@iemawant 11 September 2025 more from that month

Types of Blockchains: Public, Private, and Hybrid Explained In my first article, I introduced blockchain programming and explained why it matters. In this piece, I want to go deeper and talk about the different types of blockchains. As someone who is still exploring this field, I’ve learned that the type of blockchain you work with completely changes the way you build applications. --- 1. Public Blockchains A public blockchain is open to everyone. Anyone can join, read data, or help validate transactions. The most famous examples are Bitcoin and Ethereum. What I’ve understood about them: They are fully decentralized — no single authority is in charge. Everything is transparent, so anyone can see the transactions. They are secured by cryptography and consensus mechanisms. Where they are used: Cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. Open dApps such as NFT marketplaces or DeFi projects. Any system where transparency is essential. --- 2. Private Blockchains In contrast, private blockchains are controlled by one organization. Only authorized people can access or validate transactions. From what I’ve learned: They are governed by a central authority. They work faster than public blockchains. Data is not fully transparent to outsiders. Where they are useful: Banks or companies that need privacy. Internal operations in organizations. Supply chain management. --- 3. Hybrid Blockchains Hybrid blockchains are a mix of both worlds. They give control to organizations but also allow some information to be public. What stands out to me: They are flexible — you can decide what stays private and what becomes public. They provide a balance between transparency and privacy. Many enterprise-level solutions are built on hybrid blockchains. Use cases include: Governments (for example, mixing public voting with private identity management). Healthcare (public drug supply chain but private patient records). Enterprises that need both openness and control. --- Why This Matters for Me as a Beginner As I’ve been learning, I realized that choosing a blockchain type also defines the tools I need to use: On public blockchains, developers often use Solidity for smart contracts. On private blockchains, frameworks like Hyperledger are more common. On hybrid systems, both approaches can be combined. Understanding this helps me (and hopefully you too) decide what direction to take in blockchain programming. --- What’s Next? In my next article, I’ll dive into the main programming languages used in blockchain development — from Solidity to Rust — and explain how each of them fits into this exciting space.