what is upgradeable contract (proxy)?

a setup where a contract's code can be replaced while its address and balances stay the same.

common in legitimate projects, but someone controls the upgrades. check who holds that power and whether changes have a delay (timelock).

related words

renounced ownership when a contract's owner role is given up.
verified contract a contract whose source code is published on the block explorer and matches what is actually deployed.
mint and freeze authority (solana) on solana, the keys allowed to create new tokens or freeze token accounts.

part of the topic whitepapers: free articles, more words and the guide.

checked 2026-10-20. education, not advice. found a mistake? see corrections.