Every day, people exchange value. They are sending money, buying goods, or signing documents. Traditionally, banks, platforms, and other middlemen stand between these exchanges to make sure everything goes smoothly. But what if we didn’t need these intermediaries anymore? Blockchain makes that possible by offering a secure, decentralized way to carry out peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions.

In a blockchain system, anyone can send value directly to anyone else. The process doesn’t rely on trust between the sender and receiver. Instead, trust is built into the network through a system called consensus. This means that all participating computers (or “nodes”) in the blockchain agree on which transactions are valid. Once a transaction is verified and added to the blockchain, it cannot be changed or deleted. That makes it secure, transparent, and tamper-proof.

Let’s look at how this works in a typical blockchain. When a transaction is created, it is broadcast to the network. Nodes check that the sender has the funds and that everything about the transaction is valid. Then, a process called mining (in proof-of-work blockchains) begins, where nodes solve a puzzle to add a block of transactions to the chain. Once the block is accepted by the majority, the transaction becomes permanent. All of this happens without needing a bank or middleman.

Chains That Bind Us  by Phillip G. Bradford brings this entire concept to life in a simple, hands-on way. The book shows how to create your own educational blockchain using Raspberry Pi computers—small, affordable devices that are perfect for experiments. Bradford’s examples allow readers to build and test P2P systems, understanding how transactions work in real time.

Here’s a basic Raspberry Pi demo you can try:

What You Need:

• Two or more Raspberry Pi devices (or use virtual ones)
• Python 3 installed
• Basic local network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
• The educational blockchain script from the book’s GitHub repository

How to Do It:

• Set up the Pi devices with the blockchain software. Each Pi acts as a node.
• Create a new transaction on one Pi. For example, Alice sends 5 coins to Bob.
• Broadcast the transaction to other nodes using HTTP requests (Flask API).
• Validate the transaction by checking balances and format.
• Mine the block—solve a simple puzzle (like finding a hash with a certain number of leading zeros).
• Add the block to the chain and update it across all nodes.

With this setup, you’ll see how transactions can happen securely between peers without a central authority. Each node validates and updates the chain, showing the power of consensus and transparency.

Bradford’s book doesn’t just explain blockchain. It lets you build it with ease and efficiency. This peer-to-peer demo reflects the true spirit of blockchain, which is direct, secure, and decentralized. By giving it a try, you’ll discover not only the theory but also the practical application of blockchain technology and its significance for transactions in the future.

For more information and hands-on experience regarding blockchains and their various aspects, please consider reading Chains That Bind Us. You can purchase the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1917007884.