Author: Richard Johnson, COO of Data Guardians Network
In the ongoing push for Web3 adoption, many Web3 enthusiasts and organizations continue to call for various industries to move away from Web2 processes.
Whether trying to make Web3 tools feel like Web2 applications or redefining business models to focus more on Web3 infrastructure, there is a loud group that believes dismantling Web2 is necessary for Web3 to thrive.
This viewpoint is flawed.
Replacing existing systems is neither practical nor beneficial in the short term and poses risks that could limit Web3's growth and potential.
Web3 offers solutions to challenges ranging from economic issues to everyday tasks, but it remains complex and daunting outside the industry.
Meanwhile, Oxford University has identified the "trust paradox" of blockchain technology: the promise of blockchain to eliminate trust concerns is fundamentally hindered by the public's lack of confidence in the technology. These trends collectively indicate a broader confusion and lack of engagement in the mass market.
This trend fundamentally means that users are likely to "play it safe" on Web2 applications rather than risk experimenting with Web3. It is this barrier that slows down Web3 adoption. Innovators cannot simply rely on the benefits of Web3; they must work with existing infrastructure if they hope to attract a broader audience.
Collaboration between Web2 and Web3 is already happening, primarily driven by Web2 providers. In the financial sector, giants like PayPal, Visa, and major banks are integrating cryptocurrency and blockchain services to provide legitimacy to the mass market. Beyond finance, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched Web3 Labs, and Google Cloud is incorporating Web3 into traditional products using zero-knowledge proofs.
While Web2 applications are taking a middle ground, Web3 developers can and should do the same, leveraging the established market of Web2 for faster expansion. Just as 4G supported the rollout of 5G, Web2 processes can help build better Web3 applications.
Web3 developers can balance decentralization with the Web2 convenience expected by users by prioritizing accessibility (from smooth user experiences to human-readable names). They should also recognize how their products can benefit Web2 organizations.
Web3 enthusiasts often assume the superiority of their approach is self-evident, avoiding explanations of why it works better. This risks alienating users rather than winning them over. Demonstrating tangible advantages through collaboration with Web2 products can help bridge the gap between the two sectors.
An obvious example is the synergy between artificial intelligence and blockchain. If every piece of data used to train AI models is immutably tracked on the blockchain, whether it is raw data or cutting-edge data, its source, use, and outcomes can be immediately verified, eliminating such disputes.
Fundamentally, a good idea generates value regardless of whether it is a Web3 application.
Demonstrating this value—even if it means collaborating with the Web2 sector—will enhance the legitimacy of the tools and attract more attention from the mass market.
While relying on Web2 to build greater trust in Web3 tools may feel uncomfortable, the benefits are undeniable. Bringing any form of technology to the mass market can pose a range of issues, including first-day bugs or scaling challenges. Nielsen's research shows that usability testing with real-world users can increase product success rates by 500%. In this way, allowing Web2 users to try Web3 applications will lead to better end products.
The debate over "Web2 versus Web3" may attract attention, but successful companies rarely define themselves by labels. They are AI companies, financial institutions, consumer platforms, and data companies, using any tools that best serve their markets. No customer wakes up wanting to use a "Web3 application"; they want better banking, smarter AI, or more useful platforms.
Winners will be those who quietly use Web3 to solve real problems rather than chasing purity scores.
Collaborating with Web2 expands the user base and creates more opportunities for testing, iterating, and improving. The passionate community of Web3 has yet to achieve mass market appeal, and realizing this means embracing the Web2 processes, habits, and infrastructure that have shaped technology adoption for decades.
Author: Richard Johnson, COO of Data Guardians Network.
Related: Economist: Federal Reserve actions will significantly boost Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins, and the market is not ready
This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
Original article: “Opinion: Mass Adoption of Web3 Requires Embracing Web2 Infrastructure, Not Replacing It”
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