💡 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.

Gov/en/Portal:Data/Blockchains