Download Trust Wallet
Home  >  Glossary  >   Web3

Web3

Updated on: Mar 24, 2026
Share post
In Brief

The next evolution of the internet built on blockchain technology, enabling decentralized applications, user-owned data, and peer-to-peer interactions without relying on centralized intermediaries.

 Web3

What Is Web3?

Web3 is the next evolution of the internet built on blockchain technology. It describes a decentralized online ecosystem where users own their data, digital assets, and identities — without relying on centralized platforms like Google, Meta, or traditional banks.

The term was coined by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood in 2014 as a vision for a more open, trustless, and permissionless internet.

The Evolution of the Web

Era Description Control
Web1 (1990s–2000s)Read-only static websitesDecentralized but limited
Web2 (2000s–present)Interactive social platforms, appsCentralized corporations
Web3 (emerging)Blockchain-based, user-owned internetDecentralized, user-controlled

Core Principles of Web3

Decentralization

No single company controls the network. Applications run on distributed blockchain infrastructure maintained by independent nodes.

User Ownership

Users own their digital assets — tokens, NFTs, in-game items — as entries on a public blockchain, not as data in a company's database.

Trustless Interactions

Smart contracts automatically execute agreements based on code, removing the need to trust a third party.

Permissionless Access

Anyone with an internet connection and a crypto wallet can access Web3 applications — no sign-ups, ID verification, or geographic restrictions.

Key Components of Web3

Web3 and Trust Wallet

Trust Wallet is your gateway to Web3. With the built-in DApp browser, you can connect your wallet to thousands of decentralized applications across multiple blockchains — from DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces to blockchain games and DAOs — all without handing control of your assets to a third party.

Simple and convenient
to use, seamless to explore

Download Trust Wallet