money, not just digital data. How does the Internet control data exchange? By interacting with, you guessed it, Dapps.

What is a Dapp?

Decentralized applications are a new breed of Internet-based software programs designed to exist in a way that is not controlled by centralized institutions, like cryptocurrencies. However, while passwords provide a decentralized mode of exchange value, Dapps enable functionality that goes beyond monetary transactions.

Currently, many decentralized applications exist, and while some use their own blockchains, most have taken existing blockchain technologies and integrated them with their own tokens. However, regardless of the type, an application is considered a Dapp only if it meets the following criteria.

1. Full autonomy

The application must be open source, which means that no one entity can control most of its tokens, data, and records. In addition, Dapps need to encrypt and store their data in a decentralized and publicly accessible blockchain rather than a centralized private server to avoid points of failure.

2. Token generation

The application must generate tokens (called App Coins) according to a standard algorithm and, if possible, allocate some of them at the beginning of its operation. Dapps are designed so that specified digital tokens are required to use the application, and any rewards offered to users are done with tokens only. The algorithm used to generate the token acts as proof of value for the user of the application.

3. Majority management

Dapps may adopt protocols in response to proposed changes or improvements and market feedback, but any changes must be agreed upon by a majority of their users before they can be made. No one can change the application’s data or records without agreeing on the proposed changes.

How does Bitcoin function as a Dapp

Through the use of peer-to-peer distribution, Bitcoin has proven itself to be an effective solution to many problems in the traditional financial system, including buyer/seller verification, international remittances and fraud prevention.

Bitcoin is widely seen as having the potential to open up decentralized applications to the world. Not only was it the first cryptocurrency, it was also the first Dapp.

As a decentralized application, all of Bitcoin’s resources are open source, which means that no entity (company, organization or government) can control Bitcoin. Everything associated with using cryptocurrencies is open and public. So anyone can mine, store and distribute Bitcoin.

In addition, the Bitcoin model uses a standard algorithm to generate tokens, known as bitcoins, or hash code proof of work (PoW) functionality that cannot be changed unless approved by a majority consensus of its users. These tokens are required for Bitcoin to work, and any contributor to the system (miners) is rewarded.

Bitcoin Dapp revolution

Bitcoin has been around for a while, but like all Dapps, it is still in the early stages of development. There are plenty of opportunities for ambitious developers in the Dapp space as a whole to take advantage of, and the pace of progress proves that decentralization is not a distant future.

Now, if you want, you can choose to downplay the importance of decentralized apps, especially given the fact that many people don’t know (or care) about how the Internet works, as long as it works. But think of it this way: The apps and websites we use most every day are completely controlled by major global companies whose dynamics can change overnight. Imagine waking up to find you can no longer shop on Amazon because Jeff tweeted too much about the president, or you can’t log on to Yahoo because a lot of things haven’t been settled with the new boss.

Decentralized application development transfers this power from companies to users of applications, much as Bitcoin took control of money from governments and financial institutions and made it available to all users of cryptocurrencies.

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Share some interactive online programming tutorials related to blockchain such as Ethereum, EOS and Bitcoin:

  • Java development tutorial COINS, this course for beginners, content covers the core concepts of COINS, such as block mechanism, key chain store, decentralized consensus and script, trading and UTXO etc, also explained how to integrate the currency support functions in Java code, such as creating address wallet, tectonic naked trading, management, Is a rare bitcoin development course for Java engineers.
  • PHP currency development tutorial, this course for beginners, content covers the core concepts of COINS, such as block mechanism, key chain store, decentralized consensus and script, trading and UTXO etc, also explained how to integrated the currency support functions in PHP code, such as creating address wallet, tectonic naked trading, management, This is a rare bitcoin development course for Php engineers.
  • Java Ethereum development tutorial, mainly for Java and Android programmers for blockchain Ethereum development web3J details.
  • Python Ethereum is a detailed explanation of blockchain ethereum development by Python engineers using Web3.py.
  • PHP Ethereum, mainly introduces the use of PHP for smart contract development interaction, account creation, transactions, transfers, token development, filters and transactions and other content.
  • Ethereum introductory course, mainly introduces smart contract and DAPP application development, suitable for entry.
  • Ethereum development advanced tutorial, mainly introduces the use of Node.js, mongodb, blockchain, IPFS to achieve decentralized e-commerce DApp combat, suitable for advanced.
  • C# ethereum, mainly explains how to use C# based development. Net ethereum applications, including account management, status and transactions, smart contract development and interaction, filters and transactions, etc.
  • This course will help you get a quick start on the development of EOS blockchain decentralized applications. It covers core knowledge points such as EOS tool chain, account and wallet, issuing tokens, development and deployment of smart contracts, and interaction between codes and smart contracts. Finally, the development of a notepad DApp will be completed using all knowledge points comprehensively.
  • Tendermint blockchain development in detail, this course is suitable for engineers who want to use Tendermint blockchain development, the course content includes the core concepts of tendermint application development model, such as ABCI interface, Merkle tree, multi-version state library, etc., also includes the rich practical code such as token issuance. It is the best choice for go language engineers to quickly start blockchain development.

Huizhi net original translation, reprint please indicate the source. What about bitcoin as a Dapp?