2025: The Rise of Fifth-Generation Blockchain

From BTC to AI: A Retrospective on Five Generations of Blockchain Evolution

This article takes you through the development of blockchain technology across five distinct eras, analyzing the key features, technical challenges, and current status of each generation.

From Bitcoin to Ethereum, Layer 2 solutions, Solana, and now SUI and AI, each technological iteration has carried a new mission. With the advent of fifth-generation blockchain, its potential to break through existing boundaries and achieve seamless integration with the real world is becoming increasingly evident.

1. Origins and Vision

Bitcoin was invented in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto, aiming to create a peer-to-peer electronic cash system independent of central authorities. It emerged in response to the trust crisis triggered by the 2008 global financial meltdown, utilizing blockchain technology to record immutable transaction histories and establish a fully transparent digital currency.

2. Key Features

• Decentralization: Anyone can join the Bitcoin network to transact or mine, ensuring openness and resistance to censorship.
• Proof of Work (PoW): Mining establishes decentralized consensus, securing transaction records and preventing double-spending.