9 Web3-Based Technologies We Use Today

Web3 is no longer just a concept discussed by early adopters and developers. It is now a layer of technology supporting real-world applications across multiple sectors. Web3 is redefining how services are delivered and governed across various environments.

Finance and Investing

In finance, Web3 technologies are creating transparent and programmable alternatives to traditional services. For example, the Avalanche blockchain is being used by Intain MARKETS to tokenize asset-backed securities, enabling investors to access structured finance products without intermediaries. This system uses smart contracts to enforce compliance, interest payments, and settlement. Similarly, JPMorgan is testing decentralized identity for Know Your Customer (KYC) purposes in cross-border transactions using blockchain-based identity layers, demonstrating how Web3 can operate even in highly regulated banking environments.

Digital Identity and Authentication

Projects like Worldcoin are using zero-knowledge proofs to verify a user’s humanity without compromising personal data. Rather than having centralized servers store biometric or identity data, these systems rely on decentralized verification. Civic and KILT Protocol are also providing reusable, blockchain-based identity credentials that can be integrated into apps and services. Real-world companies are now utilizing these solutions for access control, age verification, and other purposes.

Web3 Gaming

Sky Mavis, the company behind Axie Infinity, has developed Ronin, a custom blockchain that enables the ownership of in-game assets. Rather than being locked into the game developer’s database, items and characters live on-chain, giving players complete control and the ability to trade outside the game. Parallel Studios has taken this further by designing card-based battle games where NFTs represent each playable card. This approach merges gameplay with asset management and collectibles.

Data Storage and Management

Decentralized networks, such as Filecoin and Arweave, are reshaping cloud storage and file distribution. These systems are used by applications that need censorship-resistant, permanent data hosting. For example, the Internet Archive and Mirror.xyz use Arweave to preserv[e digital content immutably. At the same time, Filecoin has become an integral part of the storage infrastructure for Web3 apps that require large-scale, user-driven data hosting.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations

DAOs are another use case with growing adoption. ConstitutionDAO, although ultimately unsuccessful in its mission to purchase a historical artifact, demonstrated the power of group coordination and capital allocation through the use of smart contracts. More sustainable examples include GitcoinDAO and Friends with Benefits, which use DAO structures to fund open-source software and cultural events, respectively. These organizations are coordinating work and money without traditional hierarchies.

Social Networking

Web3-based social networks such as Farcaster and Lens Protocol are challenging the centralized control of traditional platforms. These networks allow users to own their data and identities. Developers can build independent front-ends that plug into shared protocols, allowing users to move between apps without losing content or followers. For example, with Lens Protocol, creators own their profiles and posts, which can be ported to new interfaces or monetized directly.

Crowdfunding and Tokenized Fundraising

Web3 crowdfunding is a functioning technology used today for transparent and efficient capital formation. Several Web3 platforms now leverage blockchain, smart contracts, and token issuance to enable capital raising with transparency and community control. Juicebox powers Ethereum-based projects and DAOs, allowing automated treasury management, on-chain funding rules, and public contribution tracking. Another example is CrowdInvest, a UK-based platform that enables tokenized startup investing with secondary liquidity and KPI reporting support. These systems eliminate intermediaries, provide global access, and allow contributions through token ownership. Investors gain governance rights or token-based rewards, while early backers can access liquidity via secondary markets. 

Supply Chain and Logistics

Web3 tools are helping authenticate goods and provide traceability. IBM and Maersk had initially tested Hyperledger-based trade platforms, while newer startups, such as VeChain, have successfully tracked product provenance, including verifying wine origins and monitoring vaccine distribution. These systems give consumers confidence in the authenticity and handling of the products they purchase.

Business Operations

Web3 even plays a role in enterprise operations. Companies exploring tech M&A now assess blockchain infrastructure and token economies as part of due diligence when evaluating Web3-native startups. For instance, the acquisition of blockchain infrastructure firms, such as Alchemy or ConsenSys-backed projects, could impact valuation based on the scalability and developer ecosystem associated with their smart contract platforms.

Within high-level transaction and clearing operations involving digital assets or crypto-based securities, institutions often rely on clear execution and settlement protocols. One such protocol involves a give-up trade arrangement, where one party executes the trade and another clears it. This allows businesses to access specialized execution services while consolidating settlement under a trusted clearing counterparty, enhancing operational efficiency and risk management in complex trade workflows.

The real-world application of Web3 no longer needs to be framed as "coming soon." It is already here. While technical and regulatory hurdles remain, sectors are finding practical value in decentralized storage, identity, payment processing, gaming, and governance. Businesses building for this shift are likely to shape the digital backbone of the next decade.