Computer scientist, legal scholar and cryptographer known for his research in digital contracts and digital currency. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1989 with a degree in computer science. Szabo was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Social Sciences by Universidad Francisco Marroquín in 2017.  Nick developed the concept of «smart contracts» with the goal of bringing what he calls the «highly evolved» practices of contract law and practice to the design of electronic commerce protocols between strangers on the Internet.