Friday, March 20, 2015

Collecting Information on a Blockchain


Data Available on the Blockchain
File:DARPA Big Data.jpg
The price of Bitcoin is only a single gauge of the level of activity in the Bitcoin Network. At the peak of Bitcoin’s price in December of 2013, transactions peaked at an all time high of 102,000 with an average of 60,000 transactions. Today, with the price of Bitcoin below a quarter of peak value, 100,000 transactions are average. Connecting information to the level of activity in the Bitcoin Network will require further analytic data. The next resource a Bitcoin market researcher could pursue is a Blockchain Explorer.

Blockchain Explorers

Information gathering tools for blockchain inputs offer specific data that is only useable for specific use cases. There are two levels of API’s available for developers to design software applications. REST API and Webhooks API SDK. The difference between these tools is how the data is recalled. Webhooks can be created to send a notification of a specific event, such as the creation of a new block. Highlighted below are a few explorative services and data sets that can be collected from various interfaces:

Biteasy_logo.png

Biteasy has the longest reputation of block explorers on this list. Biteasy updated to version 2.0 in March with more features for developers to create applications with Biteasy’s REST API. A new feature of Biteasy is independent Input and Output values end-points that can be isolated individually.

Biteasy Endpoints:
  • Address Information
    • Multiple or single addresses
  • Block Specifics
    • Block Hashes
  • Transaction Data
    • Transaction Hashes
  • Data Inputs
    • Input Hashes
  • Data Outputs
    • Output Hashes
  • Multisig Verification
    • # of multi signatures reached
  • Search Functionality


Wd16Pwz.png

Blocktrail is a Blockchain Explorer firm offering explorer services leaning towards economic data sets. These data sets are more specific financial information and are preferred for tracking market activity or market prediction. The Blocktrail API has the ability to recall that data to user chosen platforms for further analysis.


blocktrail_bitcoin_api.png

Blocktrail Endpoints:

  • Address
    • Address Confirmed/Unconfirmed Transactions
    • Address Unspent Outputs
  • Blocks
    • Block Transactions
    • Total Blocks / Latest Block
  • Transactions
  • Verify Messages

Wallet Analytics

Tapeke (CoinDesk Article)




logo_medium.98ba0f5be4c1cc6a4e2d.pngTapeke is a browser Wallet Analytic tool that uses your public address to compile transaction information into a GUI. Constructed with the aid of an original Hive Wallet developer, Tapeke allows custom categories and data analytic tools for common bitcoin users. Currently this service assigns metadata to Bitcoins and Transactions of personal Bitcoin Wallets but does not have much third party support. Integration of third party support will be introduced throughout the development process, as well as a stand alone desktop app. The service was introduced in Beta Phase January of 2015.

1*A-b-X_wgPZQfh3xti-cDqg.png

Features of Tapeke:
  • Custom Categories
  • Transaction History
  • Multi-currency
  • Multiple Wallet Integration

Coyno (CNBC Article / Slideshare Presentation)



coyno-logo-v1.pngCoyno is a European Bitcoin analytic firm that grew out of a Berlin business accelerator. Business that are brought into the Alex Springer Plug and Play Accelerator receive €25,000 and mentoring from European and American partners. At the end of a three month period, companies are given the opportunity to pitch their demo to potential investors.

Coyno offers analytic tools for individual monitoring priced at ~$21 annually. Advertised as a “Bitcoin Bookkeeper with a GUI for wallet analytics”, Coyno’s business practices are directed towards monitoring only services. The small development team is adamant on reaffirming that they do not handle wallet keys and data used for account purposes are handled on Coyno databases. (Conyo uses Armory and Bitcore for extracting information).

walletanalytics.jpg