Four Important Narratives in the Web3 Space
Not all narratives are equal!
With the ever increasing awareness, expansion and adoption of Web3 throughout the world — it should come as no surprise that some aspects of the space draw more attention than others. Both the good, and the bad, of blockchain technology has been laid bare for everyone to see — and some people REALLY don’t like it! Onboarding people from “the outside” into Web3 (via NFTs, games, communities, etc.) is a notoriously challenging task. It can be said that one of the biggest barriers to entry is the lack of knowledge the average person has about the Web3 space — and those that do take that leap and explore the space on their own often have to learn things the hard way.
People tend to follow narratives when making decisions on the things they decide to become involved with — but not all narratives are equal. In Web3, there are so many projects making false promises that it’s easy to be lured into making bad choices (trust me… being rugged is no fun…). So the identification of “strong narratives” is a great skill for people who venture into the Web3 space to develop. But what narratives ARE strong? And what kinds of projects have the capacity to deliver what they’re setting out to achieve?
Those a great questions! And I’ll cover a few of these Web3 projects here! In this article you’ll learn about four strong narratives to keep a look out for within the Web3 space — as well as some of the strongest projects based around those narratives that may help guide you in making informed decisions in the future.
This is Not Financial Advice! (I had to sneak that disclaimer in somewhere!)
Contents:
#1. Education in Web3
The majority of us within the Web3 space found ourselves here after various circumstances guided us — for example: maybe you were interested in one specific cryptocurrency and joined a community around it; or you found a JPEG you really liked, decided to buy it, and found thousands of others that did the same thing; or you thought it would be an easy way to “get rich quick”… No judgement from me — I came for the JPEGs! But there’s one glaring issue that was never really addressed — most of us have no idea what we’re doing… Or why!
If I had the power of time travel — I would have gone back in time and made sure my past self was more informed on how the Web3 space operates. Just having interest isn’t enough — you should be aiming to make the best possible decisions for yourself because, after all, it’s your time and money! But that then leads on to an important question — what would YOU want to have known before you started your Web3 journey?
From how non-fungible tokens (NFTs) work to how to set up wallets for various purposes, spotting sound projects with a solid team to all of the Web3 native lingo, there’s a lot to take in and digest. Finding a proper starting point is challenging. But, believe it or not, there are projects out there that aim to educate and empower you so you can make the best decisions. Here are two I think you should pay attention to:
DegenU
This Solana-based project has the aim of educating people, both inside and outside of the Web3 space, to make it easier for newcomers and veterans alike to navigate this new and expanding world of technology. By teaching people about important aspects of Web3 — DegenU aims to build a community of empowered individuals and reduce the steep learning curve associated with the space. Their education platform will consist of various modules that allow people to learn at their own pace and demonstrate to others that they have the necessary knowledge of the space with awards and certifications. If this is something you think you can get behind — check out their Twitter and have a read of their whitepaper for more!
Web3 University
With a wide variety of lessons and skill progressions (including blockchain programming, coding and creating smart contracts) Web3 University is a place for people who are serious about diving deeper into the world of blockchain technology! Learners have access to tutorials that offer a great mix of videos and articles to cater for different preferences when absorbing information. They support a variety of blockchains for you to choose from to enable you to decide your own path. And the best part? All of this content is essentially free to access! If you are interested in finding out more click here and you’ll potentially be on the path to learning lifechanging skills in the world of Web3!
#2. Employment in Web3
With an increasing number of projects launching, and tens of thousands of developers continuing to migrate and explore the space, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the jobs market in Web3 is gaining momentum. People are seeing blockchain technology as the future — and early adopters are usually the ones that become the biggest names in any given space. With the increase in projects and developer activity comes an increase in the demand for skilled individuals to work alongside up and coming teams in order to help them reach their potential. The question is where can these skilled individuals be found?
In Web2 we have multiple avenues to determine the credentials of both employers and employees (for example, sites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Monster). However, employment within Web3 is often a more complex and risky undertaking for both parties involved. People hoping to work have to ensure that the project they are interested in has a positive track record (e.g. having a well-known team). And projects looking to hire a candidate to fill a position find it challenging to verify the skills of the individuals applying for roles (as the Web3 world has a strong emphasis on anonymity). So, how do we resolve these issues in a way where both parties are satisfied to move forward with employment?
Different blockchain ecosystems have come up with various answers. But two of the best projects that I have discovered for this very purpose are primarily associated with the Solana blockchain. By setting up systems that enable a “Web3 CV” and a “Professional Profile” to be created — Solful and Rethinkable have shown the Web3 world how recruiting and networking can be done!
Soulful
Solful is a project based on the Solana Blockchain that uses its NFTs as a means of access to its full range of Web3 employment tools while allowing the user to maintain their anonymity. Basic accounts are free to create and are a great way to get started! Their custom site allows users to create a full Web3 profile (including a CV, links to past work via a portfolio and even a built-in messaging service) to allow prospective employers the ability to review them prior to potentially assigning them work. The website also has sections for education, news and tools that are accessible to holders of one of their NFTs. The best way to keep up to date with all of their upcoming news is by following their Twitter!
Rethinkable
Rethinkable is a Web3 jobs marketplace that emphasises transparency, security and verification in order to reduce the key barriers that exists between projects, individuals and communities. Their goal is to create an infrastructure for projects and individuals alike to interact in a professional capacity in regards to the recruitment process. From the assistance and creation of personal Web3 résumés, to their recently launched website that aims to become “the LinkedIn of Web3 with a full suite of features” — Rethinkable is a project that you’re sure to be hearing more from soon! They already have a functional, widely adopted Discord Jobs Bot that gives projects a quick, effective and efficient way to find talented individuals in the Web3 space that are looking for work! Head over to their Discord and check it out!
#3. Analytics in Web3
Here’s the bottom line of why most of us are here in the world of Web3 — TO MAKE MONEY! This should seem like an obvious fact, right? So why are so many people in the space losing money on a consistent basis? Is it because of bad luck? Sometimes… But what if I told you there are ways to make your own luck?
The use of analytics tools is nothing new. With more than 300 million people worldwide using cryptocurrencies — having the ability to accurately track the price action of your chosen coins and tokens has become an essential skill in order to succeed. But what about a more niche subsection of crypto that is steadily becoming more recognised by society at large? NFT’s are the future and there’s no denying that now, especially with the adoption of this technology by BIG real world companies such as Mercedes and also recently Nike. With assets of such importance — the need to accurately keep track of them becomes apparent. So now the question is: what are the best ways to do this? These two projects offer some great solutions!
Moonly
Moonly acts as an aggregated hub of tools, all in one place, that enables individuals to get the most out of their NFTs by providing real-time information on a multitude of projects. While they are primarily based on Solana, the Moonly Website also covers other blockchains (such as Ethereum, NEAR, Aptos and Polygon) and allows its users access to metrics such as mint prices and times, floor prices and thickness, upcoming popular mints, project social media activity and much more!
Holders of their NFTs get additional access to other tools and areas on their website — and new features, updates and improvements are constantly happening! This will be one of the premier projects on any blockchain soon. It’s only a matter of time before people realise just how powerful Moonly can be for them! For more info go and check out their Twitter page (and drop them a follow while you’re there!)
Wise Whales
In a space as unpredictable as Web3 — just having money isn’t enough. It’s the smart money that counts when it comes to making real profits! Wise Whales is a Solana-based project that enables the holders of its NFTs the ability to view, track and even follow along with the movements and trading patterns of the most profitable wallets in the space. With this information, holders have access to historical data and powerful tools enabling them to make the most informed investment decisions possible. And they don’t just track NFTs — DeFi positions and tokens are also analysed! The information gained from their suite of tools makes them a truly impressive analytics project! Check out more information about them here!
#4 Privacy & Anonymity in Web3
Due to the nature of Web3, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people value anonymity. From using wallet addresses to making the “face” of your public image into one of your favourite NFTs — there are numerous ways to have some form of privacy. This is commonly known as “Pseudonymity” — where people in the space act as themselves but choose to interact using their NFTs as their profile pictures and adopting a nickname. This is a great start… But then you have to remember that most sign in and communication methods used by people in the Web3 space are not designed with anonymity in mind! Discord, Twitter, Instagram— if someone with malicious intent wants to find you they could!
So what’s the answer? Projects in the Web3 space have been trying to find ways to offer higher levels of anonymity to users — and some of them are great at what they do! Need an anonymous email to use alongside your Web3 pseudonymity? Here’s one that’s highly recommended! Want to mask your computers IP address? Choose a trustworthy VPN! But what about other aspects that are often overlooked? Here are two projects that you really should pay close attention to if you value your privacy!
Vula
Are you sick of being asked to sign up to every single site that requires and email address just to use some of their basic functions? Annoyed at the prospect of yet another company spamming your inbox with messages you don’t read? Take a look at what Vula is doing!
They have created an NFT that allows its holders to access locked content (e.g. content that usually requires sign ups and/or subscriptions) via their website that acts as a portal. This means as long as you hold a Vula NFT, you can access any content on their portal with just a couple of clicks! No more handing out information that gets sold on to numerous other parties. No more overwhelming amounts of spam messages in your inbox. Just click and access the content you want! I already know you’re interested in this one — so check out their Twitter and have a little read of their litepaper to learn more!
Aardvark Technologies
Aardvark Technologies is a project that has developed a system allowing users to access a wallet-to-wallet messaging service that facilitates truly anonymous communication. And the best part? It can be used across blockchains with varying wallets! Currently only Ethereum and Solana are supported — with more to come soon! In the near future, it won’t matter what wallet or chain you use — you’ll be able to communicate with true anonymity! Now, I can hear some people asking the obvious question: “Can’t a system like this be used for nefarious purposes?”. The answer is yes… But remember — everything, including things created with good intentions, can be misused! The team at Aardvark are working on integrating other features into their systems (such as direct trading, in-system payment methods, content management capabilities, etc.) and is a project that could very well be the future of Web3 communications! Give their Twitter a follow and take a look at their documentation for more info!
Summary
When you think of the vastness of the entire Web3 space — it’s easy to become overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. This is why identifying narratives that are important to you are so crucial.
We have discussed a few of the key narratives in the Web3 & cryptocurrency spaces — with applications to all of the blockchains (Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Binance, etc.) and a few projects that could be considered gold standards in regards to their execution. With more people exploring Web3 by the day, it will become essential for a place that properly educates newcomers with the necessary information to exist. Similarly, with the number of Web3 projects growing constantly — the need for skilled individuals and the companies looking to hire them to have some way to connect is important.
If you’ve been in the space for any period of time (NFT’s or otherwise) you’ll understand the need for a solid analytics platform that enables you to make the best financial decisions possible. And lastly, privacy should be an option to those that value it! Pseudonymity, and by extension anonymity, gives you back control of your information. Just don’t use it the wrong way… The world outside of Web3 thinks we are shady enough already!
