Rewind the clock 33 years, and you’ll find that the World Wide Web was driving innovation, connecting people, and encouraging creativity right out of the box.
With each version of the web, the world’s internet architects have found more capabilities on which to build. Starting with Web1 in the 1990s, these “builders” harnessed the “read-only web” to introduce us to a host of breakthroughs we now take for granted, including email and file transfer, while bridging vast geographical distances with the help of open-source protocols.
By the 2000s, Web2 had enabled users to leave their own mark on cyberspace through personal pages, self-generated content, and social media. This “social web” saw the dawn of near-instantaneous e-commerce, the ability to book medical appointments online and, in some places, even voting for elected representatives.
Yet an increase in online freedoms and capabilities has come at a hidden cost: the creation of a more centralized Internet. What was once a marketplace of service providers has since ossified into a chosen few offerings, while tech behemoths routinely harness economies of scale to amass vast political power, build up mind-boggling amounts of global wealth, and scrape and sell users’ data in pursuit of profit.
Consensys, a company at the forefront of blockchain innovation, believes Web3 to be the answer. The firm has long been a conduit for this open-source, decentralized internet layer built by the people, for the people, and has worked to fulfill its promise of fundamentally transforming the way we relate, create, and do business among one another.
With applications such as MetaMask—the world’s most popular self-custody wallet—Consensys has been helping users enter the decentralized web for nearly a decade. By providing secure access to applications incentivized by cryptocurrencies, MetaMask empowers individuals to participate in creating a more transparent internet. The Consensys product suite also includes Infura, Linea, Diligence, and NFT toolkit Phosphor, which has seen the company become a trusted collaborator for users, creators, and developers worldwide.
“We are facing the dawn of a new internet paradigm that promises empowerment and data sovereignty for all,” explains Joseph Lubin, CEO and founder of Consensys, and one of Web3’s leading thinkers. “Unlike the current internet, dominated by a few giant corporations that exploit user data, Web3 is driven by thousands of people worldwide, united in the pursuit of building a more equitable world where power is decentralized.”
Yet the next iteration of the World Wide Web is under increasing regulatory scrutiny, which builders argue has slowed innovation and cost ordinary people their livelihoods. Agencies such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission have pursued an aggressive enforcement agenda against Web3 operators, infrastructure providers, and developers. According to the industry, communities of innovators are already being affected.
Now, Consensys is working to take their stories public. “We recognize that each individual, regardless of their role, contributes a unique thread to the tapestry of Web3, expanding our understanding and appreciation of what it means to be a builder,” says Lubin. “That’s why we created the Builder Stories initiative, which celebrates the vibrant global community of those using our suite of tools, amplifying the voices of the builders driving Web3's evolution.”
These short films traverse the globe, ranging from the bustling streets of tech hubs like Bangalore, to an artist’s quiet studio in Chicoutimi, Canada. Each interview highlights experiences entrepreneurs have using and building in Web3 to capture the essence of innovation and community, while showcasing how Web3 has become a beacon of global impact and reach for so many.
“With this decentralized ecosystem, individuals have the autonomy to control what information they share,” Lubin adds.
Resetting the clock back to the original values on which the internet was built is a key part of this online movement, ensuring that anyone can contribute to the building of a new World Wide Web. Across a tech landscape where decentralization, transparency, and pseudonymity are fading fast, Consensys is eager to support those keeping the internet’s founding vision alive. Follow the Builder Stories series to hear more from the voices that make that future possible.
