Rewind the clock 33 years and you’ll see that from the beginning, the World Wide Web was driving innovation, connecting people, and encouraging creativity.
With each version of the web, Internet architects around the world have discovered more features to build on. Starting with Web1 in the 1990s, these “builders” leveraged the “read-only web” to give us many breakthroughs that we now take for granted, such as email and file transfer. However, they bridged vast geographical distances with the help of open networks. source protocol.
By the 2000s, Web2 enabled users to leave their mark on cyberspace through personal pages, self-generated content, and social media. This “social web” has ushered in near-instant electronic commerce, the ability to book medical appointments online, and in some areas even the ability to vote for elected officials.
But increased online freedom and functionality comes at the hidden cost of creating a more centralized Internet. What was once a market of service providers has since congealed into a select few, while big tech companies routinely exploit economies of scale to amass enormous political power and create daunting opportunities. They collect and sell users’ data, amassing billions in global wealth. of profit.
Consensys, a company at the forefront of blockchain innovation, believes Web3 is the answer. The company has long been a conduit for this open source, decentralized layer of the internet, built by people for people, with the promise of fundamentally transforming the way we interact, create, and do business. We have been working hard to fulfill this goal.
ConsenSys has been helping users enter the decentralized web for nearly a decade with applications such as MetaMask, the world’s most popular self-custody wallet. MetaMask enables individuals to participate in building a more transparent internet by providing secure access to applications powered by cryptocurrencies. The Consensys product suite also includes Infura, Linea, Diligence, and the NFT toolkit Phosphor, making the company a trusted collaborator for users, creators, and developers around the world.
“We are at the dawn of a new internet paradigm that promises empowerment and data sovereignty for all,” said ConsenSys CEO and Founder and one of Web3’s leading thinkers. Joseph Rubin explains. “Unlike today’s Internet, which is dominated by a few giant corporations that misuse user data, Web3 is powered by thousands of people around the world united in the pursuit of creating a more just world where power is decentralized. It is being promoted.”
But the next version of the World Wide Web faces increased regulatory scrutiny, which builders say is slowing innovation and costing ordinary people their livelihoods. Agencies such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have pursued aggressive enforcement against Web3 operators, infrastructure providers, and developers. According to the industry, the community of innovators is already being impacted.
Currently, ConsenSys is working to make their stories public. “We recognize that each individual, regardless of role, is creating a unique thread in the tapestry that is Web3, expanding our understanding and appreciation of what it means to be a builder,” says Rubin. . “That’s why we created the Builder Stories initiative, to amplify the voices of builders driving the evolution of Web3 and celebrate the vibrant global community of people who use our suite of tools. .”
These short films traverse the globe, from the bustling streets of tech hubs like Bangalore to the quiet studios of artists in Chicoutimi, Canada. Each interview focuses on an entrepreneur’s experience using and building on Web3 to capture the essence of innovation and community, while also demonstrating how Web3 is a beacon that has global impact and reaches many people. Let me introduce you to Nataka.
“In this decentralized ecosystem, individuals have autonomy over what information they share,” Rubin adds.
Resetting the clock to the original values on which the Internet was built is an important part of this online movement, allowing everyone to contribute to building the new World Wide Web. In a technology industry that is rapidly becoming less decentralized, transparent, and anonymous, ConsenSys is passionate about supporting those who keep the founding vision of the Internet alive. Follow our Builder Stories series to hear more voices making that future possible.
