The document discusses the history and development of a new technology called blockchain. Blockchain was originally developed for the digital currency Bitcoin in 2008 as a way to record transactions in a secure, decentralized manner without the need for a central authority. Since then, blockchain has expanded beyond cryptocurrencies and is now being applied to other areas like supply chain management, digital identity, and smart contracts due to its ability to securely and immutably store data and track the movement of digital assets.