Self-executing code deployed on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement when conditions are met. Smart contracts are immutable once deployed (unless upgradeable), transparent, and trustless. On Solana they're called 'programs'; on Ethereum they're written in Solidity and run on the EVM. They enable DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and other decentralized applications.
Start with the shortest useful explanation before going deeper.
Self-executing code deployed on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement when conditions are met. Smart contracts are immutable once deployed (unless upgradeable), transparent, and trustless. On Solana they're called 'programs'; on Ethereum they're written in Solidity and run on the EVM. They enable DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and other decentralized applications.
Use the quick analogy first so the term is easier to reason about when you meet it in code, docs, or prompts.
Think of it as a building block that connects one definition to the larger Solana system around it.
Place the term inside its Solana layer so the definition is easier to reason about.
Shared crypto concepts that frame the broader ecosystem.
Turn the term from vocabulary into something operational for product and engineering work.
This term unlocks adjacent concepts quickly, so it works best when you treat it as a junction instead of an isolated definition.
Use this compact block when you want to give an agent or assistant grounded context without dumping the entire page.
Smart Contract (smart-contract-general) Category: Blockchain General Definition: Self-executing code deployed on a blockchain that automatically enforces the terms of an agreement when conditions are met. Smart contracts are immutable once deployed (unless upgradeable), transparent, and trustless. On Solana they're called 'programs'; on Ethereum they're written in Solidity and run on the EVM. They enable DeFi, NFTs, DAOs, and other decentralized applications. Aliases: Contract Related: Program, EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine), Solidity
Use glossary context, relationships, mental models, and builder paths to get structured answers instead of generic chat output.
Optional: paste Anchor, Solana, or Rust code so the Copilot can map primitives back to glossary terms.
The Copilot will answer using the current term, related concepts, mental models, and the surrounding glossary graph.
These branches show which concepts this term touches directly and what sits one layer beyond them.
Executable code deployed on-chain, equivalent to a smart contract on other blockchains. Programs are stateless—they store no data themselves but read/write data in separate accounts they own. Programs are compiled to SBF bytecode and loaded via the BPF Loader. Every program has a unique Program ID (its account's public key).
The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design.
The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM.
These are the next concepts worth opening if you want this term to make more sense inside a real Solana workflow.
These entries are easy to mix up when you are reading quickly, prompting an LLM, or onboarding into a new layer of Solana.
Layer-2 scaling technique where participants open a channel, conduct many off-chain transactions between themselves, then settle the final state on-chain. Reduces fees and latency for repeated interactions between the same parties. Lightning Network (Bitcoin) is the most prominent example. Less common on Solana due to its already-low fees.
Glossary entries become useful when they are connected. These links are the shortest path to adjacent ideas.
Executable code deployed on-chain, equivalent to a smart contract on other blockchains. Programs are stateless—they store no data themselves but read/write data in separate accounts they own. Programs are compiled to SBF bytecode and loaded via the BPF Loader. Every program has a unique Program ID (its account's public key).
The stack-based virtual machine that executes smart contracts on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains (Polygon, Avalanche, BSC, Arbitrum). Programs are compiled to EVM bytecode from Solidity or Vyper. The EVM is single-threaded—all transactions execute sequentially. In contrast, Solana's SVM supports parallel execution and uses a register-based design.
The primary programming language for Ethereum smart contracts. Solidity is statically typed, supports inheritance, and compiles to EVM bytecode. Unlike Solana's Rust-based development, Solidity uses a contract-oriented paradigm where code and state are co-located. Neon EVM enables running Solidity contracts on Solana by emulating the EVM.
These entries live beside the current term and help the page feel like part of a larger knowledge graph instead of a dead end.
A distributed, append-only ledger that records transactions in cryptographically linked blocks. Each block contains a hash of the previous block, forming an immutable chain. Nodes in the network maintain copies of the ledger and reach agreement through consensus mechanisms. Blockchains enable trustless, decentralized record-keeping without a central authority.
The protocol by which nodes in a distributed network agree on the current state of the ledger. Common mechanisms include Proof of Work (Bitcoin), Proof of Stake (Ethereum, Solana), and BFT variants. Consensus ensures all honest nodes converge on the same transaction history despite potential network delays or malicious actors.
A consensus mechanism where validators are selected to produce blocks based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked (locked) as collateral. PoS is energy-efficient compared to Proof of Work. Misbehaving validators risk losing their stake (slashing). Solana, Ethereum (post-Merge), Cosmos, and Cardano use PoS variants.
A consensus mechanism where miners compete to solve computationally expensive puzzles to produce blocks and earn rewards. PoW provides strong security (51% attack resistance) but is energy-intensive. Bitcoin and pre-Merge Ethereum use PoW. The difficulty adjusts to maintain target block times regardless of total network hash power.