Blockchains can be applied to big data in several ways:
1) Blockchains can add a new data construct to big data systems by providing features like atomicity, immutability, and provenance to data.
2) Blockchain data from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can be analyzed alongside other data sources to generate insights for applications in areas like trading, risk scoring, and compliance.
3) Blockchains can be used to build applications that provide data governance, compliance, legal archiving, and chain of custody for big data lakes. They can also enable attribution and licensing of digital works.