Learn why developers and IT professionals are leveraging blockchain technology to improve WordPress security and performance.
Blockchain has come a long way since Satoshi Nakamoto first conceptualized it in 2008. The technology was initially intended to create a digital currency, Bitcoin, and timestamp digital documents. However, as time passes, it found new applications across industries that make up the blockchain history.
Blockchain features blocks holding data or digital records, and many such blocks form a chain. This distributed ledger of data is open for everyone to view but cannot be altered. Simply put, the technology creates a database that can be leveraged to store and transmit digital data.
The distributed digital ledger system offers groundbreaking features like decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) network architecture and keyless signature infrastructure. These features are priceless for domains where transparency and data security are central.
WordPress is a popular CMS, currently powering 65.2% of all the websites whose CMS we know. Hackers tend to target WordPress websites because they are aware of their weaknesses. Moreover, most web admins don’t give WordPress security the attention it deserves.
The CMS giant has all the security essentials in place to protect websites. Yet, there’s immense scope for improving its data security, storage, and management.
So, whether you’ve invested in WordPress performance optimization or implemented several security best practices, your website is still outdated and vulnerable to attacks. That’s just how it is when one works with a popular CMS!
Interestingly, developers and IT professionals are leveraging blockchain technology to improve WordPress security and performance.
In this post, you will find all the information on how blockchain is relevant to WordPress.
So, let’s get started!
Benefits of Blockchain for WordPress Websites
As mentioned earlier, blockchain comprises a chain of cryptographically encrypted blocks that can store and transmit data. The technology emphasizes utility, profitability, and security. Hence, it can significantly benefit WordPress by making it more secure and versatile.
Here are the practical benefits of blockchain for WordPress.
- Blockchain Offers Exceptional Security Measures
Blockchain technology is built for impenetrable security. So, users not having the decryption key cannot crack the encryption. This adds an additional level of security to the CMS.
There are several use cases of blockchain. Here are a few that can bolster WordPress security by:
- Hardening the login process
- Encrypting sensitive data and login information
- Sharing data selectively
- Verifying identity before any kind of transaction
- Allowing secure file storage
- Incorporating smart contracts
Take secure file storage, for instance.
At present, web admins store files and media libraries on the same server responsible for running the WP site. At times, this data is offloaded in a cloud storage solution like AWS or Dropbox.
Though this is a great way to run a scalable WP site, it puts the data at risk of security breaches.
On the other hand, blockchain allows web admins to store data securely and makes it impossible for unauthorized users to penetrate the security layer.
Blockchain-based storage services and software solutions like Storj, Filecoin, and Sia allow businesses to host their data securely.
Similarly, if your business is involved in frequent contracts, transparent and immutable smart contracts can be created. WordPress plugins like WPSmartContracts and EthereumICO can be used to create smart contracts.
- The Technology Is Cost-Efficient
Conventional content monetization services like WordAds and AdSense need a central authority to define the monetization algorithm. This algorithm guides the ad servers to display ads on publishers’ sites.
That’s not the case with blockchain-based services. Because blockchain stores data securely and fosters trust in the records, the need for middlemen in digital transactions is eliminated.
So, if your WordPress website accepts Bitcoin payments, you don’t need to pay the gateway charges. Since the Bitcoin payments are lower than gateways like PayPal and Stripe, you will save a considerable amount of money on transactions.
Make sure you read the fine print before going ahead.
- It Can Speed Up Online Financial Transactions
Banks and payment gateways take some time to settle transactions. This brings down the user experience.
However, blockchain-powered transactions are quick. Businesses leveraging this technology don’t have to wait for financial institutions and payment gateways to process transactions.
Block data reveals that blockchain-based transactions are 388 times faster and 127 times cheaper than traditional ones.
Hence, when selling products or services on your WordPress websites, it makes sense to take advantage of blockchain technology. Plugins like Digital Paybox, Easy Digital Downloads BitBay Gateway, and GoURL Bitcoin Payment Gateway can be used to ensure ensures secure and reliable cryptocurrency payments
- It Allows Businesses to Accept Payments from Anywhere
Businesses catering to a global audience often face issues when receiving payments from certain locations. This negatively impacts user experience, thus driving away potential customers based in unsupported locations.
This issue doesn’t exist with blockchain technology as it’s widely accepted across the globe. So, multinational WordPress-based companies can benefit from blockchain.
- It Creates a Democratic Environment for Publishing
When we talk about stellar online experiences, we think of few big names like Google, Amazon, or Twitter. These giants have acquired a monopoly on data in order to serve ads and perform better in the SERPs.
However, this kind of monopoly can be ruinous for other businesses. In such cases, deploying blockchain-based solutions can offer users full control over their data, better security, and ease of use.
By integrating WordPress with blockchain, businesses can create a democratize publishing.
Cryptocurrency Payments in WordPress
Here are a few WordPress bitcoin plugins that can help you safely accept blockchain payments in WordPress.
- Digital Paybox
This is a premium WordPress plugin that allows you to accept various types of payments for digital content. It manages several payment gateways PayPal, Payza, Payza, and many others. These can be easily integrated into any webpage.
- GoURL Bitcoin Payment Gateway
This is one of the highest-rated WP plugins that’s dedicated to processing cryptocurrency transactions. If you want to accept Bitcoin payments and skip the conventional bank transfers, use this plugin.
Using this plugin, you can effortlessly accept payments from around the world securely and with no charges and low risk.
- Easy Digital Downloads BitBay Gateway
BitPay’s open-source plugin for Easy Digital Downloads allows you to accept blockchain payments on your WordPress website without any delay. The plugin is fairly simple to install and use. However, the plugin requires that your WP site have an SSL certificate for accepting payments through a gateway.
Summing Up
Blockchain may seem like a novelty for WordPress developers and web admins. However, this revolutionary technology is all set to improve the security and usability of websites. Though there’s a lot of work in progress in this domain, it’s exciting to see how WordPress will leverage this technology to become a robust CMS.
If you are a WordPress site manager or developer aiming to stay ahead of the curve, it’s worth investing in this technology.
