Web3 will be defined by “token effects” and not traditional network effects. What does that mean? Token-based projects have a better shot at building powerful and useful networks that are user-owned and operated. (visualized brilliantly by @LeConcurrential)

Crypto’s network effects can create unbelievably fast-growing businesses with moats.

Web2 moat: network effect Web3 moat: composability

Community as the killer app for web3, owned by the people leading and participating in them, and orchestrated by tokens.Communities Beat Individuals Any Day of the Week.

It seems obvious that applications, not general-purpose networks, will capture the majority of cash flows generated in these systems over the long-run. This is already playing out. Apps have all of the leverage and pricing power with the end-customer. There’s still a big question though – how much MEV leakage will these apps leave around for the ch... See more

Web3 platforms also have the potential to unlock a novel and especially powerful form of network effect through community engagement and social cohesion. 

Web3 in its current form is also exacerbating inequalities. Web3 projects commonly issue crypto tokens as digital representations of value. Early versions of token distributions have led to unsustainable dynamics wherein speculators are rewarded instead of those who are adding consistent value to networks through actual usage.

Like Web 2.0 platforms, a well-designed crypto network is a live, running service, and it too can be the basis of strong network effects that create switching costs. Given that crypto networks rely on open source code, it’s true that they can be more easily copied (or forked). But while replication of code may be free, the social cost of coordinati... See more