Hedera Hashgraph is NOT a blockchain, although it functions like a blockchain as a immutable, distributed public ledger. In fact, HashGraph is a DAG, Directed Acyclic Graph, which is an alternative choice of blockchain, or next generation of blockchain. (Some called HashGraph as a blockchain without blockchains.)
HashGraph is a patented technology by Swirlds, Inc. (Another DAG technology is Tengle created by IOTA) Hedera, as a company, uses HashGraph technology to create a platform, on which many applications can be developed, just like many applications are developed on Ethereum platform. (Ethereum is a blockchain platform. NEO, Qtum, NEM .. are other blockchain platforms.)
Hedera HashGraph will have its own platform token (NOT ERC20 token in ICO) as utility tokens to assess to the distributed applications on the platform. Hedera HashGraph doesn’t require expensive Proof-of-Work to achieve consensus, wouldn’t allow hard-forking, and the transaction costs and performance are much better than any blockchain platform can achieve.
Hedera HashGraph in 2018 Crypto Invest Summit, Los Angeles :
