This paper provides a comprehensive survey of consortium blockchain and its applications. Blockchain, initially known for its use in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, has evolved to include consortium blockchain, which requires authentication of all participants. The authors aim to fill the gap in the literature by examining the architecture design, consensus mechanisms, and performance of popular consortium blockchain platforms. They introduce Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) state machine replication (SMR) as a fundamental computational model and break down the consortium blockchain into layers: hardware, network, layer I (data, consensus, and smart contract), layer II protocols, and application layers. Each layer is discussed in detail, highlighting core functionalities such as robust storage and guaranteed execution. The paper also explores typical decentralized application scenarios enabled by consortium blockchain, including IoT, healthcare, supply chain, agriculture, and smart grids. Finally, the authors identify challenges and potential future research directions, such as balancing decentralization and performance, designing provably secure protocols, enhancing TEEs, improving scalability with layer-II protocols, and developing post-quantum consortium blockchain solutions.This paper provides a comprehensive survey of consortium blockchain and its applications. Blockchain, initially known for its use in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, has evolved to include consortium blockchain, which requires authentication of all participants. The authors aim to fill the gap in the literature by examining the architecture design, consensus mechanisms, and performance of popular consortium blockchain platforms. They introduce Byzantine fault tolerance (BFT) state machine replication (SMR) as a fundamental computational model and break down the consortium blockchain into layers: hardware, network, layer I (data, consensus, and smart contract), layer II protocols, and application layers. Each layer is discussed in detail, highlighting core functionalities such as robust storage and guaranteed execution. The paper also explores typical decentralized application scenarios enabled by consortium blockchain, including IoT, healthcare, supply chain, agriculture, and smart grids. Finally, the authors identify challenges and potential future research directions, such as balancing decentralization and performance, designing provably secure protocols, enhancing TEEs, improving scalability with layer-II protocols, and developing post-quantum consortium blockchain solutions.