Key Takeaways
- Stellar stated that its smart contracts ecosystem would enable the development of new DApps.
- Stellar smart contracts to enhance developer experience for those using the Rust and WebAssembly languages.
The Stellar blockchain has embarked on a significant upgrade journey with Protocol 20, marking a pivotal moment for the network. This upgrade ushers in the integration of smart contracts, reminiscent of Ethereum’s functionality, as part of the long-planned Soroban project.
The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), a key supporter of the blockchain ecosystem, has confirmed the commencement of the phased rollout of Protocol 20 following a vote by validators.
The introduction of smart contracts aims to enhance the developer experience, particularly for those utilizing Rust and WebAssembly languages. Smart contracts, secure programs operating on blockchains, enable automated execution of predefined conditions, streamlining processes within decentralized applications (DApps).
Soroban, the smart contract platform initially tested on the Stellar network in October 2022, brings scalability features such as predictable fees and independent resource pricing. This provides developers with a robust foundation to innovate and create diverse protocols and applications within the Stellar ecosystem.
However, the journey towards implementing smart contracts faced a temporary setback earlier this year when developers discovered a bug in the Stellar Core v20.1.0 software in January. This discovery prompted the SDF to delay the scheduled upgrade vote, prioritizing the resolution of the identified issue.
While the SDF assured stakeholders that the bug posed minimal risk, the decision to postpone the upgrade underscores the foundation’s commitment to ensuring platform stability and security. Addressing the bug before the rollout helps mitigate potential disruptions and protects the integrity of applications utilizing the smart contract platform.
