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Blockchain was introduced with the invention of Bitcoin in 2008 and then with its practical implementation in 2009. For this chapter, it is sufficient to introduce Bitcoin very briefly as there is a full chapter on Bitcoin later on but it is also essential to refer to Bitcoin because without it, the history of Blockchain is not complete. The concept of electronic cash or digital currency is not new. Since the 1980s, e-cash protocols have existed that are based on a model proposed by David Chaum. Just as understanding the concepts of distributed systems is necessary in order to understand Blockchain technology, the idea of electronic cash is also essential to appreciate the first and astonishingly successful application of Blockchain: the Bitcoin, or broadly crypto currencies. Theoretical concepts in distributed systems such as consensus algorithms provided the basis of the practical implementation of Proof of Work algorithms in Bitcoin moreover, ideas from different electronic cash schemes also paved the way for the invention of crypto currencies, specifically Bitcoin. From a business point of view a Blockchain can be defined as a platform whereby peers can exchange values using transactions without the need for a central trusted arbitrator. This is a powerful concept and once readers understand it they will realize the tsunamic potential of Blockchain technology. This allows Blockchain to be a decentralized consensus mechanism Mapplegreen