Ethereum Pioneer Vlad Zamfir Launches Smart Transactions

Ethereum research pioneer Vlad Zamfir is launching a new project called Smart Transactions, which aims to unlock a “time machine” for hybrid applications. The STXN system will consider conditional future events.

> “STXN can be considered a leveling-up of the entire ecosystem, allowing users to enjoy crypto and the web while enabling developers to leverage a more dynamic feature set,” Zamfir stated.

The STXN system will significantly expand the types of applications and protocols that can be built on Ethereum by allowing smart contracts to execute based on dynamic, uncertain future events. This includes executing contracts based on whether assets—like cryptocurrencies or tokenized U.S. dollars—reach certain values or market capitalizations, as well as relative parameters like one asset surpassing another in value.

> “We are building an infrastructure for hybrid application development—applications that are partly crypto and partly Web2 apps,” Smart Transactions CEO Boris Mamlyuk told The Block in an interview.

Mamlyuk emphasized that this approach creates exciting possibilities for computation, development, and user experiences, aligning with Ethereum's original vision as a World Computer. He remarked that Ethereum should function as a versatile computing environment beyond merely facilitating financial transactions.

Mamlyuk cited examples like a decentralized Uber or printing directly from the blockchain to a local printer, although he acknowledged that these hybrid applications are still in the conceptual phase.

> “The World Computer is almost a mirage,” he remarked, critiquing how blockchain utilizarion feels outdated despite promises for decentralized storage and various consumer applications.

An illustration of their vision is CleanApp, an in-house app that allows users to report issues or request services, matching needs with providers in real-time through blockchain for verification and trust. It’s currently available on both Apple App Store and Google Play.

Zamfir has researched Smart Transactions since at least 2022 and partnered with Ethereum development firm Consensys in July, which funded additional STXN research aimed at enhancing the Ethereum experience while ensuring the infrastructure remains decentralized and publicly accessible.

STXN raised $5.5 million in seed funding in June, with participation from HackVC, Backed, and Shima Capital.

> “We’ve been working on the World Computer for a long time,” Mamlyuk stated, asserting their commitment as “hardcore Ethereans.”