Web3 and blockchain: How are they related?

Web3 represents the next evolutionary phase of the internet, and blockchain is one of the key technologies that makes this possible. But what does this mean for us as users? Let's explore the relationship between these two transformative forces.

From Reading to Ownership – The Development of the Internet

The internet has undergone a remarkable evolution. In the Web 1.0 era, we were passive readers of static HTML pages – we could not influence the content or move our own things around. Web 2.0 brought interaction and user-generated content, but it came at a price: large social media platforms became rulers over our data, and our personal information was sold to third parties.

Now we are facing Web3, which promises something entirely different. It's not just about reading or writing – it's about owning. Blockchain technology is the foundation that makes this ownership possible without requiring a middleman to guarantee it.

What is the role of blockchains?

Blockchain can be seen as a transparent, shared ledger that no single entity controls. This addresses a central issue of Web2: the concentration of power that a few giants have benefited from.

Decentralization: Instead of relying on a single company to store your data, blockchain can distribute this power widely among network participants.

Permissionless access: Blockchain-based services do not require permission from any company to be accessed. Anyone, anywhere, can use them.

Distrust: You do not need to trust a bank director or a tech director. The network itself verifies and secures all transactions through mathematics and cryptography.

Practical Web3 – what changes?

Digital payments without borders: Cryptocurrencies allow you to send money anywhere without going through a bank. No middleman means lower fees and faster transactions.

Your ownership, your digital assets: With crypto wallets, you can store your funds without relying on a bank or platform. If you collect digital art or rare items (NFTs), you can verify that they truly belong to you, and no one can take them from you.

Community governance through DAOs: Decentralized autonomous organizations allow token holders to vote on important decisions. Instead of one CEO making the decisions, the entire community can help shape the future.

Freedom from censorship: Once a transaction is recorded on the blockchain, no governments or companies can delete it. This protects freedom of expression and ensures that no one can suddenly be excluded from using the system.

Is blockchain enough on its own?

Web3 is not created by blockchain alone. Technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and the Internet of Things (IoT) are also becoming important. Blockchain acts more like the backbone – the infrastructure that enables digital identities and economies, while these other technologies make the internet more immersive and connected to the physical world.

A metaverse where digital assets represented as NFTs provide value and authenticity becomes truly possible only when blockchain and these technologies work together.

Conclusion – a new internet culture

Web3 with blockchain and crypto offers solutions to Web2's biggest flaws: data control, power in the hands of a few giants, and censorship. However, this is still a promise in development rather than a complete reality.

But the technologies are already here. Blockchain-based applications are becoming more user-friendly every day, and people are already trading P2P without intermediaries. The essential point is that as Web3 matures, users are likely not even to think about the blockchain technology behind it – just as we rarely think about the server farms that power social media today. We will just experience the internet as more free, more transparent, and more ours.