BlockChain

A simple blockchain implementation built in Python, demonstrating the core concepts behind distributed ledger technology, block creation, SHA-256 hashing, chain linking, and tamper detection.

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How It Works

Each block in the chain contains:

• An index (its position in the chain)
• A timestamp (when it was created)
• A transaction (sender, receiver, and amount)
• The hash of the previous block (linking the chain)
• Its own SHA-256 hash (generated from all of the above)

Because each block's hash depends on the previous block's hash, any modification to a block invalidates every block that follows it. The validate() method detects this by recalculating and comparing hashes across the entire chain.

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Project Structure

BlockChain/
├── block.py          # Defines the Block class and SHA-256 hashing logic
├── blockchain.py     # Defines the Blockchain class — manages blocks and validation
├── transaction.py    # Defines the Transaction class (sender, receiver, amount)
└── main.py           # Demo script — builds a chain, adds transactions, simulates tampering

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Getting Started

Requirements: Python 3.x (no external dependencies)

Run the demo:

python main.py

This will:

1. Create a new blockchain with a genesis block
2. Add two transactions as new blocks
3. Print the full chain
4. Validate the chain (passes)
5. Simulate tampering by modifying a transaction
6. Validate again (fails, detecting the change)

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Example Output

Index: 0, Timestamp: ..., Transaction: 0,0,0,
Previous hash: 0,
Block hash value: ...

Transaction: 12345,23456,100
...

The ledger is authentic
Transaction 1 is being modified...
Validation error at block 1

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Concepts Demonstrated

• SHA-256 hashing via Python's hashlib
• Genesis block creation
• Chain integrity through linked hashes
• Tamper detection via hash recomputation and validation

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What's Next

Planned improvements:

• Proof-of-work (mining) to simulate real blockchain difficulty
• Multiple transactions per block
• Peer-to-peer network simulation
• Improved CLI output and error reporting

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License

This project is provided for educational purposes only as part of the course 26W-CST8400 - Analysis and Design Using Emerging Technologies at Algonquin College, Ottawa, ON, Canada.