The Cornerstones
What is "Web3"? The "Owned Web" and the "Post-Landlord Internet"
The history of the web, from the "Read-Only" frontier of Web 1.0 to the "Tenant Web" of Web 2.0, and the promise of the "Owned Web."
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Beyond the 'JPEG': A Human-Centric Guide to True Digital Ownership
The linguistic crisis of "NFTs," and why "Digital Deeds" and "Digital Receipts" are better metaphors for a human-centric web.
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You Are Not a Cypherpunk: Sovereignty vs. The Tyranny of the Seed Phrase
Why the "seed phrase" is a failure of human-centric design, and how smart-contract wallets can build a truly sovereign web for everyone.
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Digital Provenance: The Art of Knowing the Self
The successor to "Soulbound Tokens" and why "Digital Provenance" is the key to a dignified, verifiable digital identity.
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The Human Charter: Beyond the Cold Mechanism of the 'DAO'
Thy "DAO" is a failed term, and how "Digital Co-op" and "Programmable Charter" can build a human-centric future.
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The Lexicon
Digital Deed
(Formerly: "Non-Fungible Token" or "NFT")
A unique, verifiable proof of ownership over a specific asset. The "title" to your digital house.
Digital Receipt
(Formerly: "Fungible Token" or "FT")
An interchangeable, verifiable proof of value or membership. A "casino chip" or "ticket stub" for the web.
Web3
The idea of a new, decentralized internet.
Metaphors: The Owned Web, The Read-Write-Own Web, The Post-Landlord Internet.
Burning
The act of permanently destroying a digital asset.
Metaphors: Official Decommissioning, Taking Out of Circulation, The Digital Shredder.
Programmable Charter
(Formerly: "Smart Contract")
The self-enforcing, transparent, and auditable set of rules that governs a Digital Co-op.
Blockchain
A distributed, unchangeable public database.
Metaphors: The Public Ledger, The Unforgeable Catalogue Raisonné, The Notary's Book.
Minting
The act of publishing a unique asset to the blockchain.
Metaphors: The Digital Publishing Run, Striking the Coin, The Act of Provenance, Firing the Kiln.
Digital Co-op
(Formerly: "Decentralized Autonomous Organization" or "DAO")
A member-owned digital organization, governed by a transparent and programmable charter.
Wallet
Software that holds your private keys and assets.
Metaphors: A Digital Safe Deposit Box, Your Digital Keychain, The Deed Box.
Gas Fee
The cost of making a transaction on the blockchain.
Metaphors: The Notary Fee, The Filing Fee, The Transaction Toll.
Digital Provenance
(Formerly: "Soulbound Token" or "SBT")
A non-transferable record of identity, skill, or affiliation. The "curated self."