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You remember the promises of Web3, right? Decentralization. Ownership. An internet without Zuckerbergs breathing down your digital neck. Your wallet, your data, your rules.
But somewhere along the way, something went sideways. Slowly, stealthily, Web3 started morphing back into the same old crap we tried to escape from. Web2.5 if you’re being generous, Web2 with a blockchain if you’re being honest.
Let’s break this down before we all wake up in a metaverse ruled by Facebook clones in NFT suits.
The Glorious Web3 Dream (And Where It Died)
Back in the good ol’ bull days, Web3 was the promised land.
- DAOs were going to replace corporations.
- NFTs would free creators from middlemen.
- Decentralized finance would stick it to the banks.
- And platforms? Pfft. Who needs them when everything’s on-chain?
But here’s the kicker: As adoption grew, so did the urge to simplify, to control, and to profit. And suddenly, boom — in walks Web2 in a trench coat, trying to blend in.
Signs You’re Actually in Web2
Here’s your handy checklist to know when you’re being bamboozled:
- You need to sign in with email on a “decentralized” app
- The project has a CEO… and a VC board
- You can’t do sh*t without Metamask — but only in Chrome
- Gas fees go brrrr for every click
- The DAO is 5 whales and a Discord mod named Chad
- Terms of service are longer than the Bible
Yeah… not exactly the permissionless utopia we signed up for.
Centralization in Web3? It’s Already Happening.
Let’s get real for a minute.
- L2s and bridges are owned by centralized teams.
- Token allocations? VCs get theirs first, you get leftovers.
- NFT marketplaces delist content at the drop of a DMCA.
- Decentralized apps still rely on Amazon servers (yes, that Amazon).
Even DAOs — the holy grail of decentralization — are turning into governance theater. Most voters are idle, whales push every decision, and Snapshot votes are just feel-good clicks.
Web3 promised liberation, but all too often it delivers the illusion of choice and the same centralized power in shinier wrappers.
Why Are We Slipping Backwards?
Two reasons: Convenience and Greed.
- Convenience – Most users don’t want to self-custody, deal with private keys, or figure out wallets. They want “Sign in with Google,” even in the metaverse.
- Greed – Startups need money. VCs want exits. Protocols bend over backwards to “scale” by adding backdoors, admin keys, and backroom deals.
And so, the path of least resistance is Web2-style centralization with Web3 branding. It’s safer. Easier. But it sure as hell isn’t decentralized.
So What the F*ck Do We Do?
We’re not saying all hope is lost. But we do need to call out the BS. If we want Web3 to live up to the hype:
- Use decentralized infra. Ditch Amazon, host on IPFS, run a node.
- Support real DAOs. Not just ones with a Discord and a logo.
- Back projects with public goods, not just private gains.
- Educate. If people don’t know the difference, they’ll accept centralization by default.
And maybe — just maybe — we stop glorifying Web3 startups that behave like Web2 titans just because they added a token.
Related: Let’s Be Honest: Most Crypto Projects Are Just Bullshit Wrapped in a Sexy Website
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let the Web2 Bastards Win
Web3 was supposed to be the revolution. The great escape.
But if we don’t stay vigilant, we’ll end up paying for our own data, again, only this time in ETH.
The future isn’t written yet. But if we keep acting like users instead of owners, we’ll get the same ol’ walled gardens — just with JPEGs.
So yeah — DYOR. Use real Web3. And for Satoshi’s sake, don’t let Mark Zuckerberg win twice.
- Ethereum Is Cooking Again: Are You Gonna Ride or Cry? - June 30, 2025
- Bitcoin: Everyone’s Scared, But The Charts Are Screaming “It Ain’t Over!” - June 25, 2025
- The Centralized Trap: Is Web3 Quietly Turning Back Into Web2? - June 24, 2025
