Here's everything you need to know about blockchains, the ground-breaking tech that could be as disruptive as the internet

From a 'castle' full of bitcoin millionaires to the initial coin offering (ICO) craze, it's hard to escape the chatter about how some people are building their fortunes off the new world of cryptocurrencies. But behind those cryptocurrencies sits a technology called blockchains, which some people believe could fundamentally rewrite how transactions are handled online.

With analysts at UBS estimating that blockchains could be a $300 billion to $400 billion global industry by 2027, it's clear that regardless of what happens in the bitcoin bubble, blockchain technology is here to stay.

Here's what you need to know about blockchains, the technology that's set to disrupt the world of contracts, finance, shipping and countless other industries.