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Concept of a World Wide Web based on public blockchains
This article is about the concept of a World Wide Web based on public blockchains. For the concept based around machine-readability also called Web 3.0, see
Semantic Web .
Not to be confused with
Web3D .
Web3 (also known as Web 3.0 )[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] is an idea for a new iteration of the World Wide Web which incorporates concepts such as decentralization , blockchain technologies , and token-based economics.[ 4] This is distinct from Tim Berners-Lee 's concept of the Semantic Web . Some technologists and journalists have contrasted it with Web 2.0 , in which they say user-generated content is controlled by a small group of companies referred to as Big Tech .[ 5] The term "web3" was coined in 2014 by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood , and the idea gained interest in 2021 from cryptocurrency enthusiasts, large technology companies, and venture capital firms.[ 5] [ 6] The concepts of web3 were first represented in 2013.[ 7] [ 8]
Critics have expressed concerns over the centralization of wealth to a small group of investors and individuals,[ 9] or a loss of privacy due to more expansive data collection.[ 10] Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey have argued that web3 only serves as a buzzword or marketing term.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
^ Cite error: The named reference Edelman
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^ Alford, Harry (September 16, 2021). "Crypto's networked collaboration will drive Web 3.0" . TechCrunch . Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021 .
^ Khoshafian, Setrag (March 12, 2021). "Can the Real Web 3.0 Please Stand Up?" . RTInsights . Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021 .
^ Fenwick, Mark; Jurcys, Paulius (2022). "The Contested Meaning of Web3 and Why it Matters for (IP) Lawyers". SSRN Electronic Journal . doi :10.2139/ssrn.4017790 . ISSN 1556-5068 . SSRN 4017790 .
^ a b Mak, Aaron (November 9, 2021). "What Is Web3 and Why Are All the Crypto People Suddenly Talking About It?" . Slate . Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021 .
^ Cite error: The named reference Read-2021
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Bodrenko, Andrei I. (December 6, 2013). "METHOD OF ORGANIZING E-MAIL" . Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023 .
^ Bodrenko, Andrei I. (October 24, 2013). "Video Calling System and Browser for I2P network" . Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023 .
^ Cite error: The named reference Kastrenakes-2021
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Cite error: The named reference Allyn-2021
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^ Cite error: The named reference Locke-2021
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^ "Jack Dorsey Stirs Uproar by Dismissing Web3 as a Venture Capitalists' Plaything" . Bloomberg.com . December 21, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2022 .
^ Macaulay, Thomas (December 21, 2021). "Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey are right to raise concerns about Web3" . TNW | Hardfork . Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022 .