What if contracts could enforce themselves, money could move without banks, and trust no longer required a middleman? Welcome to the world of smart contracts-the invisible code reshaping how we do business, build communities, and govern society. In this groundbreaking book, Theo Vance takes you on an eye-opening journey through the rise of programmable agreements and their sweeping impact on law, finance, politics, identity, and human behaviour. With clarity and precision, Smart Contracts and the Future of Governance explores the technology behind blockchain automation while confronting the social, ethical, and psychological questions it raises. From decentralised finance and algorithmic risk assessments to code-based welfare systems and autonomous organisations, this book examines how logic-based protocols are challenging centuries of institutional trust-and replacing it with code. This isn't just a tech manual. It's a deep, multidisciplinary analysis of how automated systems are changing power, policy, and people. Whether you're a curious reader, a crypto enthusiast, a policymaker, or a business leader, this book will help you: Understand how smart contracts work-and why they matter. See where automation empowers-and where it endangers. Anticipate the future of digital identity, reputation, and governance. Design systems that are not just efficient, but ethical. Provocative, timely, and visionary, this is your essential guide to navigating a world where trust is no longer spoken, signed, or sealed-but coded.