By Nathan Ferguson
Web services are not new to the mankind and have been known since years. Web service is a software program that helps in communicating over the internet by allowing computer to computer interaction. They have now molded themselves in the application programming interface (API) form.
The collection of all the related hypertext material that one can access online is known as web. The web pages containing multimedia can be accessed by the users using a web browser and he can shift between those by using the hyperlinks.
A number of advancements in the web interaction and its multiple applications in different domains such as in the utilization of the tools of artificial intelligence, process of making the content that is available on a number of Web3 browsers or non-browser applications or the creation of a geospatial web are collectively termed as “Web3”.
Here is a comprehensive article that will explain to the readers the working and functions of Web3 browser, and all the pros and cons related to it.
What is a Web3 Browser?
The users can develop an interaction with the dApps that are built on the blockchain technology by using the Web3 browsers. The main goal of all the Web3 advancements such as Metaverse, artificial intelligence or distributed ledger is the creation of the developed world internet services that offers multiple advantages and could be accessed by everyone in all parts of the world easily.
A completely new world of digital economies or decentralized apps (dApps) has been introduced to the world by the Web3 browser. Providing them security and privacy, it has allowed the users to surf over the decentralized web, integrate the crypto currencies and get the access to the decentralized apps similar to Brave.
Who Invented Web3 Browser?
In 1989, web was invented by Tim Berners Lee, an employer of The European Organization of Nuclear Research CERN that is located in Geneva, Switzerland. After the inception of web, Berners Lee has been participating actively to upgrade the web system. His efforts resulted in the creation of the Web3 that is Semantic web.
Key Features of Web3 Browser
Some of the distinct features of Web3 browser are mentioned below.
- Because of being decentralized, Web3 browser provides the users complete control over their content.
- It ensures the privacy of the user by making the identity of the user anonymous and confidential.
- Web3 browser has comparatively more browsing speed and performance.
- The most important feature of Web3 browser is the security it provides to the users and the transparency of its services.
- Web3 browser has the ability to integrate the crypto wallets with a number of blockchains.
- Web3 browser provides an immutable environment to the users. As per the intention of the content creators, it is trusted that people will download the digital products.
In addition to that, the numerous amount of macro Web1 content is converted into microcontent as the microcontent texts that are tagged in Web3 can be found using the search engines easily. One can make the search process more accurate by using the tagging system as it removes the uncertainty of the introduction of similar words in the search process.
Why is a Web3 Browser Needed?
In case the user wants to use the decentralized applications, he cannot access them using the browsers functioning currently. Therefore, it is the need of the time to implement Web3 browsers in the internet ecosystem.
Moreover, some of the decentralization applications require authorization to be accessed that can also only be done through Web3 browsers. After the inception of Web3, there are also some applications that are currently running and now only operate using the Web3 browser.
In addition to that, the data can be monetized by using the Web3 browsers that helps the content creators to earn money on their own without giving the large part of their earnings to the larger companies. The users are also paid for engaging with the content and watching the advertisements using the Web3 browsers.
Using the Web3 browsers, the system never collapses as a whole because of decentralization. In case some of the users face a loss in any condition, the system will still function properly for the rest of the users.
Impact of Web3 Browser on Online Experience
The decentralized applications that provide the opportunity to use the traditional features of any browser are normally known as Web3 browsers. These browsers provide the control of the data in the hands of the owner and help them keep a major share of the profit earned with themselves. Moreover, it also provides the users with the techniques and tools that helps them in storing their data beyond the centralized applications.
Working of a Web3 Browser
Web3 internet browsers have ensured for the users the availability and access to the digital economies and decentralized apps. The centralized institutions are wiped out and the users are controlled by the Web3 browser by providing leverage to the public blockchains and cryptography.
For viewing the chosen advertisements on the decentralized social media platforms carefully and for interacting with the content created there regularly, the users are paid financial rewards. Using the standard functions and use cases of the browsers has been made possible for the users because of Web3 browsers. The users can keep the ownership of the data intact and can also share the revenue earned from it by using the decentralized applications.
Using the Web2 browsers, the users can access the Web3 applications by using the Web3 wallets such as MetaMask. Similar to Safari and Firefox, Chrome is also a Web2 browser.
Methods to Use a Web3 Browser
Still maintaining the complete ownership of the assets and providing the functions of decentralized applications without any influence of the mediators allowing to access the decentralized applications, the Web3 wallets can be integrated with the traditional web browsers.
Furthermore, no Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures are required to access the Web3 economy. In addition to that, Web3 wallets can be used to store and manage the crypto assets effectively. Unlike the centralized wallets, one may end up losing the funds in case he loses his seed phrase. Therefore, it is essential for one to keep his seed phrases safe and protected.
Some Commonly Used Web3 Browsers
There are a number of Web3 browsers that are used commonly that are mentioned below.
- Opera Web3 browser
Opera Crypto Browser provides secure, private and coherent Web3 experience to the enthusiastic crypto and blockchain users. It provides multiple beneficial features to the users that may include the wallet selector, malicious address checker, a secure clipboard, phishing protection and the first multi wallet management tool of the industry.
A number of blockchains such as Bitcoin and layer-2 solutions, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible blockchain etc. and the built-in crypto wallets support tokens such as ERC-721, Ether and ERC-20. In addition to that, throughout the crypto environment Opera enjoys a strong partnership with companies like Polygon or Solana.
In order to stay connected with all kinds of communities the users can get the access to multiple social media platforms such as Twitter, Discord, Telegram, WhatsApp and other on the sidebar of the crypto browser desktop. Moreover, using the integrated Crypto Corner the users can also get the access to the instructional content, gas costs, event calendars, industry updates and future airdrops etc.
One needs to download the Opera Crypto Browser for Android, Windows or Mac (will be launched soon) for getting the hands on the Opera Web3 browser. Then to use the above-mentioned functions of the browser, the user can create an Opera wallet and in case he already has one, he can utilize it.
- Puma Web3 browser
Puma Browser was founded in January 2019, by a Ukrainian- Canadian developer named Yuriy Dybskiy. Using Interledger Protocol and Coil Content Network it provides the opportunity for the applications and game developers or the content creators to get coherent payments. In addition to that, it also provides the access to the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), Handshake (HNS) domains and Ethereum Name Service (ENS).
Web monetization behave in a sound way using the Puma browsers. In order to access the content created by the users, the coil members pay a charge of 5 dollars monthly. The content created is then used to make money as soon as the users that are interested set up the digital wallet.
The Coil Member who spends time on viewing this content then gets a reward of about 0.36 dollars per hour. The Coil adds the funds to the wallets of the Coil Members when they enjoy the content created on the platform.
- Brave Web3 browser
In addition to offering the free-to-use business model, Brave provides the features to the users that help in preserving their privacy. It is an open-source software that provides personalized news feed, offline playlists, fully autonomous search and free of cost video calls to enhance the super applications in the browser of the user.
Whenever the user visits the website, the trackers and obscene advertisements are by default banned by Brave. A streamlined interface for viewing and managing the collection of nonfungible tokens is provided to the users by using the feature of nonfungible token gallery offered by Brave.
Moreover, passive income can be earned in Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) by watching advertisements. The incorporation of the IPFS functionality is another distinct feature of the Brave Web3 browser. This feature provides the decentralized data storage by default and by distributing the storage of the file throughout the network, it helps in the reduction of concentration of data.
- Beaker Browser
The main feature of Beaker browser is the Hyperdrive, in a private mode that permits the users to host peer-to-peer website. The website can be accessed by the users only when they have a link to a Hyperdrive after its creation. A number of new APIs are offered by the Beaker browser in order to create applications without any host. While doing so, it still remains compatible with the remaining web.
Unlike most of the browsers that show the source code of the page whenever the visitor visits the page, Beaker displays the complete structure of the site to the users using a format similar to GitHub. Moreover, the fork of the website can also be hosted by the owner.
- Osiris Browser
Osiris is considered to be the very first neutral browser around the globe. The main goal of the browser is to set free the users from the boundaries of bias and censorship and commercialism that have deepened its roots in the internet domain. Osiris is a browser that is based on the blockchain technology and is surviving on its own without any money advertisement.
All the trackers and commercials are by default banned by Osiris. The number of advertisements and scripts that have been banned by the platform can be viewed and the privacy settings can be configured by the users by using the Osiris Armor. Moreover, a wallet is embedded in the browser and a number of cryptocurrencies are supported by the Metawallet offered by it. It helps the blockchain users by enhancing their Web3 experience.
Challenges for the Web3 Browser
Moving towards the decentralization of content and data, there are several challenges that are connected to the Web3 browsers. Some of them are mentioned below.
- Awareness
While getting an access to the Web3 browsers and the properties associated with it, the user should have the knowledge about that the particular blockchain that is being used for running the application and the tokens that are utilized by the user.
It can be understood that for all the blockchains and applications based on Ethereum, MetaMask can be used while accessing through Chrome. However, one can only use Phantom wallets for using the applications supported by Solana.
- Security Issues
Moving towards the decentralization of the data and assets arise the security issues. Many scammers use the Web3 browsers for trapping the users through fake and fraudulent websites. The cybercriminals use phishing schemes to steal the assets of the users. Many Web3 browsers such as Opera and Arnesen are building such tools that can help the users to avoid such scams.
- Cost for Transaction and Gas Fee
With the integration of Web3 browsers, one will require Ether to carry out all the tasks. Ether is considered as an expensive asset, and it requires high charges in order to carry out the transactions. Moreover, the high gas fee associated with it is also one of the main challenges for the users.
- Remembering the Seed Phrase
In order to secure the assets and funds, the user has to remember the seed phrase comprising of 12 words that could be a difficult task to do. In case one forgets or loses his seed phrase, he may end up losing all his assets and funds that could not be then recovered at any cost.
What is the Future of Web3 Browsers?
The torrents of advertisements over the internet and deceitful business practices became so common because of the absence of money transfer ability over the web platforms. The main goal of Web3 is arranging the information around the globe in such a manner that it cannot be achieved by the present Google search engine. It has promised to provide the opportunities to the content creators gamers and developers related to web monetization.
Supporting API calls, providing funds to essential web infrastructure and providing free, native and automatic ways of payments to the creators are some of the main functions of web monetization.
The most commonly used Web2 browser is Google Chrome and one can only access the decentralized applications using the Web3 wallets. Without any interference of the mediators, users have the access to control their assets, data and funds by using the wallets that are blockchain-friendly. Moreover, in order to enhance the experience of the users, peculiar solutions are required to shift towards the decentralized web.
In order to access the digital economy, Web3 browsers are essential as they provide a gateway to the decentralized applications. However, there is still a lot of research that has to be done regarding Web3 browsers and there are still many domains that have to be explored yet. But one cannot deny the fact, that in the present Web ecosystem, Web3 technologies hold a significant position.
The professionals and experts are of the view that the existing and upcoming Web3 browsers will keep on catering the needs of the blockchain users by continuously providing their services.
Conclusion
The world is now moving towards a new era of internet technology and the growth of Web3 browsers is one of the major evidences. The decentralized applications and cryptocurrencies are now transforming the world. Web3 browsers are now providing new digital experiences to the users.
The way that people perceived the internet and online services have been revolutionized by the use of Web3 browsers. The shift of the technology towards decentralization is now calling for new solutions to adapt to the digital economy easily.