Blockchain 2.0 is an informal label for the second generation of blockchain technology, defined by programmable smart contracts. It is most closely associated with the Ethereum blockchain, launched in 2015, which let developers write applications that run on the network and create their own tokens. This opened the way for token sales, decentralized finance, NFTs and decentralized organisations. Supporters saw it as moving blockchains beyond money into contracts, property records and other agreements. Second-generation networks soon ran into limits on speed and fees as usage grew, which encouraged work on scaling and the label Blockchain 3.0. Like the other generation labels, it is a loose description rather than a formal category. Also see Blockchain 1.0.
Last updated 13 Nov 2026