Web3 is the future of the internet, and since we’re a species driven by innovation, everyone’s been talking about it. However, talking about Web3 is different from experiencing it. For many people, the concept remains vague–and for others, it’s nothing but a marketing buzzword.

But for millions of people who have made the leap, Web3 is real. When you eventually understand it, you’ll love this next phase of the internet. Several articles explain everything to know about Web3, but very few talk about how to cross over. Let’s dive into some fun ways to get into the Web3 space.

What is Web3 About?

Web3 isn’t a single entity. It’s a collection of everything that represents the internet’s next generation, focusing on shifting power from corporations to individual users. The process of having users hold power is called decentralization.

In this next gen Internet, we won’t have to depend on companies like Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, or Google to power users’ experiences. Powering the internet’s user experience makes it seem like these big tech companies own everything (also known as centralization).

Web3 solves that problem, such that individuals can now create—and own their creations. Users also participate in the governance of infrastructures powering that phase of the internet. This is possible thanks to the fundamental infrastructure of Web3, the blockchain.

The concept of blockchain came to life when Satoshi Nakamoto launched Bitcoin in 2009. In the years that followed, the world’s brilliant developers quickly expanded the scope of blockchain. Now, an array of concepts that sprung up from there are thriving and gaining momentum. Surely, you’ve heard of NFTs, cryptocurrency, Ethereum, Metaverse, DeFi, or play-to-earn games.

Now, you may wonder how you can partake in Web3. You’ll be happy to know that you don’t have to discard your current Web2 infrastructures, like your WhatsApp, Twitter, or Google, account. So don’t expect a transition into Web3 to involve a complete shutdown of the internet as we know it. There are fun, seamless steps you can take that instantly make you a part of Web3 (while still remaining on Web2).

Fun Ways to Get Into Web3

Crossing over into the Web3 space is easy. Admittedly, it can be confusing and overwhelming for a newbie. But if you take your time, you’ll get the hang of it. It’s best to start with any of these Web3 concepts.

NFT Gaming

Games are fun, and a lot of people spend so much time enjoying them. However, Web3 takes things further by creating a system where gamers can make money while gaming. This is popularly called NFT gaming.

NFT games are designed to wholly or partially use blockchain technology in their gameplay. In these games, players enjoy gameplay activities like every other traditional game and collect digital items called NFTs. They may be ‘nitro’ in a car race game, coins, or weapons in a war game.

All these collectibles in crypto games are NFTs because the players own them. Thus, unlike Call of Duty, where players don’t own their weapons, you can play Battle Infinity and own the assets you win and buy. Owning these digital assets means you can sell them for fiat money. This concept is called play-to-earn (or P2E).

There are numerous play-to-earn games, including Axie Infinity, NBA Top Shot, The Sandbox, and Decentraland. As of January 2022, there were about 398 blockchain games—which means you’ve got a large pool of games to choose from when you decide to jump in.

Many of these games are fantasy games. For instance, in Sorare, players get to trade and manage a virtual team via digital cards representing the real-life performance of football players. 

Metaverse

It’s almost impossible to have used social media in the past couple of years without having heard ‘Metaverse.’ The Google search for Metaverse hit the roof when Facebook changed its name to ‘Meta.’

The Metaverse concept, however, isn’t entirely new. It’s more like AR and VR built on the blockchain. But it comes with the added benefits of ownership and governance. Essentially, users can also own assets in the Metaverse.

Currently, the Metaverse is widely related to games, but it has the potential for more. For instance, Facebook rebranded to Meta to build a virtual world for more inclusive and un-bordered social interactions while exchanging value.

The Metaverse is a new way to explore and interact with other humans, brands, and activities. With the heavy investments going into the Metaverse, it’s only a matter of time before the characteristic immersive experience becomes ubiquitous.

Shopping

Shopping is one of the world’s most fun activities. More so, online shopping provides a higher level of access and ease of acquisition. These values are what Blocto brought to both newbies and crypto experts via its partnership with Yahoo Taiwan, for example.

With the launch of the Yahoo Taiwan NFT store, you can easily become a part of Web3. Blocto powers identity and ownership on the platform. Like every NFT marketplace, once you have a wallet address, you can easily buy and sell NFTs you like.

However, the Yahoo Taiwan NFT store offers beyond what you’ll get from regular marketplaces. On this new platform, you’ll only find NFTs with real-world value. Furthermore, thanks to the innovative wallet technology of Blocto, you can easily start buying your first NFT. The partnership goes further to facilitate making purchases with fiat money.

Once you have these NFTs, you get included in Yahoo Taiwan’s points program and prioritized for limited product offers. What a fun way to get started in Web3!

How Businesses can Get into Web3

Individuals are having fun on the blockchain, but not many brands are getting onboard to develop creations and products for Web3. For brands that have shown interest, however,  getting started can be overwhelming since there are several blockchains in existence.

Though interoperability is a thing, you still need to choose the best primary blockchain to build your entity on. This is where Aptos comes in. The Layer 1 blockchain developed by Aptos Labs is based on the proof-of-stake model.

The proof-of-stake consensus is a type of validation mechanism on the blockchain, where users stake their crypto funds in a network, which consequently serves as an economic reason for them to participate in making the best decision for the network.

So far, several developers have begun using the Move programming language to create applications and products that will refine the Web3 user experience. New businesses can also get started building by leveraging our Aptos Ecosystem Fund, speeding up the integration and user acquisition process.

Conclusion

Both individuals and businesses can easily cross over into the Web3 space. You don’t have to understand everything all at once. Keep an open mind, and be ready to learn. That’s when the fun begins!