What is Web3?

Web3 is the next generation of the internet: a decentralized, user-driven ecosystem where individuals truly own their content, data, and online presence. Unlike Web2 (the current internet), where platforms like social media or marketplaces control what you share and often take a cut of your earnings, Web3 puts the power back into your hands.

At its core, Web3 uses blockchain technology to ensure ownership and transparency. Your content, products, and interactions are stored in a decentralized system, meaning no single company or platform has control.

What’s The Problem With The Current Web?

The internet today, often called Web2, is highly centralized. This means that most of the websites, apps, and services you use every day—like social media, cloud storage, or online marketplaces—are controlled by a handful of large companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Here's how it works and why it's a problem:

How the Current Internet Works

  • Centralized Servers: When you post content or upload files online, they are stored on servers owned by these companies.

  • Controlled Access: They decide how and when your content is displayed, who can see it, and whether it stays online.

  • Profit-Driven Gatekeepers: These companies profit from your data by using it to sell ads or by charging you fees for using their platforms.

The Need for Change

The current internet is built around centralization, benefiting a few companies while limiting individual freedom and ownership. Web3, through tools like IndieNode, flips this system by decentralizing data and giving control back to the users.

How IndieNode Uses Web3

Servers are the backbone of today’s internet. They store and serve data (the physical 1s and 0s of your content) to make it accessible online. These servers are physical computers owned and maintained by individuals or corporations, requiring constant power and upkeep. When IndieNode set out to transfer ownership from corporations to creators and consumers, we needed a way to replace these centralized servers. Luckily, protocols like IPFS and OrbitDB were designed for this purpose, enabling decentralized storage and data management. We utilize these these tools to empower IndieNode Users in the following ways:

  • You (and your peers) Are The Server: When you generate a shop, its data is stored on your computer. When other users access your shop, they are connecting their computer to yours. As long as your computer is on and IndieNode is running, anyone in the world can access your shop. When others visit your shop, they also download a copy of your shop data and host it for you…

  • You Control Access: As the host of your data, you decide how and when it’s shared. There are no centralized algorithms to bury your content and no companies to restrict access to it.

  • You Keep The Profits: By facilitating transactions with Ethereum, IndieNode removes centralized institutions and intermediaries, ensuring that you retain 100% of your earnings. No fees, no middlemen, just direct transactions between you and your customers.