> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.abs.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# System Contracts

> Learn how Abstract implements system contracts with special privileges to support some EVM opcodes.

Abstract has a set of smart contracts with
special privileges that were deployed in the <Tooltip tip="The first block of the blockchain">Genesis block</Tooltip>
called **system contracts**. These system contracts are built to provide support
for [EVM opcodes](https://www.evm.codes/) that are not natively supported by the ZK-EVM that Abstract uses.

These system contracts are located in a special kernel space
*(i.e. in the address space in range `[0..2^16-1]`)*, and
they can only be changed via a system upgrade through Ethereum.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="View all system contracts" icon="github" href="/how-abstract-works/system-contracts/list-of-system-contracts">
    View the file containing the addresses of all system contracts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="View the source code for system contracts" icon="github" href="https://github.com/matter-labs/era-contracts/tree/main/system-contracts">
    View the source code for each system contract.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>