What Is a Smart Contract? (The Backbone of Web3)
Smart contracts are one of the biggest innovations in blockchain. They let you automate agreements and transactions, without needing a middleman.
π€ What Is a Smart Contract?
A smart contract is code stored on a blockchain that runs automatically when certain conditions are met.
For example:
- If Alice sends ETH, then Bob gets access to a file.
- If a lending condition is met, interest is paid back.
No trust, lawyer, or company needed β just code.
π οΈ How Smart Contracts Work
Smart contracts live on blockchains like Ethereum or Solana.
They can:
- Move funds between wallets
- Trigger other contracts
- Power DeFi apps, games, DAOs, and NFTs
π Benefits
- Trustless execution β no one can cheat
- Transparent and verifiable
- Always available (24/7, globally)
β οΈ Risks
- Bugs in code canβt be reversed
- Poor design can be exploited
- Some contracts may be centralized under the hood
β TL;DR
- Smart contracts are programs on the blockchain
- They automate rules, agreements, and logic
- They're the foundation of Web3, DeFi, and NFTs