Revision as of 20:25, 13 June 2026

💡 In simple words: In simple words: a blockchain is like a shared notebook that many computers keep together, so the records cannot be secretly changed.

⚠️ Not yet approved. This page describes a proposal that is still under community review. It is documented here so it can be discussed, improved and endorsed.

Blockchains & Smart Contracts

From WikiDeal, the Wikipedia of e-commerce · Technology · Applied Research Project

WikiDeal is an ongoing research and development project. It explores a fundamental hypothesis about participative e-commerce: Can we create an e-commerce platform that is simultaneously ethical, participative, low-cost, and economically self-sustaining — without relying on advertising, speculation, or shareholder profit?

Contents

1. What are Smart Contracts?

A Smart Contract is a self-executing program stored on a blockchain. Once its conditions are met, it executes automatically — without requiring human validation, a notary, or a central authority. Smart contracts are transparent, tamper-proof, and enforceable by code rather than by courts.

2. When are Smart Contracts Useful in WikiDeal?

Smart contracts are particularly well-suited for WikiDeal deals that:

Do not require human validation to execute (e.g., automatic payment release upon confirmed delivery)
Require financial security guarantees (escrow, conditional payment)
Involve high-value or high-risk transactions where code-enforced execution adds trust

Inversely, contracts like babysitting, bike loans, consulting, or neighborhood services do NOT necessarily require blockchain from day one. A progressive transition model is used: blockchain smart contracts are activated based on the utility and complexity of each contract type.

3. Decentralized Data — A Parallel Principle

Independent from blockchain, WikiDeal also embraces decentralized data storage. While not the same technology, it shares the same intention: giving users control over which data they share, with transparency and security principles drawn from blockchain culture. Users choose what they reveal, to whom, and under what conditions.

4. Energy-Efficient Blockchains Only

WikiDeal commits to using only low-energy blockchains. Bitcoin-style proof-of-work is excluded. Priority goes to:

Ethereum (post-Merge, proof-of-stake)
Other energy-efficient Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions

Specific tools and protocols will be studied and selected through the Smart Contract Observatory (see Market → Observatories).

5. The Smart Contract Observatory

A dedicated observatory will track the evolution of smart contract standards, tools, and best practices relevant to WikiDeal. It will publish regular reports and feed into Open Call proposals.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Blockchains''' — WikiDeal governance.
+{{KidsIntro|In simple words: a blockchain is like a shared notebook that many computers keep together, so the records cannot be secretly changed.}}
-''Here is a first content idea for this page.'' Role of blockchains in WikiDeal.
+{{NotApproved}}
-''Reference language: English. Starter page — content to be expanded.''
+= Blockchains &amp; Smart Contracts =
-See also: [[Gov/en/Portal:Data/Main|Data & Interoperability]]
+From WikiDeal, the Wikipedia of e-commerce · Technology · ''Applied Research Project''
+WikiDeal is an ongoing research and development project. It explores a fundamental hypothesis about participative e-commerce: Can we create an e-commerce platform that is simultaneously ethical, participative, low-cost, and economically self-sustaining — without relying on advertising, speculation, or shareholder profit?
+Contents
+*
+*
+*
+*
+*
+*
+== 1. What are Smart Contracts? ==
+A '''Smart Contract''' is a self-executing program stored on a blockchain. Once its conditions are met, it executes automatically — without requiring human validation, a notary, or a central authority. Smart contracts are transparent, tamper-proof, and enforceable by code rather than by courts.
+== 2. When are Smart Contracts Useful in WikiDeal? ==
+Smart contracts are particularly well-suited for WikiDeal deals that:
+* Do not require human validation to execute (e.g., automatic payment release upon confirmed delivery)
+* Require financial security guarantees (escrow, conditional payment)
+* Involve high-value or high-risk transactions where code-enforced execution adds trust
+'''Inversely''', contracts like babysitting, bike loans, consulting, or neighborhood services do NOT necessarily require blockchain from day one. A progressive transition model is used: blockchain smart contracts are activated based on the utility and complexity of each contract type.
+== 3. Decentralized Data — A Parallel Principle ==
+Independent from blockchain, WikiDeal also embraces [[Gov/en/Portal:Data/Decentralized-Data|decentralized data storage]]. While not the same technology, it shares the same intention: giving users control over which data they share, with transparency and security principles drawn from blockchain culture. Users choose what they reveal, to whom, and under what conditions.
+== 4. Energy-Efficient Blockchains Only ==
+WikiDeal commits to using only low-energy blockchains. Bitcoin-style proof-of-work is excluded. Priority goes to:
+* Ethereum (post-Merge, proof-of-stake)
+* Other energy-efficient Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions
+Specific tools and protocols will be studied and selected through the '''Smart Contract Observatory''' (see Market → Observatories).
+== 5. The Smart Contract Observatory ==
+A dedicated observatory will track the evolution of smart contract standards, tools, and best practices relevant to WikiDeal. It will publish regular reports and feed into [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Call:Main|Open Call]] proposals.
+== See also ==
+* Socio-Technical Innovations
+* [[Gov/en/Portal:Data/Decentralized-Data|Decentralized Data]]
+* Research Questions
+* [[Gov/en/Portal:R&D/Open-Call:Main|Open Call]]
+Categories:  ·  ·  ·