Web3 is the future of the internet, whether we like it or not.
There, we said it.
Now, we can either resist the change and get left behind like our grandparents and smartphones, or we can hop on board.
And once you’re on board, why stop at just reluctantly accepting this new generation of the internet? Why not embrace it fully and use it to your advantage?
Because, even as you read this, there are great opportunities to invest in Web3 and set future you up for success.
What the heck is Web3?
There are several extremely complicated definitions of Web3 out there, so we’ll try to boil it down as simply as we can by comparing it to other generations of the internet.
Web 1: This is the first generation of the internet, the one with that ‘90s dial-up tone that those of us of a certain age all know and love.
There wasn’t much to do on there. Websites were self-hosted, full of static links that took you to similar websites full of more static links. There was really no way to communicate with company websites other than email.
Web 2: This is where we’re mostly at now. A lot has changed since the dial-up days. Internet users have become more connected.
We have social media and ways to interact not just with each other, but with corporations as well.
You can leave reviews on their website or social media pages and share information with your friends by liking posts, sharing posts, or reposting others’ information with your own two cents added.
Unfortunately, with so much information on the internet, it was only a matter of time before larger corporations started collecting it and using it for their marketing strategies in ways that users weren’t too appreciative of (junk mail, anyone?).
Web 3: This is where the internet is headed next. Web3 technology like blockchains, cryptocurrency, and NFTs aim to put data and ownership back into the hands of the users.
This is because data within Web3 is stored using blockchain technology.
Blockchains are like online ledgers that record information and transactions in a way that makes it impossible to hack into or change in any way. It gives users back control of their created content, their data, and their finances.
These blockchains are then duplicated and distributed across the entire decentralized network (a network of user computers rather than a single server) so you’ll never lose access to your data again.
Sort of how Google Drive or the Cloud operate. Except that if tech companies like Google or Apple were to suddenly vanish, any data we stored on their platforms would vanish with them, just like all of your Napster files did so very long ago (150 download hours, wasted!)
Not so with Web3. The information is yours and it will always be yours.
Web3 is also supporting decentralized finance, eliminating the need for banks or third parties and the fees that come with the territory. Funds can be sent user-to-user, which simplifies transactions and ensures that any work purchased is always attributed to its creator.
Basically, it changes who controls the information. This digital revolution has also created a whole new type of economy, ways to buy and sell products and services, and ways for you to be actively investing your money.
Here are some of the best ways you can get in on Web3 investing now.
Web3 Tokens
Web3 tokens or “crypto tokens” are digital assets that make up the blockchain economy.
They represent the value of a certain decentralized digital network, so buying them is a little like playing the stock market.
A good strategy for investing in tokens is to avoid putting all of your eggs in one digital basket. Choose a wide variety of different projects based on how good of an investment opportunity they seem to be or how likely you think they are to rise in price.
Just like the stock market, you won’t always get it right, but if you do, it could pay off in a big way for you later.
To play it safe, Web3 projects like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether are the top three in the market right now, so if you’re feeling lucky, go ahead and invest in some tokens now!
Web3 Stocks
Another way to play the crypto market is through Web3 stocks.
Unlike tokens, which represent the value of a digital network, a stock is a share of ownership in publicly traded companies.
Again, just like the stock market.
Web3 stocks are similar to tokens in that they are very volatile, meaning its worth is prone to speculation and scandal, and they are very liquid, which makes buying, selling, and trading them very easy to do.
The one benefit of investing in stocks over tokens is that a wise investor can assess a stock by analyzing the growth of its profits, costs, and other variables.
You can’t do that with a token, making stocks a bit of a safer gamble for you.
Find yourself a Web3 expert to help you find the stocks that could yield the most returns for future you.
Crypto Staking
Here’s another fun, new way to invest your cash.
Staking your cryptocurrency is a kind of passive investment that involves committing your crypto assets to support a certain blockchain network and give more validation to its transactions.
To put it simply, crypto staking lets you earn cryptocurrency as a reward for putting up your hard-earned money to essentially vouch for blockchain networks.
It’s a great way to earn passive income.
If you know what you’re doing, of course.
If you really believe in the long-term value of a certain project and you are willing to hold your tokens for a long period of time, this could be a very profitable opportunity for you.
You can earn rewards for supporting the network and the potential returns on your investment can be quite large with the right platform.
Just be sure to talk to an expert and do your research before you get yourself started.
NFTs
NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are digital art. You’ve probably heard of them before and we’re not surprised if you have, because they are in huge demand right now.
Not just by artists either.
Big companies like Adidas, Coca-Cola, and Formula 1 have branched out into the NFT market and enjoyed wildly successful campaigns because of it.
You can get in on that action too if you can find the right NFT opportunity.
Just like valuable baseball cards, NFTs can be sold in limited editions, so owning a rare one from a profitable collection can net you a huge profit later if you can find the right buyer.
And buying an NFT makes you not only the owner of the image, but a permanent token on the blockchain, so you don’t have to worry about anyone disputing your ownership.
Remember, an NFT can be anything from images to music to video game assets, so take your time looking around the market!
Best of all, when you buy your NFT, you’ll know that the entire proceeds from your sale went directly to the creator and not to any middleman.
As creatives, we can all appreciate that.
Buying Metaverse Property
Hey, don’t knock it til’ you try it!
Believe it or not, there is virtual property in the metaverse and, just like in our good ol’ regular reality, you can buy that property, own it, and sell it.
Projects like Decentraland and The Sandbox are already allowing their users to buy virtual LANDS within their respective worlds.
By doing this, the investor not only has a cool place to check out with their VR glasses, but will also own a stake in the metaverse.
Pretty cool and, unlike our regular reality, there’s no need to worry about annoying property-owner woes like HOAs or zoning or the laws of physics.
Once you own land in the metaverse, you can do whatever you want with it, just like a no-holds-barred version of digital Monopoly.
Feel free to build virtual buildings on your property and decorate them any way you want. Things like a virtual casino, a hotel, or a stadium might sound far-fetched, but give it a few years.
Anything is possible in the metaverse!
Play to earn gaming
Okay, so this isn’t so much an investment opportunity as it is a way to generate income, but did you know you can make money by playing blockchain-based games?
Games like Cryptokitties and The Sandbox are shaping the decentralized gaming industry by producing in-game NFTs and cryptocurrency for players to collect.
Unlike other video games though, you can then take those NFTs and sell them or earn in-game cryptocurrency rewards to exchange for fiat cash.
It may be worth checking out if you enjoy gaming, because usually, the more skilled you are, the more you can earn.
Regardless of skill level though, players all over the world are logging in, having fun, and earning money, so there’s nothing stopping you from giving it a try.
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The next big thing could be yours.
All of these options might sound a little risky, but isn’t that the case with everything?
You can probably look up some poorly-aged Tweets of yesteryear, with folks laughing at the very idea of Bitcoin.
And while you’re at it, think about all of those people who passed up on investing in Google in the ‘90s or Apple back in the ‘70s.
Of course, if we’re using our hindsight goggles, it’s easy to look back and see where the next big thing was, but guess what?
Web3 is the next big thing and now is your chance to own a part of it!
If you had a million dollars to invest in Web3, what would you do with it?
