The Next Billion Users
Web3 without anyone needing to know what is Web3.
Usability is the barrier preventing the next billion users from onboarding to web3.
There are barely 100 million web3 users in the world today, however, there are over 5 billion web2 users. We've barely scratched the surface of the potential of a decentralized value-based internet. Umbrella believes that addressing "useability" is the necessary key to opening the floodgates for the internet to transition from web2 to web3.
The Next Billion Won't Know They're Using Web3
The next billion users onboarded into web3 won't understand, know, or care, that they're using a web3 application. To them, it will simply continue to be the internet. Product value propositions and unique experiences enhanced with web3 features will drive adoption.
The Educational Fallacy - An Invisible Wall
Only a small fraction of internet (aka web2) users can explain how the internet works, yet the majority of web3 users can explain how blockchains function and even go into depth on various network types.
This shows that education - while important for the "technical adoption" of the internet - played a small role in the "mass adoption" of it. It was applications that solved problems and added value to the lives of individuals and businesses that rose during the web2 era. Before this web2 was looked at scoffingly. There wasn't a reason anyone wanted to adopt it, until they were given a reason. Whether that was to buy something, learn something, or watch something. Web3 has been facing a similar hurdle toward adoption that's been blamed on education. The current rhetoric is "we need to educate the masses for them to understand the innovations we're working on."
Umbrella's rhetoric is more like, "we should build web3 apps that enhance the experience users feel in web2 rather than taking away from it."
To be totally clear, education is super important! Not only for developers but for business owners, governments, NGOs, investors, etc. When we talk about "mass adoption" then education becomes less relevant. Simply, 99% of the 5 billion web2 users aren't going to spend the time to educate themselves about the complexities of web3. Then go on to download wallets and lose thousands speculating on the space like most of us have done in the last several years. This financial loss is considered a learning lesson that every member of the community has faced in one way or another. Our core philosophy is built around this not being feasible behavior for a "web3 journey" that is friendly to all.
Last updated
