Blockchain is a distributed database that allows for secure, transparent and tamper-proof record-keeping. The first blockchain was created in 2009 as the underlying technology behind the digital currency Bitcoin.

Since then, blockchain has evolved into much more than just a cryptocurrency. blockchains are now being used to create everything from decentralized applications (dApps) to smart contracts and initial coin offerings (ICOs).

The potential of blockchain is often compared to that of the Internet in the early 1990s – a new technology with the potential to disrupt industries and change the way we live and work.

Between 2010 and 2020, blockchain technology has undergone significant changes. The early years were focused on developing the underlying technology behind Bitcoin. In 2014, Ethereum was launched, which introduced smart contracts and opened up blockchain to a whole new world of possibilities.

Since then, blockchain has been evolving at a rapid pace. New platforms are being created, new applications are being developed, and new use cases are being discovered. The potential of blockchain is still largely untapped, and the next decade is likely to be even more exciting than the last.

The recent crypto currency crashes have had a mixed impact on blockchain technology. On the one hand, they have exposed some of the weaknesses of blockchain-based projects, which could hinder their adoption in the future. On the other hand, they have also shown that blockchain is here to stay, and that it is a technology with real potential.

There are a number of ways to research blockchain technology. The best way to stay up-to-date with the latest developments is to follow industry news and expert opinion. There are also a number of books and white papers that provide a good overview of blockchain technology. Finally, there are several online courses that can be taken to learn about blockchain.

White papers are a key part of any blockchain project. They provide a detailed overview of the project, its goals, and its technology. They are often used to attract investors and to build hype around a project.

There are a number of blockchain experts to follow. Some of the most popular include Vitalik Buterin, who is the founder of Ethereum, and Andreas Antonopoulos, who is a well-known Bitcoin expert. There is also Cardano's Charles Hoskinson, who is a leading figure in the world of cryptocurrencies. As well as, FTX's Sam Bankman-Fried, who is one of the most influential people in the world of derivatives trading. You will want to also to follow the names of upcoming blockchains Solana (SOL) and Avalanche (AVAX) founders.

Here is a brief list of who's who. Subject to change and being outdated:

Blockchain Founders:

• • • • • Bitcoin (BTC) - Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, a pseudonym for an unknown person or group of people.
        • Ethereum (ETH) - Ethereum was created by Vitalik Buterin, a Russian-Canadian programmer. As well well known co-founders Joseph Lubin, Charles Hoskinson, and Gavin Wood.
        • Binance (BNB) - Binance was founded by Changpeng Zhao and and Yi He, Chinese entrepreneurs.
        • Cardano (ADA) - Cardano was founded by Charles Hoskinson, one of the co-founders of Ethereum.
        • Ripple (XRP) - XRP was created by Ripple, a US-based company. The main figure behind Ripple is Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple.
        • Solana (SOL) -  Solana was founded by Anatoly Yakovenko, a veteran software engineer who has worked on projects such as Google Earth, YouTube, and Google Street View.
        • Tron (TRX) - Tron was founded by Justin Sun, a Chinese entrepreneur.
        • PolkaDot (DOT) - Polkadot was founded by Gavin Wood, one of the co-founders of Ethereum.
        • Avalanche (AVAX) - Avalanche was founded by Emin Gun Sirer, a professor of computer science at Cornell University, and his team of researchers.
        • Algorand (ALGO) -  Algorand was founded by Silvio Micali, a professor of computer science at MIT.
        • Near Protocol (NEAR) - Near Protocol was founded by Alex Skidanov and Illia Polosukhin, two former employees of Google.

Blockchain Founders:

• • • • • Coinbase - Coinbase was founded by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam.
        • Binance - Binance was founded by Changpeng Zhao and and Yi He, Chinese entrepreneurs.
        • FTX - FTX was founded by Sam Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang.
        • Crypto.com - Crypto.com was founded by Kris Marszalek and Rafael Melo.
        • Kraken - Kraken was founded by Jesse Powell.
        • Bittrex - Bittrex was founded by Bill Shihara, Richie Lai, and Rami Kawach.