When the World Wide Web became publicly available in 1991, it revolutionized the way we work and play and perhaps more importantly how we consume information and goods. The early internet was relatively primitive and boring, but it soon evolved to be dominated by ecommerce and then social media platforms. Many tech and business experts believe that we are at the precipice of a new internet era, often referred to as “Web3,” for the third iteration of the internet. Proponents say that Web3 will be a decentralized internet that runs on blockchain technology, and brands that know how to utilize it to connect with their consumers will gain an advantage in the new tech-driven economy.
Gavin Wood, the founder of proof-of-stake cryptocurrency Polkadot and cofounder of Ethereum, first coined the term Web3 in 2014 to describe the increasingly decentralized internet based on blockchain technology, which he helped to create. Obviously, the definition is a bit broad and open to interpretation to a certain extent, so in the subsequent years others have added to Wood’s definition. As technology has advanced since 2014, and more people have become familiar with blockchain technology, other important elements of Web3 that’ve been identified are its trustless nature – which may sound negative, but in this context it’s not and will be explained more later – and users/consumers control over their personal information.
The trends suggest that although there are many barriers to the complete adoption of Web3, where it is adopted, investors, brands, and consumers will reap incredible benefits. Consumers will enjoy the control they will gain over their personal data, while brands will find new ways to connect with their loyal consumers. So let’s take a look at how Web3 started, where it is today, and how consumers can expect from this new iteration of the internet.
How the Internet Became Web3
Tech experts generally divide the history of the internet into three phases. The first phase, known as Web 1.0, includes the period from just before the World Wide Web went public in 1991 to 2004. This era of the internet was marked by static web pages that were primarily informational and not interactive, although some of the earliest ecommerce sites, such as Amazon, began during this era.
The second era, Web 2.0, began in the mid-2000s with the growth of social media, blogs, and ecommerce. The internet became much more interactive and the technology was driven by smartphones and cloud computing. As blockchain technology became more widespread by the late 2010s, experts have argued that we entered the latest version of the internet around that time.
As we enter this new internet paradigm, its success will depend on its widespread adoption, which will largely be contingent upon how well consumers understand the technology. Web3 will be based on blockchain technology, which may sound complex at first but it’s really straightforward.
Blockchains are online storage systems that use encryption and distributed computing to protect the data stored on them. Encryption gives only limited people access to the data, while the distributed or decentralized element means that shards of data need to match in order for data packets to be retrieved or transactions to take place.
In theory, and so far in practice, this form of internet creates a “trustless” format, whereby users are not forced to trust a company or central authority to protect their data or ensure that transactions are legitimate. Blockchain technology has opened an array of opportunities for investors and consumers, some of which are currently being realized.
Real World Web3 Applications
Cryptocurrencies have led the transition to Web3, with Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency being released on January 9, 2009. Bitcoin’s potential application for Web3 investors and consumers were quickly realized, as it remains the number one cryptocurrency by market cap because of its utility as money, a store of value, and as a financial instrument. But as much as Bitcoin may’ve opened the Web3 door, it’s the number two cryptocurrency by market cap, Ethereum, which will likely play a bigger role in the new internet paradigm.
The Ethereum blockchain has proven to be highly adaptable and a destination for businesses and consumers who use Web3. Everyday new “tokens” are being created that allow users to access the Ethereum blockchain for decentralized finance, smart contracts, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs are digital art that are “minted” as originals and stored on the blockchain. As strange as the concept of NFTs may seem to many, they’re gaining in popularity and market cap. Investment bank Jefferies that NFTs will have a market value of over $85 billion by 2025.
Smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) will also play a role in the emerging world of Web3. Smart contracts are contracts that are stored on a blockchain and can only be completed or fulfilled when certain requirements are met, while DAOs are companies that are bound by rules coded into the blockchains they use. These two concepts are combined when DAOs store data, such as retail prices, and contracts with wholesalers on blockchains, with the advantage being they are invulnerable to standard hackers.
When DAOs and traditional companies use blockchains for business purposes, it is referred to as decentralized finance (DeFi). DeFi can include person-to-person or company-to-company transaction, with the primary benefit being that banks are bypassed. Although transaction fees are part of every blockchain transaction, they are often small and consumers only pay for the transactions they make. As more consumers are learning the ropes of Web3 and blockchain technology, companies and brands are starting to pay attention.
Some Brands That Have Adopted Web3 and DeFi
Due to the nature of Web3, it isn’t immediately apparent how many brands have adopted the new internet paradigm, but a quick look reveals that it is catching steam. Microsoft, AT&T, and Overstock.com have all begun accepting crypto for bill and merchandise payments, perhaps acting as the vanguard of DeFi and Web3 adoption among major brands. But a number of lesser known companies are also making inroads in the world of Web3.
Among the brands using Web3 and DeFi to watch out for the in coming years are the blockchain based social platform, Steemit, and the blockchain based supply chain, Everledger. Another company to follow is the decentralized exchange trading market, Augur. The reason why these three companies are potentially poised for success is because they all combine the new technology of Web3 with goods and services current consumers want.
Future Trends and Consumer Benefits of Using Web3
There’s no doubt that Web3 adoption will set the tone for technology advances in the coming decades, but brands that know how to utilize it, such as those mentioned earlier, will use it to connect with their consumers. The trustless element of blockchain technology gives plenty of freedom to the consumer in many different ways. For example, consumers will be able to trade online apps on blockchains using smart contracts, cutting out the middleman in the process. Web3 also has the ability to give consumers more control over their data.
Under the current internet paradigm, personal data is stored on servers that are vulnerable to hackers, but on Web3, data can be stored on blockchains that can only be released if the owner allows it. In addition to enhanced security, blockchain data storage will cut down on spam and those who use it will be able to say goodbye to third party cookies forever!
One of the most important future trends of Web3 will be how it connects brands with its consumers, by building more trust and loyalty. Because 76% of consumers don’t know what companies are doing with their personal data, the adoption of Web3 gives brands an opening. Perhaps somewhat ironically, the trustless aspect of the blockchain can provide a way for brands to rebuild trust with their customers, although it will require consumers to adopt the new technology. Brands can also leverage the new technology in other unique ways to build customer loyalty.
Nike has recently combined blockchain technology and the metaverse – which is considered another part of Web3 – to sell virtual sneakers in the virtual world, Roblox. Fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana recently combined the metaverse and NFTs to connect with its consumers by auctioning a nine-piece collection of NFTs for $6 million, which included a suit that the auction winner can wear in the metaverse. Brands can also issue NFTs and/or blockchain tokens as a way for their consumers to access special online events or deals, ultimately replacing standard loyalty points.
How well brands migrate loyalty rewards programs to Web3 will likely play a much bigger role in the retail space in the future, giving consumers more power over how they store and use those points. An average consumer is enrolled in 18 loyalty programs, but they are only actively engaged in less than half of them, meaning lost points for the consumer and fewer chances for brands to engage their customers. Web3 technology can bring customer loyalty programs to the next level by offering digital rewards that are uniquely ownable, tradeable, and collectable, transforming brand-customer transactions into a more immersive experience.
Of course the adoption of Web3 faces some barriers. Most of the big tech companies have no incentive to give up the power they hold over Web 2.0 and the current US government is hostile- to crypto generally and appears to know little, or care, about blockchain technology’s wider uses. Consumers are also slow to learn about what many perceive as an arcane form of technology, but many of these barriers existed before other major technology revolutions throughout history. Web3 may not replace the current iteration of the internet overnight, but brands that recognize its value as tool to connect with consumers will find that it will be useful in the coming years.
