Archive for the ‘Smart Contracts’ Category

Building Smart Contracts on Cardano Using the Plutus Platform – BTC Peers

Cardano is a proof-of-stake blockchain platform that aims to be scalable, interoperable, and sustainable. One of the most anticipated features of Cardano is its support for smart contracts through the Plutus platform. Smart contracts allow for the creation of decentralized applications (dApps) that can execute automatically based on predefined conditions, without the need for intermediaries.

In this article, we will explore how to build smart contracts on Cardano using Plutus. We will go through the key concepts, components, and steps involved in developing Plutus-based dApps on the Cardano blockchain.

Plutus is the purpose-built smart contract development platform for Cardano. It provides a framework for writing smart contracts using Haskell, a functional programming language. Plutus smart contracts are compiled into Plutus Core code, which runs on the Cardano Virtual Machine (IELE VM).

Some key benefits of building dApps with Plutus include:

Overall, Plutus provides a robust and flexible platform for developing decentralized apps on Cardano with built-in security assurances.

To start building Plutus smart contracts, you'll first need to setup your development environment. Here are the main components required:

Plutus smart contracts are written in Haskell, so GHC is required to compile the code. Install the latest version of Haskell for your operating system.

This provides a library of Plutus code and helpful tooling for contract development. Install it on your machine from GitHub.

The Plutus Playground provides an online IDE and simulator for testing Plutus smart contracts. Use it along with the Plutus SDK.

With these core components installed, you'll have the necessary toolkit to start writing Plutus apps on Cardano.

Plutus smart contracts consist of the following key elements:

This is the core Haskell code containing validation rules for the contract. The script specifies under what conditions funds can be spent.

This script contains runtime parameters that are provided by the user when making a transaction. This allows customization of contract execution.

Validator and redeemer scripts are compiled to Plutus Core, an intermediate representation optimized for execution on the Cardano Virtual Machine.

This data allows wallets and apps to display human-readable information about contracts to end users.

Native ADA must be locked to register a Plutus script on-chain. The amount required is proportional to computation and storage needs.

Here is an overview of the typical workflow for deploying a Plutus dApp on Cardano:

Define contract validators, redeemers, and any supporting code in Haskell. Use the Plutus SDK for common functionality.

Simulate your contract in the Playground IDE using test parameters and mocked on-chain conditions. Fix any issues.

Use the Plutus compiler to generate validated Plutus Core code for on-chain deployment.

Determine the minimum ADA collateral needed based on computation and storage requirements.

Send a transaction with collateral payment to register the Plutus Core contract on the Cardano blockchain.

Once deployed, users can interact with the contract by submitting transactions that execute the business logic.

By following these steps, you'll be able to take a Plutus smart contract from conception to deployment on the Cardano blockchain.

-Excerpt from my developer journal

Smart contracts have the potential to benefit society in many ways by enabling decentralized solutions without middlemen. What are some key areas where they could have a positive impact?

Smart contracts can encode complex business logic and conditions for payments, assets transfers, and other workflows to happen automatically. This removes paperwork, delays, and reliance on manual processes.

With contracts executed on public blockchains, terms are visible to all and manipulations are extremely difficult. This promotes transparency and fairness.

Tokenization allows both digital and real-world assets, like real estate, to be fractionalized and owned/traded in novel ways. Smart contracts enable management of these digital assets.

Overall, Plutus brings the vision of more open, accessible, and transparent smart contract development on Cardano closer to reality. As adoption grows, smart contracts have the ability to reshape organizations, commerce, ownership models and beyond. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination of developers leveraging these tools.

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Building Smart Contracts on Cardano Using the Plutus Platform - BTC Peers

VeChain And Vyvo Smart Chain Forge A Blockchain Partnership – Blockzeit

In a groundbreaking move that promises to advance the blockchain landscape, VeChain and Vyvo Smart Chain have joined forces in a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to reshape the blockchain industry and enhance the user experience by fostering cross-blockchain utilization, particularly in the health data sector. VeChain, a leader in smart contract implementation, and Vyvo Smart Chain, a pioneer in health data monetization, have come together to create a synergy that could redefine how we interact with blockchain technology.

At the core of the new partnership lies the concept of blockchain interoperability, allowing different blockchains to seamlessly interact with each other according to the press release of the parties. This development opens up a world of possibilities for users, enabling them to leverage both Vyvo Smart Chains $VSC and VeChains $USDV tokens within the VeChain ecosystem.

The interoperability feature is a significant leap toward a future where users can choose the blockchain that best suits their needs, creating a truly user-centric blockchain environment.

VeChain, headquartered in San Marino, Europe, stands as the custodian of the VechainThor platform, known for its excellence in smart contract implementation. VeChainThor has been at the forefront of driving blockchain adoption across various industries.

The company uses secure and verifiable data without intermediaries, smart contracts, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to catalyze global sustainability and digital transformation.

Vyvo Smart Chain, on the other hand, operates as a HealthFi ecosystem, with a mission to empower individuals by monetizing their health data while ensuring data privacy. In an increasingly digital world, this concern for data privacy resonates deeply.

With this partnership, the platform can further incentivize positive lifestyle habits, offering users not only enhanced health awareness but also financial gains.

What sets this partnership apart is the seamless user experience it promises. Users can seamlessly transition between Vyvo Smart Chains heartbeat-based health data services and VeChains extensive smart contract capabilities.

This amalgamation of strengths creates a digital environment where blockchains coalesce, providing users with a secure, convenient, and uninterrupted digital life.

Fabio Galdi, CEO of Vyvo Smart Chain, underscores the significance of this collaboration, stating that it opens up a world of possibilities for both platforms. For him, the partnership is poised to foster a thriving community of users who have the freedom to choose the blockchain that aligns best with their objectives.

The strategic partnership between VeChain and Vyvo Smart Chain represents a pivotal moment in the blockchain industry. It demonstrates the power of collaboration and interoperability in shaping the future of blockchain technology.

As these two blockchain titans converge their vision and capabilities, users can look forward to a world where blockchains seamlessly work together to provide unparalleled convenience, security, and choice. This partnership is not just about merging technologies; its about creating a new era of blockchain innovation that prioritizes the users needs and preferences.

Giancarlo is an economist and researcher by profession. Prior to his addition to Blockzeits dynamic team, he was handling several crypto projects for both the government and private sectors as a Project Manager of a consultancy firm.

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VeChain And Vyvo Smart Chain Forge A Blockchain Partnership - Blockzeit

How Decentralized Autonomous Organizations Can Transform the … – BTC Peers

The gig economy has grown rapidly in recent years, with more and more people choosing independent contract work over traditional full-time employment. Ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart, and task platforms like Upwork and Fiverr have made it easier than ever for people to find flexible, short-term jobs.

However, the gig economy still faces some major challenges. Gig workers are often left without important benefits and protections that employees receive, like health insurance, paid time off, and predictable wages. The work can also be inconsistent, with wide fluctuations in demand and compensation. This uncertainty makes it difficult for gig workers to plan for the future.

One emerging solution that could transform the gig economy is the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). DAOs are member-owned communities with no centralized leadership. They operate on the blockchain through smart contracts, which enable collective decision-making and financial transactions without intermediaries.

In a DAO, gig workers could come together as member-owners and collectively decide on issues like pay rates and benefits. Smart contracts could distribute wages instantly and algorithmically, removing reliance on a single company. DAOs could also provide services like insurance directly to members.

By decentralizing ownership and control, DAOs have the potential to give gig workers more stability without sacrificing flexibility. The technology is still developing, but DAOs are an innovative model for making the gig economy work better for everyone.

One of the most transformative aspects of DAOs is self-governance. In a traditional business, decisions come down from executives. But in a DAO, each member has voting power proportional to their ownership stake. This collective decision-making is enabled by blockchain technology.

For gig workers, self-governance means having direct control over important issues like:

Conflicts are resolved through transparent voting. Proposals are efficiently executed via smart contracts rather than middlemen. By giving workers more autonomy, DAOs could reshape the gig economy to be more responsive to members' needs.

One major downside of gig work is the lack of benefits and protections employees often receive. However, DAOs and smart contracts could allow gig workers to access portable benefits - services that move with them, unattached to any single job.

Potential portable benefits enabled by DAOs include:

These benefits could be funded through small fees charged on each transaction. Smart contracts would disperse payments to providers automatically when certain conditions are met. For example, withdrawing retirement funds once a worker turns 65.

By pooling resources and needs together, gig workers in a DAO could enjoy safety nets and peace of mind typically out of reach for independent contractors. This has the potential to vastly improve work life.

Conflicts are inevitable in any organization. But centralized control can lead to arbitrary decision-making, inequities, and power imbalances. Self-governance in a DAO can promote more organic conflict resolution.

Issues can be deliberated transparently with input from all stakeholders. Proposals are voted on publicly, with results visible on the blockchain. This helps build consensus and perceived fairness.

Smart contracts also enable disputes to be settled algorithmically based on predetermined rules ratified by members. With predefined conflict resolution processes, decentralized organizations can be more meritocratic and prevent certain voices from dominating.

Overall, decentralized governance empowers individual members while limiting biases and unbalanced power dynamics. By giving gig workers direct control, DAOs can help resolve conflicts through transparent deliberation rather than top-down rulings. This promotes satisfaction and longevity within the organization.

For DAOs to truly transform the gig economy, the platforms and interfaces must be well-designed and easy to use. Seamless user experiences will be critical for decentralized models to reach mainstream adoption. Here are some key innovations that could propel decentralized gig platforms forward:

Mobile apps - Simple, accessible mobile apps can make it easy for gig workers and clients to connect, communicate, and transact remotely in a decentralized way.

Reputation systems - Reviews, ratings, and public profiles help build trust and accountability between gig workers and clients without central intervention.

Token-based pay - Cryptocurrency payments and blockchain transaction records foster financial transparency between workers and clients.

Data interoperability - Open standards let profile information, ratings, and work histories transfer across multiple platforms. This benefits workers.

AI recommendations - Advanced algorithms match workers with the best jobs based on skills, location, preferences and reputation.

As blockchain technology and design principles mature, decentralized gig platforms have the opportunity to set a new standard - one that empowers individual workers more than centralized giants ever could. Distributed, self-governing systems still have challenges to overcome, but the future looks bright.

The gig economy holds advantages like flexibility and independence that appeal to many workers. However, concerns over unfair treatment, lack of benefits, and income instability remain.

Decentralized autonomous organizations demonstrate a promising application of blockchain technology that could transform the gig economy. By enabling self-governance, portable benefits, and peer-to-peer transactions, DAOs have huge potential to resolve some of the most stubborn issues faced by gig workers today.

There are still challenges to overcome before decentralized models go mainstream. But as innovators continue improving the technology and user experience, a more equitable and empowering gig economy could emerge - one that works better for all stakeholders, not just centralized platforms. The possibility of worker-owned structures promises a more sustainable and satisfying future of work for gig employees.

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How Decentralized Autonomous Organizations Can Transform the ... - BTC Peers

Companies Transitioning to Decentralized Autonomous Organizations – BTC Peers

Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are gaining popularity as an organizational structure for companies and groups. As the name suggests, DAOs are decentralized organizations that operate autonomously through smart contracts and blockchain technology, without the need for traditional hierarchical management. Some companies are now transitioning to this model to take advantage of the benefits DAOs can offer like transparency, flexibility, and community governance.

One of the main motivations for transitioning to a DAO is eliminating central points of failure. Traditional organizations have centralized leadership which can be a single point of failure. If key leaders leave or make poor decisions, the whole organization suffers. DAOs distribute control and ownership across all members, preventing centralized mismanagement. This makes DAOs more resilient organizations because the community as a whole calls the shots.

DAOs also enable more flexible work environments. In a traditional company, operations are limited by physical offices and set work hours. But DAOs rely on asynchronous collaboration through tools like Discord and Telegram. This gives members more flexibility to contribute when and where they want. Some corporate DAOs have evolved from remote-first teams looking to take the next step in flexible work environments.

Transitioning to a DAO also dramatically increases transparency. Traditional organizations have closed-door discussions and decisions. But in a DAO, conversations happen out in the open for all to see. Funds are also deployed through open votes and public smart contracts. This visibility builds trust and accountability among members.

DAOs empower decentralized community governance. Rather than top-down decisions, choices are made through proposals, discussions and votes involving the entire community. This gives members real ownership and voice. Transitioning companies often adopt this model to better serve their customers and stakeholders.

Of course, transitioning an existing organization to a DAO comes with challenges. Here are some key considerations:

What are some examples of companies that have transitioned to a DAO? One interesting example is Ampleforth, which converted an existing stablecoin token into a DAO. How did they pull this off and what opportunities did it open up?

What does the rise of DAOs mean for the future of how groups organize and operate? Will decentralized models become more mainstream across different sectors? What new issues or innovations might this lead to?

Transitioning an existing company to a decentralized autonomous organization is a major shift requiring careful planning. But DAOs offer compelling benefits like resilience, flexibility, transparency and community governance. Pioneering companies are showing these benefits outweigh the hurdles of decentralizing. As DAOs gain momentum, they have the potential to fundamentally transform organizational structures across many industries.

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Companies Transitioning to Decentralized Autonomous Organizations - BTC Peers

Top Analyst States That ‘ETH Killers’ Are Vying for Second Place, but … – Captain Altcoin

Home Journal Top Analyst States That ETH Killers Are Vying for Second Place, but Highlights Ethereums Primary Downside

When it comes to smart contracts and decentralized applications, Ethereum stands out as the dominant player. In a recent Twitter thread, crypto educator Kara Szabo delineated the strengths and potential challenges facing Ethereum. The analysis brought up pivotal points that offer a nuanced look into the platforms evolution and the broader crypto landscape.

The idea of smart contracts, essentially self-executing programs that activate when predetermined conditions are met, was conceptualized by Nick Szabo in 1996. This concept ranks as Szabos second most impactful contribution to the crypto-verse, his first being Bit Golda precursor to Bitcoin, crafted four years later.

Ethereum has consistently enjoyed the first-mover advantage in the smart contract sector since its launch in 2015. Szabo argues that overcoming this foothold would require massive improvements in end-user experience, something that rival projects termed ETH Killers are unlikely to achieve. The implication is clear: these competitors may be destined to vie for second place rather than dethroning Ethereum.

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The expected approval of Ethereum-based ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) will likely boost the platform by inviting a flood of institutional investment. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereums value proposition, which involves hosting decentralized applications and smart contracts, is easier for traditional tech investors to grasp.

Additionally, its move towards a more eco-friendly Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm makes it attractive to ESG-focused investors. The capacity to earn yield and a less polarized community, as evidenced by the absence of laser-eyed profile pictures, further burnish Ethereums appeal for institutional investors.

One of the historical challenges Ethereum has faced is scalability, specifically the limited block space leading to high transaction fees and delays. According to Szabo, Layer-2 (L-2) solutions have recently emerged to effectively scale Ethereums base layer (L-1).

Its projected that subsequent layers (L-3, L-4, and beyond) will be developed to scale the L-2 solutions, creating a pyramid-like structure. This is poised to benefit Ethereum investors, who would ideally sit atop this hierarchical model.

Major corporations are increasingly venturing into the Web3 domain and they are choosing to integrate with Ethereum. Szabo highlights that companies like Coinbase, PayPal, and even Coca Cola are bolstering Ethereums ecosystem, further extending its lead over competitors.

The primary downside for Ethereum, as pointed out by Szabo, is the relative lack of a robust community when compared to some other crypto assets. A strong community can nurture long-term investors who may act as market stabilizers, a feature that Ethereum could certainly benefit from.

Overall, Ethereums merits far outweigh its drawbacks, making it a safe bet, especially in an impending bull market. Szabos thread strongly suggests that a portfolio lacking a substantial Ethereum investment would be an incomplete one. Whether one is a retail or institutional investor, Ethereum presents an array of compelling reasons for strong consideration in any crypto-centric investment strategy.

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CaptainAltcoin's writers and guest post authors may or may not have a vested interest in any of the mentioned projects and businesses. None of the content on CaptainAltcoin is investment advice nor is it a replacement for advice from a certified financial planner. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CaptainAltcoin.com

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Top Analyst States That 'ETH Killers' Are Vying for Second Place, but ... - Captain Altcoin