¿Qué es la Web 3.0? El futuro de Internet - Access Quality
La Web 3.0 promete ser más dinámica e interactiva. Al aplicar la inteligencia artificial y la tecnología blockchain, redefinirá la experiencia ...
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En la <anchor>Web 3.0</anchor> los datos se almacenan de forma segura y se distribuyen a través de muchos dispositivos, eliminando la necesidad de servidores centralizados. Este diseño también reduce los riesgos de fugas masivas de datos, ya que éstos ya no se almacenan de forma centralizada, lo que los hace más resistentes a los riesgos.
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What is Web 3.0? Decentralized Internet Explained

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Table of Contents

Definition: What Is Web3 (or Web 3.0)?

**What Is Web3 Used For?**

Metaverse

Blockchain Gaming

Creator Economy

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

**Web3, Cryptocurrency and Blockchain**

**Web3 Technologies**

**Evolution of the Web3 Technologies**

Web 1.0: Read (1989-2005)

Web 2.0: Read-Write (2005-present)

Web3 (or Web3): Read-Write-Own (Coming)

What is Web2.5?

**Key Features of Web3**

Ubiquity

Semantic Web

Artificial Intelligence

Spatial Web and 3D Graphics

Decentralization and Blockchain

**Web3 Applications**

Siri

Wolfram Alpha

Brave Browser

**What Are Web3 Cryptos?**

**What Do Web3 Cryptos Do?**

Web2 vs Web3

Decentralized Blockchain

What Will Web 3.0 be Built on?

What Is the Web3 Foundation (W3F)?

What Is the Difference Between Web3 and Metaverse?

How to Invest in Web 3.0?

Top Web 3.0 Tokens

What Are the Disadvantages of Web3?

**Closing Thoughts**

[Crypto Basics](/academy/categories/crypto-basics)

# What is Web 3.0? Decentralized Internet Explained

[By Werner Vermaak](/academy/author/werner-vermaak)

21m

Created 3yr ago, last updated 1yr ago

Web 3.0 is a decentralized internet built on an open blockchain network that is not owned and controlled by large entities.

![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%27720%27%20height=%27405%27/%3e)![What is Web 3.0? Decentralized Internet Explained](https://academy-public.coinmarketcap.com/optimized-uploads/559ebb4592094a2cad06aa5655510a2b.png)

#### Table of Contents

- [Definition: What Is Web3 (or Web 3.0)?](#header-0)
- [**What Is Web3 Used For?**](#header-1)
- [Metaverse](#metaverse)
- [Blockchain Gaming](#blockchain-gaming)
- [Creator Economy](#creator-economy)
- [Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)](#decentralized-autonomous-organizations-daos)
- [Decentralized Finance (DeFi)](#decentralized-finance-defi)
- [**Web3, Cryptocurrency and Blockchain**](#header-2)
- [**Web3 Technologies**](#header-3)
- [**Evolution of the Web3 Technologies**](#strong-evolution-of-the-web3-technologies-strong)
- [Web 1.0: Read (1989-2005)](#web-1-0-read-1989-2005)
- [Web 2.0: Read-Write (2005-present)](#web-2-0-read-write-2005-present)
- [Web3 (or Web3): Read-Write-Own (Coming)](#web3-or-web3-read-write-own-coming)
- [What is Web2.5?](#what-is-web2-5)
- [**Key Features of Web3**](#header-4)
- [Ubiquity](#ubiquity)
- [Semantic Web](#semantic-web)
- [Artificial Intelligence](#artificial-intelligence)
- [Spatial Web and 3D Graphics](#spatial-web-and-3d-graphics)
- [Decentralization and Blockchain](#decentralization-and-blockchain)
- [**Web3 Applications**](#header-5)
- [Siri](#siri)
- [Wolfram Alpha](#wolfram-alpha)
- [Brave Browser](#brave-browser)
- [**What Are Web3 Cryptos?**](#header-6)
- [**What Do Web3 Cryptos Do?**](#header-7)
- [Web2 vs Web3](#header-8)
- [Decentralized Blockchain](#header-9)
- [What Will Web 3.0 be Built on?](#what-will-web-3-0-be-built-on)
- [What Is the Web3 Foundation (W3F)?](#what-is-the-web3-foundation-w3f)
- [What Is the Difference Between Web3 and Metaverse?](#what-is-the-difference-between-web3-and-metaverse)
- [How to Invest in Web 3.0?](#how-to-invest-in-web-3-0)
- [Top Web 3.0 Tokens](#top-web-3-0-tokens)
- [What Are the Disadvantages of Web3?](#what-are-the-disadvantages-of-web3)
- [**Closing Thoughts**](#header-10)

Imagine a new type of internet that not only accurately interprets what you input, but actually understands everything you convey, whether through text, voice or other media, one where all content you consume is more tailored to you than ever before.

One that gives you full privacy controls over the data you share with other parties, allows you to earn money if you provide it to advertisers or interact with certain applications, and remains free from draconian third-party censorship.

Well it’s finally coming.

Over 30 years Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, also known as the WWW. Now that acronym might as well stand for _What Went Wrong_?

The early internet was founded on the utopian values of equality, transparency and information access and promised to deliver to the world. Instead, it created global behemoths like Google (now under Alphabet), Facebook (now Meta), Uber, Amazon and other Web2 giants that arguably turned its users into its products, wielding their private data as they saw fit to keep profits coming.

Countless shocking scandals have emerged over the last few years (see Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica debacle) exposing how Big Tech has been using the internet as a giant psychological lab to extract the maximum value out of its unsuspecting subjects.

Finally, a new type of web is promising to put an end to this and chart a return back to the internet’s original vision. We are at the tipping point of a new phase in the web’s evolution. Some early pioneers called it Web 3.0, a name coined by Polkadot and Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood. Nowadays, we mostly call it Web3.

The year 2022 has seen a dramatic rise in the interest in Web3, with several companies pivoting towards it and venture capital giants like a16z investing millions into its builders.

Web3 applications that already exist today and are making huge strides each month, but until the new internet becomes fully embedded in the web infrastructure, their true potential will be difficult to observe

But what exactly is Web3, what will it look like and how will it change our lives?

[Subscribe](/newsletter)

Join us in showcasing the cryptocurrency revolution, one newsletter at a time. Subscribe now to get daily news and market updates right to your inbox, along with our millions of other subscribers (that’s right, millions love us!) — what are you waiting for?

## Definition: What Is Web3 (or Web 3.0)?

Web3 is the third generation of the internet currently being built, where websites and apps will be able to process information in a smart human-like way through technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Big Data, decentralized ledger technology (DLT), and more.

At present, Web3 is still a rather undefined concept that could take 5-10 years to build if we look at the transition from Web2 to Web3. In fact, we might very well first see a prolonged era of Web2.5, where Web2 platforms gradually onboard useful Web3 protocols.

There is broad consensus amongst experts that blockchain-powered applications will be key to its success in order to ensure adequate decentralization, while AI and ML tools will help automate and scale it as required in order to become a semantic web.

Web3 was in fact originally called the Semantic Web by World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, and was aimed at being a more autonomous, intelligent, and open internet.

The Web3 definition can be expanded as follows: data will be interconnected in a [decentralized](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/decentralized) way, which would be a huge leap forward for our current generation of the internet (Web 2.0), where data is mostly stored in [centralized](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/centralized) repositories and therefore subject to manipulation or worse.

Furthermore, users and machines will be able to interact with data. But for this to happen, programs need to understand information both conceptually and contextually. With this in mind, the two cornerstones of Web3 are semantic web and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

## **What Is Web3 Used For?**

While Web3 technology is still very nascent, it already offers a number of distinct use cases. Here are the top 5 at present:

### Metaverse

The concept of the metaverse dominated tech headlines in 2022, with Facebook even rebranding to Meta and dropping billions into development in order to annex this new digital realm before anyone else could. Well, [not so fast there Zuck](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/meta-investors-reportedly-got-more-145518794.html). As Meta’s Q3 2022 earnings and tanking stock price have shown, investors and users are not very enthused about Facebook’s metaverse plans.

The metaverse is essentially a virtual world — and can be thought of as a 3D version of the Internet and digital representation of the real world. Users can navigate either with computers, phones or VR/AR headsets, providing a deeply immersive experience that will increasingly blur the edges of reality.

All this will cost a tremendous amount of money to build, which is why deep-pocketed big tech brands like Facebook and Google have invested heavily in it early in order to dominate the sector later.

Web3 proposes a very different metaverse vision, one that is fully open to anyone, decentralized, interoperable, open-source and will reward creators and security contributors fairly.

Again, this is where Web2.5 will likely come in, with both industries taking ideas from the other and working together in order to make the metaverse a reality.

### Blockchain Gaming

The success of [Axie Infinity](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-axie-infinity) in 2021 kicked off the [play-to-earn](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/play-to-earn-play2earn) mania, promising gamers the opportunity to make money from playing games. Soon, thousands of copycat blockchain-powered games popped up offering lucrative rewards to players in the form of native tokens which skyrocketed at launch and then continued to tank.

While the bear market devastated the high-risk sector of crypto gaming, it’s not game over just yet. A number of high-quality crypto games are still in development, while Web2 gaming behemoths like Epic Games are distributing Web3 games. Expect a strong resurgence in blockchain gaming, when developers figure out how to make it fun and exciting enough for players.

Read: [CoinMarketCap and Naavik: 2022 Blockchain Gaming Report — New Frontiers And The Path Forward](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/coinmarketcap-and-naavik-2022-blockchain-gaming-report-new-frontiers-and-the-path-forward)

### Creator Economy

One of the biggest gripes with Web 2.0 giants such as Facebook, YouTube and Spotify are that they don’t adequately reward artists and creators on their platforms for the visitors they pull in.

With Web3, creator communities of artists, writers, musicians, designers and developers will finally be able to bypass intermediaries and connect directly with their audiences and supporters. This will help them earn the bulk of any revenue generated in the process.

Read: ​​ [Top Blockchain-Based Platforms for Content Creators](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/top-blockchain-based-platform-for-content-creators)

### Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)

Much has been said about the power of [decentralized autonomous organizations](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/decentralized-autonomous-organizations-dao) (DAOs) to create a truly democratized and self-governing organization that will transcend human interference and geographical challenges through the power of smart contracts.

While [DAOs](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/a-complete-overview-of-the-daos-ecosystem) have taken some flak due to crypto projects tying it to governance tokens that soon become worthless, the need for [DAOs](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-a-dao) still remain and this innovation could potentially exist as a dominant organizational structure once projects know how to optimally structure it.

Read: [How to Create a DAO](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/how-to-create-a-dao)

### Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

[Decentralized finance](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/defi) (DeFi) exploded in value in mid-2020, offering cryptocurrency users the ability to invest, borrow, lend, trade and stake crypto assets permissionlessly. While DeFi faced its fair share of security issues like hacks and scams, the industry offers Web3 the opportunity to onboard potentially billions of users that have been neglected by traditional finance firms such as banks.

DeFi products and services will undoubtedly be used in leading Web3 protocols looking to incentivize their users.

Read: [CoinMarketCap and Spartan Labs: State of the DeFi Industry Report](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/coinmarketcap-and-spartan-labs-state-of-the-defi-industry-report)

## **Web3, Cryptocurrency and Blockchain**

As Web3 networks will operate through decentralized protocols — the founding blocks of blockchain and [cryptocurrency](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-crypto-market-cap) technology — we can expect to see a strong convergence between these three technologies and other related fields. They will be interoperable, seamlessly integrated, automated through [smart contracts](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-a-smart-contract) and used to power anything from micro transactions, censorship-resistant [P2P](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/peer-to-peer-p2p) data file storage and sharing with applications, to completely changing every company conduct and operate their business. The current slew of [DeFi protocols](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-decentralized-finance) are just the tip of the iceberg.

## **Web3 Technologies**

There are a few details that we need to keep in mind when looking into Web3 tech. First of all, the concept isn’t new. Jeffrey Zeldman, one of the early developers of Web 1.0 and 2.0 applications, had [written a blog post](https://www.zeldman.com/2006/01/17/web_3_point_0/) putting his support behind Web3 back in 2006. But talks around this topic had begun as early as 2001.

### **Evolution of the Web3 Technologies**

Web3 will be born out of a natural evolution of older-generation web tools combined with cutting-edge technologies like AI and [blockchain](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/blockchain), as well the interconnection between users and increasing internet usage. Apparently, Internet 3.0 is an upgrade to its precursors: web 1.0 and 2.0.

### Web 1.0: Read (1989-2005)

Web 1.0, also called the Static Web, was the first and most reliable internet in the 1990s despite only offering access to limited information with little to no user interaction. Back in the day, creating user pages or even commenting on articles weren’t a thing.

Web 1.0 didn't have algorithms to sift internet pages, which made it extremely hard for users to find relevant information. Simply put, it was like a one-way highway with a narrow footpath where content creation was done by a select few and information came mostly from directories.

### Web 2.0: Read-Write (2005-present)

The Social Web, or Web 2.0, made the internet a lot more interactive thanks to advancements in web technologies like Javascript, HTML5, CSS3, etc., which enabled startups to build interactive web platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Wikipedia and many more.

This paved the way for both social networks and user-generated content production to flourish since data can now be distributed and shared between various platforms and applications.

The set of tools in this internet era was pioneered by a number of web innovators like the aforementioned Jeffrey Zeldman.

### Web3 (or Web3): Read-Write-Own (Coming)

Web3 is the next stage of the web evolution that would make the internet more intelligent or process information with near-human-like intelligence through the power of AI systems that could run smart programs to assist users.

Tim Berners-Lee had said that the Semantic Web is meant to "automatically" interface with systems, people and home devices. As such, content creation and decision-making processes will involve both humans and machines. This would enable the intelligent creation and distribution of highly-tailored content straight to every internet consumer.

### What is Web2.5?

Getting to the promised land of Web3 will be easier said than done, and while many of the incumbent Web2 giants might be struggling at present due to tough macro-economic conditions, they will certainly not roll over and surrender as unproven Web3 projects try to pillage their huge networks.

Instead, it is likely to become a case of adapt or die, where Web2 firms audit suitable Web3 technologies and gradually integrate them into their own platforms, in order to future-proof their businesses. This will often be subtle without the end user even knowing that they’re interacting with Web3 technology, as the huge [recent NFT wallet rollout by Reddit](https://www.coindesk.com/web3/2022/10/19/reddit-users-open-25-million-crypto-wallets-after-launch-of-nft-marketplace/) has shown.

This process has already started, and [Meta’s recent announcement](https://coinmarketcap.com/headlines/news/meta-arweave-instagram-nfts/) that Instagram will use [Polygon (MATIC)](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/polygon/) and [Arweave (AR)](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/arweave/) to help its users create and store [NFTs](https://coinmarketcap.com/nft/) is just the beginning.

This period of transition is now being referred to as Web 2.5, and may serve as a middle ground for a number of years where traditional brands and companies can interact with Web3 projects while they gear their businesses for the new worlds of metaverses, NFTs and SocialFi.

This exchange of knowledge and skill should mutually benefit both, as Web 2.0 firms learn from Web3’s innovations, while Web3 startups can learn from Web 2.0 best practices. In the end, Web2 companies may even provide much greater freedom, control and even financial incentives to their users in order to retain them.

## **Key Features of Web3**

To really understand the next stage of the internet, we need to take a look at the 5 key features of Web3:

- Ubiquity
- Semantic Web
- Artificial Intelligence
- Spatial Web and 3D Graphics
- Decentralization through blockchain

### Ubiquity

Ubiquity means being or having the capacity to be everywhere, especially at the same time. In other words, omnipresent. In that sense, Web 2.0 is already ubiquitous since, for instance, a Facebook user can instantly capture an image and share it, which then becomes ubiquitous since it's available to anyone no matter where they are, as long as they have access to the social media platform.

Web3 simply takes this a step further by making the internet accessible to everyone anywhere, at any time. At some point, internet-connected devices will no longer be concentrated on computers and smartphones like in Web 2.0 since IoT (Internet of Things) technology will bring forth a plethora of new types of smart devices.

### Semantic Web

Semantic(s) is the study of the relationship between words. Therefore, the Semantic Web, according to Berners-Lee, enables computers to analyze loads of data from the Web, which includes content, transactions and links between persons. In practice, how would this look? Let’s take these two sentences, for instance:

1\. I love Bitcoin

2\. I <3 Bitcoin

Their syntax may be different, but their semantics are pretty much the same, since semantics only deals with the meaning or emotion of the content.

Applying semantics in the Web would enable machines to decode meaning and emotions by analyzing data. Consequently, internet users will have a better experience driven by enhanced data connectivity.

### Artificial Intelligence

Wikipedia defines AI as intelligence demonstrated by machines.

And since Web3 machines can read and decipher the meaning and emotions conveyed by a set of data, it brings forth intelligent machines. Although Web 2.0 presents similar capabilities, it is still predominantly human-based, which opens up room for corrupt behaviors such as biased product reviews, rigged ratings, etc.

For instance, online review platforms like Trustpilot provide a way for consumers to review any product or service. Unfortunately, a company can simply gather a large group of people and pay them to create positive reviews for its undeserving products. Therefore, the internet needs AI to learn how to distinguish the genuine from the fake in order to provide reliable data.

Google’s AI system recently removed around 100,000 negative reviews of the Robinhood app from the Play Store following the Gamespot trading debacle when it detected attempts of rating manipulation intended to artificially downvote the app. This is AI in action, which will soon seamlessly fit into Internet 3.0, enabling blogs and other online platforms to sift data and tailor them to each user's liking. As AI advances, it will ultimately be able to provide users with the best filtered and unbiased data possible.

### Spatial Web and 3D Graphics

Some futurists also call Web3 the Spatial Web as it aims to blur the line between the physical and the digital by revolutionizing graphics technology, bringing into clear focus three-dimensional (3D) virtual worlds.

Unlike their 2D counterparts, 3D graphics bring a new level of immersion not only in futuristic gaming applications like [Decentraland](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/decentraland/), but also other sectors like real estate, health, e-commerce, and many more.

### Decentralization and Blockchain

Blockchain and crypto technology have enjoyed a huge rise in popularity in the last decade due to their ability to globally facilitate the decentralized transfer of data and value in a fully trustless, transparent and immutable manner. This makes it ideal for an internet that must be able to protect the privacy of information and resist attempts at censorship or sabotage by third-parties.

While crypto in particular have in the past struggled to deliver a compelling use case beyond being digital gold of some kind, the subsequent rise in DeFi, NFTs and now Web3 now offer a clear roadmap to a future digital economy.

## **Web3 Applications**

A common requirement for a Web3 application is the ability to digest large-scale information and turn it into factual knowledge and useful executions for users. With that being said, these applications are still at their early stages, which means that they have a lot of room for improvement and are a far cry from how Web3 apps could potentially function.

Some of the companies that are building or have products that they are transforming into Internet 3.0 applications are Amazon, Apple and Google. Three examples of applications that utilize Web3 technologies are Siri, Wolfram Alpha and Brave Browser.

### Siri

Over the years, Apple’s voice-controlled AI assistant has grown more intelligent and has expanded its abilities since its first appearance in the iPhone 4S model. Siri uses speech recognition and artificial intelligence, a key component of Web3, to be able to perform complex and personalized commands.

Today, Siri and other AI assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Samsung’s Bixby can understand requests such as “where is the nearest burger joint” or “book an appointment with Sasha Marshall at 8:00 am tomorrow” and immediately come up with the right information or action.

### Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha is a “computational knowledge engine” that answers your questions directly by computation, as opposed to giving you a list of webpages like search engines do. If you want a practical comparison, search “england vs brazil” on both Wolfram Alpha and Google and see the difference.

Google gives the results of the World Cup even if you didn’t include “football” as a keyword, since it is the most popular search. Alpha, on the other hand, would give you a detailed comparison of the two countries, like you asked. That’s the key difference between Web 2.0 and 3.0.

Wolfram Alpha has been dipping its toes into the cryptosphere, and in May 2021 [announced a collaboration](https://blog.wolfram.com/2021/05/12/using-ipfs-filecoin-and-the-wolfram-language-to-build-a-unified-decentralized-services-interface/) with [Filecoin](https://coinmarketcap.com/zh-tw/currencies/filecoin/) and [IPFS](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-ipfs) to build a unified decentralized services interface.

### Brave Browser

Current web2 browsers like Chrome are very popular and offer additional functionality through a large library of custom extensions that often cross over into the crypto realm, such as wallet extensions by the likes of MetaMask, Phantom and others. However, it’s also easy for bad actors to create counterfeit or tweaked versions of these applications, attract potential victims through phishing techniques, and fool them into providing wallet access or sending their crypto to a hacker or scammer’s address.

This is where [Brave browser](https://brave.com/) and [Opera’s Crypto Browser](https://www.opera.com/crypto/next) come in. Brave offers its users far greater control over their data, privacy and preferences such as advertising through the use of its [Basic Attention Token](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/basic-attention-token/) (BAT). Brave has many innovative privacy and security features, such as integrated VPN and firewall, that help protect users against trackers, fingerprinting, and phishing attempts.

Moreover, Brave’s built-in crypto wallet helps users to avoid the risks that come with installing third-party extensions.

## **What Are Web3 Cryptos?**

Web3 cryptos are an incoming new generation of cryptocurrency assets that are utilized to help build Web3’s fully decentralized internet.

These cryptocurrencies are the native assets of blockchain-powered Web3 projects that use smart contract technology to give web users control once again over their private data and allow them to transact without the need for Web2 intermediaries. Web3 cryptos are used as incentives to network participants to help govern, secure and grow their respective chains.

## **What Do Web3 Cryptos Do?**

Web3 refers to a decentralized version of the Internet, while Web3 cryptos are digital assets that are used by Web3 blockchain-based applications to provide specific services and rewards to users.

Web3 projects use Web3 cryptos to provide critical decentralized services, such as network infrastructure (e.g. [Helium](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/helium/) and [Deeper Network](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/deeper-network/)), data storage ( [Arweave](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/arweave/) and [Filecoin](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/filecoin/)), bandwidth and processing power sharing ( [Theta](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/theta-network/) for video and [Render](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/render-token/) for graphics), data indexing (like [The Graph](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/the-graph/)), social media ( [Steem](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/steem/)) and more.

_See CoinMarketCap’s list of the [most popular Web3 cryptos here.](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/web3/)_

## Web2 vs Web3

Web2 is the incumbent centralized version of the internet currently, which is dominated by big and powerful tech firms such as Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Alphabet (Google and Youtube), Amazon, Uber and Airbnb. While they provide amazing various digital services for free (such as maps, social media, streaming, etc), the TANSTAAFL principle (“there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”) applies as usual when a service is free. If you can’t see how a company makes money off its products, then it’s simple: you are the product.

These Web2 behemoths monetize their user data to the full, often applying it for dubious purposes (see Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal) to maximize profits, without sharing any profits with users. They also exert tight control over what is and what isn’t allowed on their services (in some cases rightly so).

Web 3.0 (or Web3) is a decentralized and [open-source](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/open-source) internet currently being built that aims to overcome these Web2 failures, and where users have more control over freedom of speech, what data to share and why, and how it gets used.

In Web3, like crypto, infrastructure service providers, projects, and users are usually incentivized to support a network through its native asset rewards, e.g. running a node or sharing user data. Since Web3 is not centralized and relies on ordinary users to provide support, it has the ability to scale much higher than Web2 firms over time, since our data consumption needs should become exponentially higher as media consumption, [artificial intelligence](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/ai-big-data/), [Internet of Things (IoT)](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/iot/) continue to require more resources.

Web3 can potentially unlock a whole new world of [decentralized applications](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/decentralized-applications-dapps), digital economies, and trustless transactions and remove any digital borders or gatekeepers that stand between users, no matter where or who they are.

It is unlikely that either Web2 or Web3 will prevail in full over the other. As we can see at present, the biggest Web2 firms are integrating Web3 aspects and services such as NFTs [(Amazon)](https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/6408443824b7f93706ee5a88/), more data privacy and decentralized data storage and wallets ( [Microsoft](https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/64174ce30a1e31489dba3ef6/)), which some call Web2.5.

## Decentralized Blockchain

In order to be fully decentralized and impervious to third-party influences such as government censorship or data exploitation, it is vital for a Web3 application to be built on [distributed ledger technology (DLT)](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-distributed-ledger-technology-dlt). Using a blockchain or [directed acyclic graph](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/directed-acyclic-graph-dag) ( [DAG](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/directed-acyclic-graph-dag)) allows it to create a decentralized ledger that requires no centralized intermediary to function, and therefore no single point of failure.

The Web3 ledger is distributed across a big network of nodes, making it extremely difficult for any single party to manipulate the ledger. Blockchain technology, if applied correctly, ensures that a Web3 project’s ledger is [immutable](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/immutable) (cannot be altered), fully transparent (free to view on public chain explorers), democratic (requires at least [51% of nodes to approve changes](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/51-attack) and is often governed by a [DAO](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/dao/) once it’s big enough).

### What Will Web 3.0 be Built on?

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) applications such as blockchain and DAG provides the vital basic framework for Web 3.0 projects to run a decentralized and peer-to-peer (P2P) network as they wish, without the need for centralized intermediary service providers.

Blockchain technology is most popular at present and brings a host of innovative tools to Web3 applications, such as [smart contracts](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/smart-contract), native cryptocurrencies, NFT collectibles, and DApps, all of which help Web 3.0 provide a less manipulated and more customized internet experience with greater personal freedom for their users.

Thanks to blockchain, Web 3.0 ledgers can become immutable, transparent, censorship-resistant, and retain full control over the application of user data.

### What Is the Web3 Foundation (W3F)?

The [Web3 Foundation (W3F)](https://web3.foundation/) is a non-profit organization founded in 2017 by Polkadot’s Dr. Gavin Wood to help advance the decentralized web, also known as Web3.0 or Web3, a term that Wood first coined years earlier. Based in Switzerland, its mission is to incubate applications for Web3 technologies and applications. W3F, as it is also known,  [provides grants](https://web3.foundation/grants/) and funding to support projects and initiatives that help to build out the Web3.0 ecosystem.

### What Is the Difference Between Web3 and Metaverse?

The terms [metaverse](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/metaverse) and Web3 are often used interchangeably, which is incorrect.

Web3 is a term used to describe the next generation of the internet, which aims to create a more decentralized and democratized internet where users have greater control over their data and interactions.

Web3 means the building of a decentralized and democratized internet that empowers web users by giving them protection against unfair censorship and data exploitation.

The term metaverse simply means a connected virtual world where digital avatars of users can interact with each other through gameplay and activities like concerts, and own specific non-fungible digital assets like land, buildings, or gaming items.

Virtual reality (VR) technology is a core component to the building of a successful metaverse in the long run, as it provides a more seamless and immersive experience that can mimic real life. Web3 doesn’t require the use of VR technology.  At present most metaverse projects run only on personal computers or mobile phones, but many will use Web3 tech to scale in the future.

As Meta (Facebook) has shown, a metaverse doesn’t require decentralized technology to run, however, as it is so data-intensive, a massive global metaverse will, in all likelihood, require integrated Web3 services like graphics processing and data storage at a minimum. Therefore, Web3 should become an integral component of all metaverses, and also help to incentivize participants through crypto assets, enabling it to grow in popularity.

### How to Invest in Web 3.0?

You can invest in Web 3.0 by buying and holding the native crypto assets of Web3 projects or technologies, but you need to do your homework first. The crypto industry is notorious for the levels of deceit within it, and things are rarely all that they seem.

Many projects are opportunistic cash grabs latching on to the latest hot trends, such as AI, in order to dupe investors. In some cases, even legitimate projects will suddenly pivot and incorrectly use words like Web3 to describe themselves, in order to drive interest and price action up.

Don’t look any further than [CoinMarketCap’s Top Web3 tokens list](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/web3/), which should provide the best possible starting point for you to do some research before investing. You’ll be able to find all the important data you need, such as market cap, [fully diluted valuation (FDV)](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/fully-diluted-valuation-fdv-the-great-dilution-dilemma), [trading volume](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/trading-volume) and more. Pay specific attention to a project’s [tokenomics](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-is-tokenomics) and other factors, such as its [vesting period,](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/vesting-period) unlock schedule, FDV and [circulating supply](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/circulating-supply), which, if unfavorable, can cause big price drops.

Many of the newest Web3 projects are not listed on [centralized exchanges](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/centralized-exchange-cex), which will require you to use decentralized wallets or exchanges like [MetaMask](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/metamask) or Uniswap to acquire them. If you’re new to crypto, please read my guides on [self-custody](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/self-custody-where-and-how-to-store-your-crypto-safely) and [Web3 cryptocurrencies](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/what-are-web-3-cryptocurrencies) before you start, as it’s vital you follow certain steps to protect your funds.

### Top Web 3.0 Tokens

According to our [list of top Web3 Tokens by market cap](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/web3/), the top five currently are [Polkadot](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/polkadot-new/) (infrastructure), [Chainlink](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/chainlink/) (price oracle), [Filecoin](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/filecoin/) (data storage), [Stacks](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/stacks/) (Bitcoin smart contract layer), and [Internet Computer](https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/internet-computer/) (infrastructure). Visit the list to see over 100 Web3 cryptocurrencies ranked by market cap and other metrics of your choice.

### What Are the Disadvantages of Web3?

Web3 is still a Wild West (Wild Web) of sorts at present and has no central party to govern its development and growth, other than NPOs like the [Web3 Foundation](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/web3-foundation). It, therefore, currently struggles with the lack of industry-wide standards and regulations, making it hard to create a uniform and simple experience for users. They can be complex and difficult to use, often designed by small teams of developers who focus on the product first but neglect other aspects like user-friendly design and marketing in the process. This limits the scope and adoption of these Web3 protocols.

There are also still some concerns over the eco-friendliness of Web3 technologies that rely on [proof-of-work (PoW)](https://coinmarketcap.com/view/pow/) consensus validation through mining. However, the [proof-of-stake (PoS)](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/article/proof-of-work-vs-proof-of-stake) adoption by the biggest chains, such as Ethereum, has made this a nothingburger by now, unless Bitcoin-related projects become very popular for some reason ( [securities, anyone?](https://coinmarketcap.com/headlines/news/gensler-suggests-proof-of-stake-tokens-are-securities/)).

#### What Is the Difference Between Web3 Tokens and Coins?

The Web3 sector uses both coins and tokens to power their networks and DApps. However, it’s important to distinguish between the two.

Coins are the native digital assets of specific independent blockchains, such as Ethereum’s ETH and Solana’s SOL cryptocurrencies, and are used as a medium of exchange to run the chain and collect [gas fees](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/gas).

Tokens are crypto assets created and hosted on an existing blockchain platform, such as Ethereum, in a standardized format such as [ERC-20](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/erc-20) or [ERC-721](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/erc-721). They usually serve a specific use case for their protocol, such as [governance](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/governance). They leverage the security of the underlying base chain, which is extremely important for any smart contract-powered functionality.

## **Closing Thoughts**

The new internet created by Web3 will provide more digital ownership and sovereignty in an increasingly digitized world, and other decentralized benefits that are hoped will help to establish a more equitable web. This will be achieved by empowering each individual user to become a sovereign over their data, and creating a richer overall experience thanks to the myriad of innovations that is to come once it is in place.

When Web3 inevitably arrives — as hard as it is to fathom considering how ingrained smart devices are in our daily routines and the extent that it has changed our behavioral patterns — the internet will become exponentially more integrated in our daily lives, often without us knowing it.

We will see nearly all of today’s normally offline machines, from home appliances like ovens, vacuums, and refrigerators to all types of transport become part of the IoT economy, interacting with its autonomous servers and [decentralized applications](https://coinmarketcap.com/alexandria/glossary/decentralized-applications-dapps) (DApps), advancing new digital realms like blockchain and digital assets to power a myriad of new tech “miracles” for the 21st century.

The future remains bright, and remains tied to blockchain and crypto, if you know where to look.

This article contains links to third-party websites or other content for information purposes only (“Third-Party Sites”). The Third-Party Sites are not under the control of CoinMarketCap, and CoinMarketCap is not responsible for the content of any Third-Party Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Third-Party Site, or any changes or updates to a Third-Party Site. CoinMarketCap is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by CoinMarketCap of the site or any association with its operators. This article is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. It is important to do your own research and analysis before making any material decisions related to any of the products or services described. This article is not intended as, and shall not be construed as, financial advice. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s \[company’s\] own and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinMarketCap.

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[![](data:image/svg+xml,%3csvg%20xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%20version=%271.1%27%20width=%2772%27%20height=%2772%27/%3e)![Werner Vermaak](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)](/academy/author/werner-vermaak)

[**Werner Vermaak**](/academy/author/werner-vermaak)

I'm a technical writer and marketer who has been in crypto since 2017.

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