What is Web3? Explanation of the next generation of the internet
What is Web3?
The internet of value. Find out how blockchain and decentralization are transforming the digital world and who will really own your data in the future.
Web3 describes the next stage in the development of the internet. While Web1 mainly consisted of static websites and Web2 was characterized by central platforms, Web3 is based on blockchain technology and decentralization.
At its core is a central question: Who owns data, digital identity and assets on the Internet?
The development: Web1 → Web2 → Web3
Web1 - Information
In the 1990s, the internet was primarily a static information medium. Content was consumed, interaction was hardly possible ("read-only").
Web2 - Platforms
The internet became interactive ("read-write"). Central platforms (social media, cloud) emerged, but these control data and identities.
Web3 - The decentralized Internet
Web3 relies on decentralized networks ("read-write-own"). Data and transactions are no longer organized by corporations, but via blockchain structures.
- Digital sovereignty & ownership
- Transparent, censorship-resistant transactions
- Interoperability between different systems
Technologies of the Web3
Blockchain
A decentralized data structure that stores transactions transparently and is resistant to manipulation.
Smart contracts
Automated programs that execute contract terms without intermediaries (such as banks).
Tokenization
The digital representation of real or virtual assets on a blockchain.
Digital identity
Self-managed systems (SSI), with which users control their identity independently of platforms.
Web2 vs. Web3 in direct comparison
| Feature | Web2 (Status Quo) | Web3 (future) |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Central platforms | Decentralized networks |
| Data sovereignty | Do companies belong | Belong to the users |
| Identity | Login via e-mail/OAuth | Wallet-based identity |
| Control | Platform controls content | Users control access |
Why Web3 is becoming strategically relevant today
Blockchain technology is rapidly developing into an infrastructural component of modern financial and identity systems.
Opportunities for newcomers
Web3 offers the opportunity to understand digital sovereignty and classify technological developments at an early stage.
Focus for investors
It is an infrastructure issue. Important factors: scalability, interoperability and regulatory compatibility.
In the long term, tokenized assets, digital identity systems and blockchain-based settlement models will transform entire industries.
Contact for queries
Your contact person: Sven Oliver Matuschik
som@walgenbach.ch | +49 160 310 82 79