The Promise of Permanence
For the Archaeobytologist, Web3 offers a theoretical solution to Link Rot: Content-Addressed Storage. Instead of finding a file by *where* it is (URL), you find it by *what* it is (Hash). In theory, this makes the web permanent and un-censorable.
The Hyper-Financialization
However, Web3 is marred by its reliance on "Tokens" to incentivize the network. This introduces hyper-financialization into digital culture, where every artifact becomes a speculative asset (NFT). The tension between community and capital defines this era.
Field Notes
The "Immutable" Lie: Blockchains are immutable, but the data they point to is not. An NFT is often just a receipt pointing to a JPEG on a centralized server. If that server dies, you own a receipt for nothing.
Sovereignty vs. Usability: Web3 demands extreme responsibility from the user (managing private keys). If you lose your key, you lose your identity. It offers sovereignty at the price of safety.