William Herkelrath of K3 Labs argues that the future success of Web3 relies heavily on the development of better tools and enhanced user experiences—much like what fueled the explosive growth of the internet in its early days.
User-Centric Development is Key
Now, let’s jump ahead to 2025.
It has been more than 16 years since Bitcoin’s whitepaper made waves and a full decade since Ethereum introduced its innovative smart contracts.
With generous funding flooding the Web3 sector and a myriad of developers crafting diverse applications and protocols, one might assume that an array of intuitive Web3 tools would have surfaced, driving widespread user adoption.
Unfortunately, this assumption appears overly optimistic.
Reflecting on the early days of the internet, we saw a swift emergence of essential tools that enriched user experiences.
While it’s tough to pinpoint the exact moment the web became indispensable in daily life, many suggest the late 1990s were a turning point.
By 1995, AOL had gained over 3 million users, while Yahoo! launched as a key web gateway.
The introduction of Google three years later revolutionized search functionality and opened the door to countless new users by 1999.
The transition to the Web2 era in the early 2000s brought to life user-friendly, template-oriented tools that greatly expanded the user base.
Just a year after its debut, Amazon launched its Marketplace in 2000, democratizing e-commerce accessibility.
By the time Google celebrated its fifth birthday, platforms like WordPress (2003), MySpace (2003), and Facebook (2004) had arisen, empowering individuals to create and share personal content online.
Engagement and Usability Challenges
This prompts a crucial question: Did the internet’s rapid growth stem from the availability of easy-to-use tools, or did the advent of these user-friendly experiences propel the industry? Likely, it was a blend of both influences.
Despite the innovations sprouting since Web3’s inception in 2025, there’s a significant lack of platforms that mirror the user-centric models that marked the internet’s spread.
Most projects currently cater primarily to developers and crypto aficionados, leaving the general public largely in the cold.
How can an industry purporting to expand its reach expect to thrive without accessible tools for broader audiences?
To understand this dynamic, we must explore the motivations that drive Web3 participants.
Often, individuals are incentivized with tokens to engage with projects at their infancy, regardless of user-friendliness.
The loudest voices in the space often belong to projects with a robust social media presence—often tied to successful token launches.
Yet, if these early products don’t meet crucial user needs, engagement diminishes.
Commitment to Enhanced User Experiences
The challenges run deeper.
Many crypto enthusiasts are urged to jump from one trend to another, often overlooking usability and sustained engagement when gauging success in the Web3 landscape.
As a result, it’s easy to see why these crucial aspects frequently get lost in the shuffle.
For Web3 to evolve beyond its never-ending “early adoption” phase and replicate the rapid success of Web2, there must be a renewed commitment to crafting tools and enhancing user interface/User Experience (UI/UX) designs that appeal to a wider audience and address diverse needs.
In order to encourage lasting engagement, Web3 products need to consistently tackle real user challenges while delivering ongoing value.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article belong to the author and may not represent those of CoinDesk, Inc. or its affiliates.
Source: Coindesk
