Smart contracts and decentralized organizations hold a lot of promise. Their pure democratic and hyper-rational nature is very appealing. However, at this point, more possibilities exist than knowns, and each contract that’s created could be groundbreaking or a massive flop.

If you approach Ethereum as the new frontier that it is, you’ll have more success. The Ethereum network has more benefits than drawbacks if you’re careful. But expecting everything to work flawlessly and all the participants to act with integrity will open you up to greater losses. Ethereum has its share of bandits, not to mention those friendly enthusiasts who would like you to succeed.

The smart contract hacks of 2016 have highlighted the importance of security and properly reviewing contracts. They also showed that people with integrity exist, and fight to fix issues.

Reading this book is only the beginning. It will give you a sound basis on which to build your knowledge of Ethereum, but as with all new technologies, Ethereum is quickly evolving. Keep reviewing best practices and security measures.