The Blockchain of Things

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. On March 6, 2016, a small drone belonging to the open-source software company Drone Employee lifted into the Russian sky, traveling across an open field of white snow. Drone flight is relatively unremarkable today, but this particular drone wasn't controlled by anyone. Brought to life by a predetermined agreement, or "smart contract," running on the Ethereum blockchain, the drone's engines powered on and it lifted itself into the air, taking a flight path dictated--only and exclusively--by code. The smart contract controlled the drone's trajectory, without the need for a middleman with a remote to manage the device.