> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cs4998.cornellblockchain.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cs4998.cornellblockchain.org/introduction/blockchain-theory/ethereum-and-the-state-based-model.md). # Ethereum and the State-Based Model Throughout the early 2010s, Bitcoin began to gain popularity and soon enough, other blockchains such as Litecoin began to pop up. However, although blockchains like Bitcoin and Litecoin fulfilled their tasks as decentralized payment systems, many in the community began to see perhaps the biggest flaw with such blockchains - the lack of *decentralized programs*. Recall from the [Bitcoin](/introduction/blockchain-theory/bitcoin-and-the-utxo-model.md) section that each blockchain relies on a virtual machine. Script, the programming language that Bitcoin utilizes, allows developers to write logic which then gets executed on Bitcoin's VM. However, the biggest issue with Script (and the Bitcoin VM as a whole) is that it is catered towards processing the transferring of bitcoin. Bitcoin lacks many features that are required to write sophisticated programs - it is *Turing-Incomplete*. This is what motivated the creation of Ethereum - to create a blockchain whose virtual machine was general purpose and *Turing-Complete*. ## History of Ethereum ## Decentralized Programs --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://cs4998.cornellblockchain.org/introduction/blockchain-theory/ethereum-and-the-state-based-model.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.