a16z partner: Is a Web3 application mixed with centralized services still considered Web3?
Original Author: Chris Dixon
Rhythm BlockBeats news, on January 24, a16z partner Chris Dixon posted on social media that there are many criticisms of Web 3 in the market because many people think that Web 3 is not actually decentralized, because many Web 3 applications A mix of centralized services, such as the Opensea NFT marketplace, and the Alchemy data availability service. However, this criticism is actually based on a wrong understanding of "decentralization".
There will be centralized services in Web 3, just like in Web 1. The key question for Web 3 is whether network effects are based on “private goods” (as done in Web 2) or “public goods” (as done in Web 1). The network effect is the source of attracting users and developers. If the big Vs leave Twitter, they will lose the fans they have accumulated over the years, because in Web 2, the network effect is driven by private companies like Twitter.
In contrast, we can leave our web hosting provider and switch DNS records to preserve inbound links, search rankings, etc. This is because in web1, network effects accumulate as a public resource due to open protocols like HTTP and SMTP, and community-owned services like DNS. The Internet's killer app is actually "the network" — the Web and email are the network, social apps like Instagram and Twitter are the network, and marketplaces like Uber and Airbnb are the network. Network effects allow networks owned by companies like Facebook and Twitter to achieve dominance and very high customer acquisition rates (Web 2 market acquisition rates range from 30%-100%).
Blockchains offer a powerful new way to build networks where network effects accumulate as public goods, as was done in Web 1, e.g. Ethereum NFTs can be seen as users and NFTs interoperate and form connections The network, built on the Ethereum blockchain, gives users complete control over their data. There are many centralized services that give you access to the web, including OpenSea, Zora, LooksRare, etc., but they do not create network effects.
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