In a recent clip from SmartCon shared by @_macki, Chainlink Community Liaison Zach Rynes—better known as @ChainLinkGod—laid out a clear evolution of smart contracts in three distinct eras.

The v1 era, often called the single-chain era, was all about basic smart contracts operating on one blockchain. Think early Ethereum apps: one contract, one chain, limited to what's available on that network.

Then came the v2 era, the DeFi boom powered by cross-chain bridges. This allowed assets and data to move between chains, fueling explosive growth in decentralized finance. But bridges introduced risks, as we've seen with numerous hacks over the years.

Now, we're entering the v3 era—the universal era—driven by true cross-chain assets and reliable oracles. This is where Chainlink shines, providing secure, decentralized ways to connect any chain with real-world data and enable seamless interoperability without the vulnerabilities of traditional bridges.

Rynes' breakdown highlights why Chainlink's infrastructure, like CCIP (Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol) and decentralized oracles, is positioned as the backbone for this next phase. It moves beyond siloed chains or fragile bridges to a truly connected blockchain ecosystem.

This vision aligns with Chainlink's ongoing developments in making blockchains talk to each other and the off-chain world securely. For anyone in crypto, understanding these eras helps explain where the industry is headed: toward a more integrated, efficient, and universal financial system on-chain.

Clips like this from events such as SmartCon are gold for grasping big-picture shifts in blockchain tech. If you're building or investing in DeFi or cross-chain projects, keeping an eye on how oracles evolve the smart contract model is key.