Concept comparison
Hashing vs Encryption
Hashing proves integrity without recovery; encryption hides data so an authorized party can recover it.
Dimension
Hashing
Encryption
Direction
One-way: input to digest.
Two-way with a key: plaintext to ciphertext and back.
Blockchain use
Wallet backups, private communication, and key wrapping around the chain.
Takeaway: Public blockchains mostly use hashes and signatures, not encrypted ledgers.
Security goal
Detect changes and make reverse lookup impractical.
Keep content confidential from anyone without the key.
Takeaway: Integrity and confidentiality are different properties.
Common mistake
Assuming encrypted data proves who sent it.
Takeaway: Signatures, hashes, and encryption solve different jobs.