Right now, there’s a clear distinction.
Crypto products feel different.
They look different. They behave differently. They require a different mindset.
You don’t just use them.
You interact with them.
But that distinction won’t last.
Because the next phase of Web3 isn’t about better crypto products.
It’s about building better internet products.
What Defines a “Crypto Product” Today
Most crypto products share common traits.
They:
- Require wallets
- Expose blockchain mechanics
- Focus on tokens
- Assume user familiarity with the space
They’re built around the technology.
Not the user.
Which is why they often feel separate from everything else online.
Why This Model Doesn’t Scale
Crypto products work for:
- Early adopters
- Technical users
- Speculative participants
But they don’t work for:
- Everyday users
- Non-technical audiences
- People outside the ecosystem
Because they require:
- Learning new systems
- Understanding unfamiliar concepts
- Accepting higher levels of risk
This limits adoption.
What an “Internet Product” Looks Like
Internet products are defined by simplicity.
They:
- Work immediately
- Feel intuitive
- Require minimal explanation
Users:
- Sign up
- Use the product
- Get value
Without thinking about:
- Infrastructure
- Architecture
- Underlying systems
The Shift That Needs to Happen
For Web3 to scale, the focus needs to change.
From:
- Showcasing blockchain
To:
- Delivering experience
From:
- Building crypto-native interfaces
To:
- Building user-native products
This means:
- Hiding complexity
- Simplifying interactions
- Prioritizing usability
Why the Technology Still Matters
This doesn’t mean removing Web3.
It means repositioning it.
Web3 becomes:
- The backend
- The infrastructure
- The advantage
Not the identity.
The product doesn’t stop being decentralized.
It just stops feeling like it.
The Role of Abstraction in This Transition
Abstraction enables this shift.
It allows:
- Wallets to feel like accounts
- Transactions to feel like actions
- Networks to become invisible
Users don’t need to understand:
- How it works
They need to:
- Use it
Why Branding Will Change
“Crypto product” signals complexity.
“Internet product” signals usability.
As systems improve:
- The crypto label fades
- The experience becomes primary
Users won’t choose products because they’re crypto.
They’ll choose them because they’re better.
The New Standard for Builders
Builders need to rethink priorities.
Instead of:
- Optimizing for token performance
- Highlighting decentralization
The focus becomes:
- User experience
- Product value
- Ease of use
Because the competition isn’t:
- Other crypto products
It’s:
- The entire internet
What This Means for Adoption
Adoption doesn’t happen when people learn crypto.
It happens when they don’t need to.
When:
- The experience is seamless
- The value is clear
- The system just works
That’s when Web3 stops being niche.
And becomes normal.
WTF does it all mean?
Crypto products were necessary.
They built the foundation.
But they’re not the end state.
The future isn’t about better crypto experiences.
It’s about experiences that don’t feel like crypto at all.
Because in the end, people don’t adopt technology.
They adopt products.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you want to understand how Web3 evolves from niche crypto tools into mainstream internet products, I break it down across my books.
Start here:
https://books.jasonansell.ca/
Or check out:
- Understanding Web3 – A practical breakdown of how these systems transition
https://books.jasonansell.ca/mastering-crypto-series/understanding-web3 - Understanding Blockchain – The foundation behind what powers these products
https://books.jasonansell.ca/mastering-crypto-series/understanding-blockchain - WTF Is Crypto? – A no-hype explanation of how the space actually works
https://books.jasonansell.ca/featured-book-titles/wtf-is-crypto
Related Glossary Terms
Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)
An organization governed by smart contracts and on-chain voting, without traditional management structures. DAO members hold governance tokens that give them voting power over proposals. All rules, funds, and decisions are recorded transparently on the blockchain.
Non-Fungible Token (NFT)
A unique digital token that represents ownership of a specific asset. Unlike fungible tokens (where each unit is identical), NFTs are distinct and non-interchangeable. NFTs are commonly used for digital art, collectibles, game items, and representations of real-world assets.
Web3
A vision for a decentralized internet built on blockchain technology, where users own their data, identity, and digital assets. Web3 evolves the web from read-only (Web1) and read-write (Web2) to read-write-own, using tokens, smart contracts, and decentralized protocols.
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