Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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Contract Account

1 min read
Pronunciation
[kon-trakt uh-kownt]
Analogy
A contract account is like a vending machine—it only acts when you insert a coin (transaction) and follows its programmed logic.
Definition
An Ethereum account associated with smart contract code; it has no private key and acts only in response to transactions or messages.
Key Points Intro
Contract accounts enable on‑chain logic through:
Key Points

Deployed code: Stored in account’s storage.

Message calls: Trigger execution via transactions or other contracts.

Gas consumption: Pays gas from its balance for internal operations.

Persistent state: Maintains storage across calls.

Example
An ERC‑20 token contract is a contract account; users send transactions to its address to transfer tokens.
Technical Deep Dive
On creation, init code runs and returns runtime bytecode stored at address. Calls execute EVM opcodes, modify storage trie. `SELFDESTRUCT` can remove code and send remaining balance to beneficiary.
Security Warning
Bugs in contract code can lock funds or enable exploits; audit prior to deployment.
Caveat
Contract accounts cannot initiate actions—must be triggered by EOA or another contract.
Related Terms
Smart Contract
EVM
Gas
DelegateCall

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