Which of the following best describes the relationship between the characteristics of blockchain and its functionality?

The relationship between the characteristics of blockchain and its functionality is best captured by the statement that authenticity and immutable records support its secure transactions. Blockchain technology is fundamentally designed to ensure that all transactions are verified, recorded, and maintained in a manner that is both secure and tamper-proof.

The authenticity of records means that each piece of data is verifiable and can be trusted to be accurate, while immutability refers to the fact that once a transaction has been added to the blockchain, it cannot be altered or deleted. This combination ensures that all transactions conducted over the blockchain are secure, as any attempt to alter past transaction data would be immediately apparent due to the consensus mechanism employed by the network. Thus, the core characteristics of authenticity and immutability directly contribute to the secure functionality of blockchain technology.

Regarding the other options, the first suggests a misunderstanding of blockchain's purpose by implying that decentralization excludes security, which is not the case; decentralization often enhances security. The third option inaccurately limits the application of blockchain to social media data storage, disregarding its wide-ranging uses across various sectors. The fourth option incorrectly states that security relies solely on third-party validation, overlooking that blockchain's security is primarily grounded in its cryptographic methods and decentralized nature