There is a lot of hype surrounding the idea of a decentralized version of the internet that would give ordinary users more power.Here’s what you need to do to make it happen
technology
January 17, 2023
Chris Budd
On a gloomy Thursday morning in Newcastle, England, I opened my laptop and played a game. But I’ll admit, I don’t really enjoy it. Along with the occasional pixelated image of a space hero, it’s mostly a text-based multiple-choice offering that imagines me on the planet Veles and prompts me to ask where I’d like to mine next. So far, the experience isn’t enhanced by the fact that I had to spend 20 minutes linking my cryptocurrency wallet to the game.
why am i experiencing this? Believe it or not, this game should be the future of the internet, or at least part of it. It is one of the world’s most acclaimed decentralized apps and the manifestation of what is seen as a shiny new phase in the online realm called web3.
My adventures in Veles are hilariously bad, but my foray into the wilds of web3 has a serious side. There is a chorus of voices calling for a new iteration of the Internet. It’s not hard to see why. The tech giants that currently rule the online world are riddled with scandals, have seen massive outflows of funds, and seem ill-equipped to solve the problem of online misinformation and hate. So what is web3, how does it work, and can it really deliver a better digital future?
The idea of a series of connected computers (Internet) dates back decades. But the World Wide Web, a set of shared websites that can be viewed online through them…
