What is Web3, and how is it different from Web2?

What is Web3, and how is it different from Web2?

Web3 is built on blockchain technology, which allows for decentralization, increased transparency, and security. In Web2, intermediaries control your data and privacy.
Noor Ul Huda. June 19th, 2023 - 11 minute read

From Web 1.0 in the 1990s to interactive Web 2.0 in the early 2000s. Now, Web3 has become a word of mouth, mainly because of its decentralization feature. The Internet has come a long way since its inception!

In this blog post, we will explore the key features that make both the webs (Web2 & Web3) differ from each other and why Web3 is poised to take over the internet. We will also introduce a talent-matching platform that is solving the biggest market gap between Web3 companies and Web3 talent.

Web2 vs Web3: An Incredible Journey of Evolution

Still stuck in the Web2 era, where a few big players controlled the internet? It's time to face reality and take action! The world is embracing Web3 more quickly than ever. According to a recent survey:

The number of web3 projects has grown by 1400% since 2016, and the market capitalization of the top web3 projects has soared to over $600 billion. 

Why is everyone jumping on the Web3 bandwagon? Well, it's not just technology, for one thing. It's a new economy where power is decentralized and the playing field is level.

Finding the right talent is one of the biggest challenges in this new Web3 era. Fortunately, Go 3.0 steps in at this point. but more on that later. For now, let's dive into the difference between Web2 and Web3 and why it matters for your digital future.

But with great power comes great responsibility, which is to create secure and user-friendly Web3 products for wide adoption. To achieve this, Go 3.0 is building an exclusive talent network of top-tier Web3 developers, but more on that later!

Why Your Digital Future Depends on Which You Choose

For your digital future in the modern world, picking the right technology is essential. While Web2 has been ruling the digital space for so long, now it's time for Web3 to take over the game!

Web3: The Future of The Internet is Here to Stay

Web3 is the future of the Internet. Better technology is only one aspect of it; there is also a completely new way of viewing the internet. Web3 is built on blockchain technology, which allows for decentralization, increased transparency, and security. It offers a completely new level of interoperability and is not constrained to any one company or platform dominating the internet traffic. With Web3, users have total ownership and control over their data. In contrast, Web2 is centralized, governed by a few major players, and your data is frequently used without your consent. With the rise of NFTs, DeFi, and DAOs, Web3 is poised to become the new norm, although we are still in the early stages of its development.

Web2 is So Yesterday: Here's Why You Need to Know About Web3

  • Web3 is built on decentralized networks, which means that power is distributed among users rather than being centralized in the hands of a few large corporations.

  • It aims to transform a wide range of industries, from popular DeFi apps like Uniswap in finance to NFT platforms such as the Bored Ape Yacht Club in entertainment. In fact its potential reaches far beyond these areas including healthcare and social media.

  • Blockchain and smart contracts are already being used to create new types of Web3 applications and services. For example, DeFi platforms, supply chain management systems, digital identity management, and real estate transactions. These applications are more secure, transparent, and efficient than their Web2 counterparts.

  • New opportunities for digital creators and entrepreneurs, who can use decentralized Web3 platforms to monetize their content and build sustainable online businesses.

Have a look at this report:

Grimes sold $6 million worth of digital art as NFTs!

The Web3 Advantage: How It Aims to Transform Our Digital Experience

The Ultimate Power Move for Data Privacy and Control

Providing online data is risky. And by now, you must be tired of handling this headache of always being concerned about data privacy. But here’s how you can take control of your data with Web3:

  • Decentralized Storage: With Web3, your data is stored on a decentralized network. This makes it impossible for hackers to breach. You not only have complete control over your data but it is also secured. 

  • Identity Management: Self-sovereign identity is made possible by Web3, which means that your identity and data are completely private. You control who has access to and what uses can be made of your information.

  • Smart Contracts: Web3 also uses smart contracts, which allow for secure and automated transactions. There is no need to be concerned about intermediaries or other parties, as the transactions are executed as programmed, ensuring accountability and transparency.

A More Decentralized Future: The Promise of Web3

Even though centralized platforms have provided us with a ton of benefits but relying solely on centralized entities and having no alternative options for our online lives is not the right outcome for our future. Here are some reasons why a more decentralized future is the way to go:

  • Greater security: Data stored using Web3 is less susceptible to hacking and attacks because it is stored on a distributed network rather than a single server.

  • No intermediaries: Web3 enables direct communication between people, cutting out middlemen and lowering transaction costs.

  • Empowering individuals: They have more control over their data in a decentralized ecosystem and can monetize it however they see fit.

  • More inclusive: It enables wider participation, particularly for underrepresented communities who may have been shut out of conventional systems.

Why Web3 is More Than Tech: It's a New Economy

Web3 is about building a fair, inclusive, and sustainable economic system that benefits everyone, not just the elite. This revolution encompasses both the social and economic spheres in addition to technology. Here’s how:

  • Web3 is to value what Web2 was to information: Web3 is here to democratize access to the value! Just as Web2 features user-generated content, Web3 is ushering in a new era of value creation and monetization. But it's not just about money. It's about the things that matter most to us, from our favorite artists to our dream homes. And with Web3, these things are no longer out of reach. Smart contracts are making real estate transactions more efficient and transparent than ever before, while NFTs are enabling artists to sell their work directly to fans. Even your social media reach and viewership can now be monetized, thanks to the power of blockchain technology.

  • Decentralized networks: Decentralized networks put power back in the consumers' hands. These networks eliminate the requirement for middlemen and their constrictive restrictions by enabling direct peer-to-peer communication. Global marketplaces and community-based social networks are just a couple of the opportunities this creates. Decentralized networks outperform their centralized counterparts in terms of security, openness, and fairness. Our personal information won't be sold to the highest bidder anymore!

  • Digital assets: Digital assets can be created, traded, and sold just like their physical counterparts. Imagine being able to own a work of digital art, a piece of virtual real estate, or even a valuable virtual item in a game. This opens up a whole new universe of opportunities for business owners. They may quickly generate and market digital assets now that they are not constrained by physical limitations. The best thing, right? Because Web3 is decentralized, these assets are safe, open, and unchangeable.

  • Decentralized finance (DeFi): platforms can be developed using Web3, eliminating the need for banks and other conventional financial institutions to provide financial services. This forms a financial system that is more accessible and inclusive.

According to a report by CoinGecko, the total value locked in DeFi platforms reached $190 billion in November 2021.

  • Leapfrogging in the emerging market: Some emerging markets have the chance to skip Web2 and jump straight to the sleek and innovative Web3. It's like going from a clunky landline to a high-tech smartphone in one fell swoop! Estonia, for example, never looked back after ditching their cheques and landlines in favor of digital cards and cell phones. And in some parts of Africa, they're already making strides in the digital currency space, with Kenya leading the pack in peer-to-peer trading volume and adoption. But this isn't just a regional phenomenon - the global blockchain market is projected to reach a staggering $450 billion by 2028, with Africa alone expected to carry a 30% market share. It's a leapfrogging revolution, and these emerging markets are taking the lead in shaping the future of web3!

These figures demonstrate that Web3 is not just a technology but also a promising new economic system built exclusively for the internet that is expanding and changing quickly.

The Leap From Web2 to Web3

Internet, with each new iteration, has evolved and adapted to meet the users’ needs. The latest evolution of the internet - Web3 - promises to be the most significant leap forward yet. 

Read this insightful survey done by Deloitte:

95% of Companies Surveyed Are Investing in Blockchain Tech

The following table shows how Web3 is revolutionizing the way we interact with the Internet. Hence, bringing a more secure, decentralized, and user-owned experience:

Web2

Web3

Data control

Centralized

Decentralized

User privacy

Limited

Enhanced

Ownership

Platform-owned

User-owned

Interoperability

Limited

Enhanced

Innovation

Limited to platform capabilities

Open for innovation

Trust

Centralized trust models

Decentralized trust models

Tokenization

Not applicable

Built-in tokenization

While Web3 represents a major leap forward, the transition from Web2 to Web3 has its challenges. Companies looking to make the move face several obstacles, including a lack of technical understanding, a lack of ambition, and perhaps most of all, finding good talent. That's where Go 3.0 comes in!

Go 3.0: Helping companies ‘GO’ From Web2 to Web3 With Top-tier Talent!

Go 3.0 is a talent-matching platform that connects companies looking for Web3 talent with fully vetted candidates. They understand the challenges that companies face in making the transition from Web2 to Web3. Hence, Go 3.0 has built an exclusive talent network of top-tier Web3 developers to address this issue. According to a report by Hired, 

A talent acquisition company, demand for blockchain talent has increased by over 400% since 2017 

This highlights the need for a platform like Go 3.0 to bridge the gap between companies and Web3 talent! Here’s how this platform will make your businesses GO from web2 to web3 easily:

  • Companies can post jobs and get matched with a pool of pre-vetted Web3 talent, saving them time and effort in the hiring process.

  • Providing a tailor matchmaking service to ensure that the employer and the candidate are the ideal matches.

  • Matching top-tier Web3 developers with companies based on skill sets and verified project experience.

From Hiring Nightmares to Dream Teams: How Go 3.0 is Changing the Web3 Hiring Game

 We stand for a solution! Go 3.0 is changing the game of Web3 hiring by:

  • Making it efficient and effective. Say goodbye to endless hours of sifting through resumes!

  • Help companies find top-notch Web3 talent with ease, saving them time and resources in the process

  • Making it a stress-free experience for both companies and talent with the help of a user-friendly experience

By using Go 3.0, companies can build dream teams that are equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities of Web3.

Let’s build the future together!

Web3 is about to take over the Internet with the power of decentralized networks. But to take full advantage of Web3's potential, many more products have to come to market that is not only user-friendly and safe but also have real value baked into them, and we've already seen pretty successful examples of such products.

For businesses, it's important not to get left behind by clinging to old models and centralized workflows. For talent, it opens a whole new possibility of developing and shaping the future of our web.

If you're someone looking to deploy your skills toward Web3, Sign-up for our Talent Pool so we can start matching you with the best employers.

If your business is planning to use the potential of Web3, Go 3.0 can connect you with the best and brightest talent in the industry so you can transition to Web 3.0 faster. Schedule a free discovery call here and tell us all about it!

Thanks for reading, and we'll catch you on our next insightful blog!