Intelligent Contracts and the Principle of Contractual Freedom: A Classical Legal Examination in the Era of Emerging Technologies

The development of smart contract technology has garnered widespread attention in the legal field. This study, rooted in the principle of contractual freedom, delves into the impact of smart contract technology on the expression of parties' free will and analyzes the challenges it poses to legal rules and practices. Through a comparative analysis of smart contracts and traditional contracts, this research reveals the advantages of smart contracts in terms of contract design, execution efficiency, and transparency. While smart contract technology brings innovative changes to contract law, it necessitates profound reflections within the legal community and legal practice on how to strike a balance between free will and technological developments.