The evolution of the internet has been a hot topic for discussion in the domain of technology, leading to growing awareness about Web3. Many people know it only as the third generation of the internet that promises a decentralized web experience to every user. One of the interesting highlights underlining this new phenomenon is the smart contracts web3 interplay that has powered many projects.
The first phase of the internet involved the use of static pages that published information. In the next stage, the internet introduced social media and interactive applications focused on user-generated content. Web3, the latest phase of the internet, relies on smart contracts for creating smart contracts, distributed ledger technologies, and tokenized assets. Let us discover some insights on how smart contracts empower the Web3 ecosystem.
Understanding the Value of Web3
The first thing that you must address while learning about the relationship between Web3 and smart contracts is the definition of web3. It has gained the attention of corporate giants as well as startups worldwide for many reasons. One of the key elements that power the web3 ecosystem is blockchain technology, which helps in promoting the idea of tokenomics and decentralization.
The impact of smart contracts in Web3 ecosystem depends completely on the involvement of blockchain in Web3 projects. Web3 has achieved significant improvements over web2, such as empowering users with control over their own data. Big companies could no longer profit from the massive collections of personal data of internet users.
Web3 not only provides a decentralized network with transparency and immutability but also provides new avenues for innovation. Blockchain and smart contracts have helped in creating various web3 projects that offer decentralized art, games, finance apps and digital assets. With Web3, users will play an integral role in shaping digital interactions and independent economies.
Definition of Smart Contracts
Web3 represents a massive leap in the growth of the internet, and smart contracts are a major driving force behind the revolution. What makes these contracts so powerful? Smart contracts are automated programs running on a blockchain network without any intermediaries. Take the web3 smart contract example, and you will notice how it differs from manual contracts. First of all, smart contracts don’t require someone to enforce the terms and conditions of the contract. Therefore, you don’t have to rely on notaries, lawyers, or other middlemen or the time-consuming processes to execute contracts.
You can think of a smart contract as a vending machine programmed to dish out goods according to their price. The vending machine does not require a third party, such as a shopkeeper or retailer, as the intermediary between you and the machine. When the vending machine checks that you have paid the price for a product, it takes the money and gives you the goods to complete the transaction.
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Diving Deeper into Working of Smart Contracts
The definition of smart contracts emphasizes more on their identity as self-executing agreements scripted in programs that run on a blockchain. The blockchain protocol or platform where you deploy the smart contract is responsible for providing the infrastructure to execute the contract. For example, Ethereum blockchain provides the Ethereum Virtual Machine or EVM as the infrastructure for running smart contracts. It is also important to remember that smart contracts are immutable and cannot be changed once you deploy them on a blockchain.
The most common programming languages for writing smart contracts are Solidity and Vyper. If you have created an SOL smart contract, then it will go through rigorous verification process. Subsequently, the blockchain network must reach consensus on validation of the authenticity of the smart contract. Users can invoke the public functions in the contract and the code self-executes and changes state upon meeting specific conditions.
What Value Do Smart Contracts Bring to Web3?
The best way to understand the role of smart contracts in the world of Web3 is through an overview of their benefits. Smart contracts bring the assurance of the following advantages that make them the founding blocks of web3.
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Trustless Nature and Immutability
The foremost aspect of smart contracts that answers questions like “What are smart contracts in web3?” is their trustless nature. Smart contracts run on the basis of design rather than following authority. You don’t have to trust anyone else to complete a transaction with smart contracts. On top of it, deploying smart contracts on a blockchain ensures immutability that enhances the security and integrity of every web3 transaction.
The removal of intermediaries according to principles of decentralization in web3 happens due to smart contracts. Without the involvement of intermediaries, you can notice dramatic drops in operational costs. Smart contracts help in bypassing notaries, banks, and lawyers to offer peer-to-peer transactions. As a result, smart contracts help in making various processes in the web3 space more efficient and leaner.
The next important reason for which smart contracts are an inevitable part of web3 is the assurance of faster transactions. Smart contracts facilitate automation that makes transaction settlement faster, almost in real-time. The smart contracts web3 relationship ensures that web3 transactions don’t depend on third-party approvals. The self-executing agreements will execute certain conditions of transactions when they notice compliance with predefined rules.
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Exploring the Utility of Smart Contracts in Web3
The traits of smart contracts that fit perfectly with the vision of Web3 showcase a glimpse of how smart contracts are relevant in Web3. On the other hand, you must also dive into practical examples of implementing smart contracts in the web3 landscape. The following use cases of smart contracts in the world of web3 can help you weigh their significance.
The biggest problem with traditional financial systems is the centralized nature of operations, which slows down transactions. On top of it, traditional finance is inaccessible to millions of people on the planet. Another drawback of traditional finance is the reliance on intermediaries, which leads to higher costs and more inefficiency.
The proven solution to these problems will be to write smart contract for Ethereum or any blockchain of your choice for a DeFi application. Smart contracts serve as the driving force behind many popular DeFi platforms that offer peer-to-peer financial services. Smart contracts help in automating different DeFi services such as lending, insurance, and trading, alongside ensuring secure transactions.
Considering the role of DeFi in the Web3 ecosystem, it is reasonable to believe that smart contracts will redefine the boundaries of financial services. With the help of smart contracts, DeFi platforms in the web3 space can allow anyone to participate in global financial markets.
Non-fungible tokens or NFTs, are another prominent offering in the web3 space alongside DeFi solutions. The popularity of NFTs has shattered many conventional ideas about digital assets and their ownership. As NFTs emerge as one of the vital elements for the economies of Web3, it is important to acknowledge how smart contracts drive NFTs. Non-fungible tokens use smart contracts to represent the ownership of digital assets on a blockchain, thereby maintaining a trail of ownership.
You might wonder about the feasibility of smart contracts in the domain of web3 with respect to NFTs. Interestingly, NFTs are in web3 for the long run as they bring a new experience of digital art, virtual real estate, and gaming. The use of smart contracts in Web3 ecosystem has brought new privileges for users to create and sell NFTs. On top of it, smart contracts also help in building NFTs that represent in-game assets which players can own and trade.
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Decentralized Autonomous Organizations
Another promising area where you can notice the influence of smart contracts over the domain of web3 is the development of DAOs. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations or DAOs use smart contracts to ensure decentralized and automated decision-making. The design of DAOs differs from traditional centralized organizations that follow a specific hierarchy.
DAOs can set a new precedent in the web3 space by enabling the creation of organizations that are governed by the communities. DAOs also provide the ideal foundation to foster global collaboration that allows individuals to contribute to Web3 projects. You can notice how smart contracts have a huge role in promoting the growth of Web3, as more people can contribute through DAOs.
Challenges of Using Smart Contracts in the Web3 Space
The detailed understanding of discussions on “What are smart contracts in web3?” reveals some important insights on the potential of smart contracts. At the same time, you must also know about their limitations. Smart contracts are vulnerable to scalability problems and require complex technical expertise to work with. On top of it, the security of smart contracts depends completely on the code thereby making many web3 applications vulnerable to security risks.
Final Thoughts
The growth of the internet with the arrival of Web3 brings new promises for users. Blockchain technology and smart contracts have a significant role in driving the Web3 revolution by supporting many applications. You can use any web3 smart contract example to understand that smart contracts make web3 projects more efficient and leaner. On top of it, the traits of smart contracts, such as immutability and transparency also align with the vision of web3. Smart contracts are the building blocks of web3 as they drive DeFi solutions, NFTs, and DAOs. As Web3 expands further, smart contracts will become the most valuable assets in the domain of technology.
*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!
