Ethereum is a Blockchain-based platform started in 2014. It it widely known, as it is the first platform enabling so called Smart Contracts. Smart Contracts are programs, which enable users of the system to define of a set of rules this contract should follow. One of the most famous applications by now are so called token contracts. A user defines the existence of an arbitrary amount of tokens which represent value as the user likes. With Security Token Offerings (STO), companies issue their own shares which can be traded lateron on this platfom.
Although Ethereum is an established cryptocurrency by now, we still lack a deep understanding of what exactly is happening in the network. Even for such a fundamental metric like the total number of smart contracts, it is hard to find a reliable, precise, and current source. More specific questions, like what smart contracts are most often used for, are still unanswered.
The overall research goal is to enable a better understanding of the Smart Contract ecosystem and allow for applications which further facilitate this data.