Can a Smart Contract Be Updated after It Has Been Audited and Deployed?

Yes, smart contracts can be updated, but it depends on their design. Some contracts are designed to be immutable, meaning their code cannot be changed after deployment.

Others are "upgradeable," using a proxy pattern where the logic of the contract can be pointed to a new implementation. While this allows for bug fixes and improvements, it also introduces a new risk: a malicious or compromised administrator could change the contract's rules.

Any update to a contract invalidates a previous audit, so the new code must also be audited to ensure its security.