How would you describe the concept of a blockchain to a novice crypto investor?

Remember to customize your answer for the novice audience described in the question. Answers that are too technical or use advanced crypto terminology would cause confusion in this scenario. Consider using an easy-to-understand metaphor to add value to your explanation.

"The blockchain represents the ledger for the transactions that are executed in crypto trading. It is a decentralized and shared database used to validate trade information. This ensures that no one person or group has complete control over the transaction processing. The transactions are secure and cannot be altered or deleted once they are logged. The term 'blockchain' is used because the data is stored in 'blocks' that are linked together in a chronological order much like a train with cars that are linked."