Description
Forward (from someone notable in Web3) Introduction Chapter 1: Why Web3? o Definition of Web3 o History Web1 Web2 Web3 It’s about a decentralized approach o Catalysts for Web3 Concentrated power of megatech (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google) New technologies Need for a new platform New business model for stakeholders (users) via tokens Return to the roots of the original vision of the Internet o Early Days for Web3 Dynamic and fast changing Controversy (Musk v. Dorsey v. Andressen) Top VCs See a Transformative opportunity o History of platform transitions Move from text to GUIs (1980s) Move from on-prem to cloud (1990s – 2000s) Move to mobile (2007/iPhone) Chapter 2: Core Technology o Understanding blockchain The basic elements Pros/cons of the technology Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies Becoming mainstream o 2.2 Web3 is built on blockchain A common blockchain for Web3 is Ethereum User adoption/build goodwill (eg, give away tokens) Chapter 3: Development o Different mindset for developers Data Transparency of the blockchain ledger Startups will likely need to do their own training of employees, at least in the early stages o 3.2 Web3 app development stack Web 3 libraries/dApps Interface with the blockchain Web3.js, ethers.js and web3.py Smart contracts Usually written in Solidity with the Remix IDE Other libraries: Truffle, Hardhat and Brownie Nodes Web3 providers Allows for interaction with smart contracts 3.2.4 Wallets Verify transactions Third parties like MetaMask Can create a wallet in JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Go or PHP. Chapter 4: Decentralized Autonomous Organizations or DAOs o 4.1 What is it? DAO is a member-owned online community governed by the users No centralized leadership Votes are written in smart contracts Governance embedded in smart contracts Users coordinate activities Focused on transparency Chapter 5: Infrastructure Startup o State of the infrastructure Still immature but evolving quickly Will see lots of investment High capital requirements o Incentives for infrastructure builders Different from open source model o Emerging crypto stack The emerging crypto dev stack Custody, nodes, on/off chain, on/off ramps, layers o Cryptography Innovations Prove a password/credentials without having to store the data Very important in light of the continued rise in hacks/breaches/ransomware o Types of Infrastructure companies and business models o Examples of some startups Chapter 6: Consumer Application Startup o NFTs an early use case of Web3 The Creator Economy Artists, musicians, actors, game developers Connect without intermediaries Create new revenue streams Fans become stakeholders Determine authenticity Only one (no copycats) How to spend/earn NFTs NFT marketplaces o 6.2 DeFi Apps for saving, lending, exchange One of the biggest opportunities for startups in regard to Web3 How DeFi is different from centralized finance (banks, credit card issuers, even PayPal, Square) Borderless, peer-to-peer, 24/7 Access to the unbanked Transform the back-end of finance Crypto-native analogs for every financial service (forex, options, insurance, etc) o Next generation social media companies How this works using a decentralized model, where users own their own data o Examples of some consumer application startups Chapter 7: Enterprise Applications o 6.3 Enterprise applications 6.3.1 Credentials, governance rights o 6.4 Technology/Code 6.4.1 ETH, systems o Examples of some enterprise application startups Chapter 8: Vertical Plays o Examples: web3 to decentralize energy usage/distribution, applications in healthcare, etc. Chapter 9: Metaverse o 8.1 What is it? 8.1.1 Facebook is working on this and it will take time for its vision to become a reality 8.1.2 But there are metaverses emerging, especially in gaming/world building platforms like Roblox 8.1.3 Web3 will be important because these worlds will be economies, requiring crypto for transactions. In fact, these are really about NFTs 8.1.4 There are also enterprise applications: video conferences/meetings, training Chapter 10: Regulation o Wild Wild West o The fraud problem o How regulation may impact Web3 Resources o Influencers o Websites o Podcasts Glossary
