The runtime that actually executes smart contracts on Cardano. Plutus Core is an umbrella for two related languages: Untyped Plutus Core (UPLC), which is what runs on-chain, and Typed Plutus Core (TPLC), an intermediate form used by compilers. Higher-level languages like Plinth and Aiken compile down to Plutus Core.
The runtime has evolved through three versions tied to hard-fork upgrades: Plutus V1 (Alonzo) brought general smart contracts; Plutus V2 (Vasil) added inline datums and reference inputs/scripts; Plutus V3 (Chang) added the script purposes needed for CIP-1694 governance (voting, proposing). See smart contract languages on the Developer Portal.
Explore next
- PlutusCardano's smart contract platform. The name covers the Plutus Core language that runs on-chain and the tooling that compiles higher-level languages down to it.View term
- Untyped Plutus Core (UPLC)The low-level “machine language” that is executed on-chain by Cardano nodes during transaction validation.View term
- PlinthThe high-level Haskell-embedded language Cardano developers use to write on-chain validators that compile to Plutus Core.View term
- AikenA modern smart contract language for Cardano, designed to be beginner-friendly while producing efficient on-chain code.View term
- ValidatorThe on-chain script that decides whether a transaction may spend a UTXO, mint a token or perform another scripted action. On Cardano, a smart contract is a validator.View term
- Smart ContractSelf-executing code stored on a blockchain that automatically enforces and executes agreement terms when predefined conditions are met.View term
- Plutus Cost ModelsThe protocol parameter that holds the per-operation CPU and memory cost tables Plutus scripts are billed against; updated through ordinary protocol parameter governance actions.View term
- van RossemThe Conway-era hard fork on July 18, 2026 (protocol version 11) that added new Plutus builtins and was the first Cardano upgrade ratified entirely through on-chain governance.View term