Think about how smoothly Amazon handles crazy shopping rushes like Black Friday. Their secret? They broke down their big website into smaller, specialized services – things like checkout and inventory. When lots of people want to buy things, Amazon just spins up more power for those specific services without slowing everything else down. Pretty smart, right?
Well, the exciting world of Web3, with all its new blockchains and apps, can learn a lot from this idea. Instead of building lots of separate, walled-off blockchains, we should aim for reusable building blocks – things like making sure data is always available, proving things are correct, and helping different chains talk to each other.
Just like Amazon realized that sellers benefit from being able to sell in different online marketplaces, Web3 shouldn’t try to lock users onto a single chain. Instead, we should focus on offering fundamental services – like proving you own something or getting reliable information – that any application on any chain can use. This would make things much easier for everyone and create a truly connected Web3.
From Big Blocks to Nimble Services: Amazon’s Winning Strategy
Years ago, big websites like Amazon used to be one giant system. If one part had a problem, the whole thing could go down! So, they switched to “microservices” – breaking everything into smaller pieces like payments, search, and recommendations. Each of these runs independently and can grow as needed. This means:
- Super Flexible Growth: If lots of people suddenly want to buy something, the checkout service can instantly get more power without affecting other parts of the site.
- Problems Stay Put: If the recommendations aren’t working, you can still browse and buy things. Only the recommendation part is affected.
- Faster Progress: Different teams can work on their own services and release updates without having to coordinate a massive overhaul of the entire system.
Let’s Compete on Quality, Not Locked Doors
Even Amazon understood that it’s better for everyone if sellers can reach customers wherever they are. That’s why they opened up their delivery service (FBA) to sellers on other platforms. They’re competing on how good their service is, not by forcing sellers to only use Amazon.
Web3 should think the same way. We should build core services – like proving ownership, reliable data feeds, and programmable money – that any application on any blockchain can use. This will create a vibrant and connected ecosystem where innovation can really flourish.
Building Blocks for a Connected Web3
To make this happen, we need three key types of services:
- Data Availability Services: These make sure that every transaction and change on a blockchain is public and can always be found. This prevents important data from disappearing and breaking other apps.
- Proof Verification Engines: These tools prove that things happening off-chain or on other layers are correct. This allows even simple devices like phones to trust these processes without having to download entire blockchains.
- Coordination & Messaging Layers: These act like traffic controllers, helping different chains communicate, share proofs, and maintain their own rules and economies.
Just like the microservices on the web, these Web3 services need to talk to each other quickly and smoothly using standard methods so that using different Web3 applications feels as natural as using a regular website.
The Problem with Too Many Islands
Right now, the Web3 world feels a bit scattered. We have lots of different blockchains that don’t easily talk to each other. Users have to deal with different wallets, security rules, and ways of moving assets around. This makes it confusing and stops more people from using Web3.
As we create more specialized blockchains for things like games, finance, and identity, this problem will only get worse if we don’t build a common foundation.
Creating a Central Hub for Trustless Verification
The final piece of the puzzle is a way to verify different kinds of proofs in a standard way. This “verification hub” would be like a decentralized oracle that can understand different proof formats and provide a simple way for applications to check them. This hub needs to:
- Keep Trust to a Minimum: Users should be able to verify proofs themselves on their own devices, without having to trust a central authority.
- Respect Independence: Each blockchain should decide which proofs it accepts, allowing for innovation and different approaches.
- Enable Cross-Chain Communication: An NFT marketplace on one chain should be able to easily check your identity on another chain in real-time.
Conclusion: Building the Future Together
Just like Amazon’s microservices paved the way for massive, reliable online shopping, a similar approach in Web3 will power the next generation of decentralized applications. By focusing on building reusable services instead of isolated blockchains, we can create a seamless, trustworthy, and interconnected Web3 that can truly become the infrastructure for the digital world.
