Smart Contracts Sound Boring, But They're More Disruptive Than Bitcoin

"With the exception of its cryptographic messaging system, its main features are financial. People would directly engage in transactions using Ethereum’s own Bitcoin-like money, Ether, according to scripted “contracts” whose enforcement would be guaranteed by the network. Contracts could be about whatever their creators want them to be—from escrow to investment services— and, more importantly, they could work independently from any human stewardship until they run out of Ether. "