From Web2 to Web3: Is it a Revolution or an Evolution?

On the internet, you can see many infographics showing web2 and web3 applications, like browsers, wallets, storage, and social networks.

They try to divide the applications and offer you Web2 and Web3 solutions separately. 

But does it make any sense?

Hi, My name is Andrii Bondar. I'm a product designer working on the zkSync Era∎ project, a Layer 2 solution for scaling the Ethereum blockchain. And today, I'll explain whether Web3 is an evolution or revolution.

And the first question we need to ask is what Web3 is.

Does Web3 mean the blockchain only? Does Web3 have anything to do with crypto exchange?

No, it's not about the blockchain only. Web3 is about the user controlling the internet, and it's about decentralization. And blockchain is only the tool you can use to implement some Web3 scenarios. 

Let's check out some examples. 

Are centralized crypto exchanges a part of Web3? No.

Users do not have private keys to the wallets, so it's like any other centralized application, even like a traditional bank.

You can ask the centralized crypto exchange or traditional bank to transfer or withdraw your money. But you're not controlling your money without some central office that can block or limit your money transfers.

Yes, in the case of centralized crypto exchanges, we are still talking about the services using crypto from the blockchain. But it does not make this exchange a Web3 solution, and it's not something decentralized or users are controlling.

The following exciting example is Twitter.

Twitter is an excellent example that many people use as a Web2 reference. 

I agree with this, but if you remember the questions polls from Elon Mask, it has a Web3 side.

This is how Twitter can evolve from Web2 to Web3.

If users have question polls to vote on, users can partly control the strategic decisions. (If Musk actually acts according to the polls)

And this is an excellent example of how Web2 products can partly evolve into Web3.

It will happen anyway.

You do not need the blockchain, and you can create trust, allow users to vote, and verify users to avoid bot votes.

Next let's look at browsers.

You can see that Chrome and Opera browsers are Web 2 and Brave browser is a Web3 solution.

Brave has a multichain crypto wallet you can use without any extension installed. Still, the Opera crypto browser also has a native multichain wallet, supports IPFS, integrates with Web3 DApps and much more. And Chrome browser has all the essential extensions you need to work in Web3. 

So, I wouldn't say I like the idea of dividing Web2 and Web3 solutions because it's natural evolution step by step, app by app, feature by feature. This evolution will happen by itself.

Nowadays is quite difficult for some people to use decentralized applications without special training. However, we will not even care how it happens after a particular time. Let me illustrate this with the example of the evolution of emails.

If you wanted to check your email list 15 years ago, you had to turn on your internet device, wait for the connection to the provider, connect to the internet via the operation system, open the email client and click the refresh button to start to download the email list. 

You could make a cup of tea in that amount of time! And this is just for checking your email inbox.

And now, for this operation, you have to do almost nothing. Just tap on the push notification to check your new email. Everything happens in the background, and you only need to be connected to the internet provider or Wi-Fi. 

Let's talk about how difficult things can be simple for people — for example, crypto wallet. Usually, you have to think about how to save the recovery phrase to use a crypto wallet. Also, you must deposit the crypto to the wallet and the currency for a fee in the network. If you use the Ethereum L1 network, you must deposit the Ethereum token, for the BNB Smart chain - BNB token.

The better iteration of this system is a Smart Contract wallet (Argent wallet, for example). You can use your email and mobile phone to apply for a crypto wallet without saving the recovery phrase. Because it's a Smart Contract wallet, each transaction must be verified using the code you'll get by email and SMS, and it's good for security reasons.

But you do not have to know how blockchain works. You just need to know how your email and phone works for verification.

I do not understand how a car works.

I'm not a car mechanic, but I drive my car and love it. And this is how Web3 can work as well. 

Give the developers a little more time, and they will create new projects that will be as easy and familiar to use as all the products you use today. This way, the evolution will pass gradually, and you will love Web3.

If you liked my article, share it on your social media and follow me on Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn.