This thesis paper explores the developing technology blockchain by trying to understand the technology from a technical performance standpoint and also understanding the development process of blockchain networks and applications. The first half of this paper analyzes two research papers, Bitcoing-NG: A Scalable Blockchain Protocol and Untangling Blockchain: A Data Processing View of Blockchain Systems, to understand and explain some of the technical differences and shortcomings of blockchain technologies. The second half of this paper then proceeds to develop a private blockchain network on the Ethereum network and deploy a smart contract on that private blockchain network. This process gives insight into the development of blockchain applications and identifies the struggles blockchain developers face
