Due to the growth of popularity of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, there is an increasing number of users that not only want to learn more about cryptocurrencies, but they’re also interested in the revolutionary blockchain network which made it possible for cryptocurrencies to exist and it is also an underlying technology for other innovative solutions in both of the business and the public sector.
One of the main aspects of blockchain technology is smart contracts, and the question of what a smart contract is has become one of the most important questions for new users in the crypto space.
So, if you’re wondering why smart contracts are an important part of blockchain technology, in this article, we will dive deep into blockchain technology and the importance of smart contracts for cryptocurrencies.
Blockchain Network
Blockchain technology represents a completely innovative solution which was created as a way to provide an alternative to fiat currencies. At the time of 2008, the global financial system was going through a crisis. It was the biggest recession the world has ever seen, and it had a huge impact on induvial and businesses.
As a result, blockchain technology is based on cryptography and is peer-to-peer based, which means it operates without any external control. It is the main difference between blockchain technology and the global financial markets. Also, it follows the proof-of-work concept, and the proof-of-work concept is based on the idea that in order for the blockchain network to operate independently and without constant supervision or access from external entities and any other financial institution, it has to be supported by hundreds of different computers or nodes.
In other words, the blockchain network was able to develop and operate successfully due to the involvement of the so-called miners who will have the same blockchain copy on their computers. They are able to see what’s going on in real time, which is important for the security of the network. Also, they maintain the security of the blockchain by reviewing each transaction and then adding it to a block of transactions hence the name blockchain.
Any transaction which is added to the blockchain network cannot be changed, which means that no one can alter the data or hack the system. In short, it represents a completely safe and decentralized system that is available to everyone.
Some of the main pillars of the blockchain network are transparency and anonymity because no one can see the actual identity of its users and low processing fees because the blockchain network is peer-to-peer based. The incoming transactions are distributed among miners, which means the overall transaction fees are minimal, even for cross-border transactions. Plus, the time which is required for the transaction to be approved and added to the ledger is quite short, and in many cases, it is instant.
It is one of the major factors which contributed to the adoption of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by different online and brick-and-mortar businesses. For example, in the iGaming sector, there is a surge in the number of businesses that accept crypto payments because they are associated with low transaction fees and very short processing times. So, you can easily try your luck on a safe crypto betting site, like the ones at Free Bets Expert, with your crypto funds.
Smart Contracts
Smart contracts are very useful for the blockchain network because they are the reason why you can transfer funds from we are cryptocurrencies on the blockchain system. Moreover, smart contracts can also be used for the transfer of goods and data.
They are essentially following directions that are written into the blockchain code, while the blockchain system is based on a distributed peer-to-peer network of computers that execute the actions based on the blockchain protocol.
In other words, they function as an agreement that needs to be fulfilled in certain conditions, and because they are recorded in a decentralized public database, no one can alter the smart contracts. Some of the actions that are determined by smart contracts include registering a new transaction, notifying the blockchain network, verifying blocks of transactions, and more.
Online Trading
Smart contracts are not only associated with the blockchain network, but there are also included on online trading sites that use smart contracts to offer a safe trading experience for the users. There are also automated trading sites where the trading process is executed by high-quality artificial intelligence-powered software.
The main advantage of the use of smart contracts is that they don’t require a third party to control the performance of the agreements because they are programmed to process the transactions only when specific conditions are met. This is very important to add because the double-spending problems are associated with virtual currencies. But, thanks to this design of the blockchain network, this problem is completely eradicated, especially with the crypto mining process.
Smart Contracts and Crypto Tokens
Smart contracts can also be the cryptocurrency tokens themselves. One example is Ethereum which uses ERC-20 and ERC-721 tokens. But it doesn’t have to be the case with every cryptocurrency, as smart contracts are only the base for the transfer of funds using crypto. Otherwise, smart contracts can also be applied with blockchain-based solutions in the business sector, for example, for the shipment and real-time tracking of supplies. Another advantage of implementing smart contracts for businesses is the automatization of processes that are based on smart contracts.
Summary
In conclusion, smart contracts have become an indispensable part of blockchain-based solutions, and they are the reason why the blockchain network can function as a decentralized and public database.
Furthermore, they find use in other sectors, including the public in the business sector. When it comes to cryptocurrencies, they’re widely used on online trading sites, and sometimes smart contracts are also represented by crypto tokens. With the mass adoption of crypto, we expect smart contracts to be used on a global scale, as well as blockchain-based solutions which can be applied to both the public sector and different business sectors.
