Stratis is a powerful, flexible blockchain platform built for enterprises. One of its key features is the ability to write smart contracts in C#. This allows development teams to write code for the blockchain as easily as they would any .NET or web application.
While Stratis typically doesn’t get a lot of time in the spotlight, some of its latest milestones are worth a second look. For starters, the team released the Stratis ICO platform in early May 2018, opening the door for users to deploy an ICO in a matter of minutes. Their mainnet beta also was released earlier in the year.
On May 16, 2018, Stratis launched another important feature: Smart Contracts in C# alpha.
This is the first step in fulfilling the platform’s promise of delivering a true blockchain-as-a-service that enterprise-level corporations can adopt with a minimal amount of overhead.
Built for Business
Blockchain projects court everyone from individuals to Fortune 500 companies. However, larger organizations have a different set of needs than non-profits or small retail outlets. Speed, scalability, and security are of unique importance for enterprises.
Stratis addresses all three by building its platform around coding environments already in use by many of these companies. The ability to create smart contracts using C# and the .NET framework means a dramatic reduction in development overhead. Existing teams can switch their efforts to the blockchain without having to acclimate to new toolsets or programming languages.
As the Stratis team puts it, Smart Contracts in C# “broadens the world of smart contracts” and is the “most inclusive platform for developers and businesses.”
The Advantages of Familiarity
Stratis is the first smart contracts platform built from the ground-up in native C# on the .NET framework. Other platforms support C# contract development, but they either require a unique IDE or translate the code into a different syntax before implementing the contracts.
Stratis removes these barriers and allows companies to build on the blockchain as easily as they would in .NET.
Reducing development overhead is an enormous boon for enterprise businesses. Having a native C# environment also allows for more straightforward code auditing and security scanning, as well.
Because smart contracts written in C# for Stratis run as-is on the platform, any developer experienced in the language can write and debug the code. Existing security tools for the .NET framework can also be deployed to check for potential vulnerabilities before release, so there’s no need to create and test a separate toolchain for Stratis development.
A lot of the benefits of C# smart contracts development may seem mundane but for big businesses, they add up to an incredible amount of risk reduction in the long run. Standardization is a powerful tool when scaled to this level of operation.
Carrying Stratis Forward
The mainnet launch, ICO platform, and smart contracts alpha represent an impressive step ahead for Stratis, causing some to praise the platform as a sleeping giant. The team shows a solid drive to meet goals and tick off milestones in accordance with their roadmap, which is a promising sign.
Recently, Stratis has shown a consistent forward momentum with new announcements every few weeks. One of these is its partnership with C# Corner, a community of over 3 million active C# coders whose skills are ready-made for Stratis. As app development and platform improvements continue, this relationship could lead to a surge of adoption among C# Corner community members as well as businesses.
The back-to-back launch of the ICO platform and Smart Contracts in C# alpha has given Stratis a boost in visibility. Even in a falling cryptocurrency market the value of the STRAT token rose by 3.7% after these network releases. Both investors and business users are paying attention to the platform’s progress.
As with any blockchain project, however, it’s difficult to say where Stratis may be 6 months or 6 years from now. As with any type of crypto investing, you should do your own thorough research and analysis before investing in Stratis.
Final Thoughts
At the time of writing, the Stratis team has yet to release a roadmap for the second half of 2018. Q1 and Q2 are proceeding as planned, with events like sidechain support and robust Stratis Academy courses coming before mid-year.
Stratis is still coming into its own, but so far, it’s making all the right moves. This will be a promising year for the platform that could see rising adoption rates and new tools to help businesses move to the blockchain. With just a few large clients proving its worth, Stratis could take off.
Learn more about Stratis Smart Contracts in the official documentation.
