Modern life consists in large part of entries in databases. If you own a house your ownership is probably written down in some database. In the US this often means there's a record of you buying the house Your title can be found in a county clerk's office. You have a key to the front door and all your stuff is there. A bank will want to make sure you have the title before giving you a mortgage. Plus lots of other stuff much of modern life occurs online. One ledgers bitcoins blockchains part a life in databases.