When Web3 was first conceptualized, it was a fringe idea, a “loner” technology overshadowed by the dominance of all the Web2 giants. The idea of decentralized platforms, giving more autonomy to users over their data and digital assets, raised eyebrows making it seem radical, and impractical.
Many could not envision a digital world beyond centralized tech companies like Facebook, Google, Amazon. Only some pioneers and enthusiasts saw its potential, working quietly to build its foundation. For years, as Web3 technology developed in the background and in near silence, it was very much a work in progress.
However, as issues around centralization, privacy became more pronounced and demand for secure online transactions grew, web3 started gaining traction, fueled by the explosion of DeFi, NFT, DAO etc. And so, Web3 was no longer an outlier. It would be fitting to title this Web3 journey as, “Underdog rise of Web3”.Â
In this blog, we’ll discuss that Web3 is more than just a buzzword, study what web3 platforms are, their importance and benefits. Finally, we’ll explore the top 10 web3 platforms in 2025.
Web3 is more than just a buzzword
In the plethora of existing Web3 definitions, it’s hard to handpick one but let’s grind over a few that are both helpful and digestible. We’ll start with the notable definition by Gavin Wood, who coined the term originally stating it as, “A decentralized online ecosystem based on blockchain.”
Some other wished to describe it as:
“An internet without Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.” – Michael del Castillo, Forbes
“More a marketing buzzword than reality.” – Elon Musk
Web 3.0 is the era of the truly decentralized web, where individuals will have more control over their data and privacy.” ~Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum
“Web 3.0 is about creating a more immersive and interactive web, where users can engage with content in new and dynamic ways.” ~Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook
Web3 is more than just a buzzword; it’s paving way for innovation and climbing up the charts with key concepts: decentralization, privacy and control. What sets it apart from Web2? Below is a mini Web2 vs Web3 comparison chart.Â
| Aspect | Web2 | Web3 |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Centralized (platform-owned) | Decentralized (user-owned) |
| Data Control | Controlled by platforms | Controlled by users |
| Identity | Platform-based login systems | Self-sovereign identity (wallets) |
| Governance | Corporate-controlled | Community-driven (DAOs) |
| User Interaction | Read and Write | Read, Write, and Own |
| Privacy and Security | Limited privacy, platform-controlled security | Enhanced privacy, cryptographic security |
| Financial Transactions | Primarily fiat money | Supports crypto (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.) |
What are Web3 platforms?
Web3 platforms serve as decentralized gateway, unlocking opportunities for internet users where reins are handed to them unlike in web2 where platforms hold control and authority, monetizing user data. Web3 empowers users through blockchain technology and decentralized networks.Â
This shift fosters a user-driven experience characterized by privacy, transparency, and autonomy. Users engage directly with decentralized applications (dApps) without intermediaries, thus owning their creations and reducing censorship.
Key Benefits of Web3 Platforms
- User Ownership of Data: Web3 allows users to control their data through decentralized networks, as opposed to Web2, where data is owned by corporations. This ensures that personal information and assets are managed by users themselves, promoting a secure internet experience.
- Enhanced Privacy and Security: Web3 prioritizes privacy through decentralized storage and cryptographic measures, minimizing data breaches. With no central point of failure, users can interact securely on these platforms.
- Reduced Reliance on Intermediaries: Web3 eliminates middlemen in finance, social media, and e-commerce. For instance, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms enable users to lend, borrow, and trade directly, enhancing transaction speed and reducing costs.
- Censorship Resistance: Decentralization diminishes the likelihood of content censorship, allowing users to express themselves freely, especially in regions with heavy internet control.
- Tokenized Economies: Web3 introduces native tokens for transactions, governance, and user rewards. For example, platforms like Axie Infinity have thrived on play-to-earn models, illustrating the economic potential of user engagement.
- Interoperability and Flexibility: Many Web3 platforms are designed for cross-chain compatibility, enabling seamless asset and data movement across different ecosystems, unlike the siloed nature of Web2.
- Increased Transparency: Transactions on Web3 are recorded on public blockchains, reducing fraud and manipulation risks. This transparency is critical in industries like finance and supply chain, where trust is paramount.
Key Challenges of Web3 Platforms
- Scalability Issues: Many blockchain networks struggle with high transaction volumes, resulting in slower processing times and increased fees. Solutions like Ethereum 2.0 aim to address these scalability concerns.
- User Experience and Accessibility: The complexity of managing private keys and navigating decentralized applications (dApps) can deter users. Research indicates that over 60% of new users abandon Web3 platforms within the first month due to these usability challenges. Focus should be shifted from solely educating users on blockchain and related terms to improving user experience.
- Regulatory Uncertainty: The evolving regulatory environment for Web3 poses risks for developers and businesses, as governments grapple with how to regulate decentralized technologies.
- Security Concerns: While blockchain enhances data security, Web3 platforms are not immune to hacks. In particular, decentralized finance (DeFi) has seen significant financial losses due to security breaches.
- Interoperability Challenges: Many Web3 platforms operate in isolation, making seamless interactions between different blockchains difficult.
- Governance and Decentralization: Effective governance within decentralized systems is complex, often leading to conflicts over protocol changes and funding decisions in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
- Implementation of Web3: Some platforms market themselves as Web3 exhibiting that they are operating on web3 principles whereas still using web2, this partial adoption, often termed “Web2.5,” can cause confusion and dilute trust in genuinely decentralized applications. This not only poses a risk of undermining Web3’s reputation by being prone to hacks but also makes it difficult for users to see the real value of decentralization.
Top 10 Web3 Platforms in 2025
-
Ethereum
Ethereum has long been the backbone of the decentralized web, and with the full deployment of Ethereum 2.0, it continues to be the leading platform for Web3 development with an extensive developer community and ecosystem of Dapps.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Decentralized smart contract and dApp platform |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $53.579 Billion |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $2.87 Billion |
| Market Cap | $342.865 Billion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 350.6K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 15 |
Key Features:
- Security and Decentralization: Highly secure network with extensive decentralized nodes.
- Smart Contract Capability: Supports complex programmable applications.
- Interoperable Ecosystem: Widely compatible with various dApps and protocols.
Use Cases:
DeFi, NFTs, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), smart contract-powered apps.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | High throughput smart contract platform |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $6.704 Billion |
| Market Cap | $88.883 Billion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 6.3 Million |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 65000 |
      Key Features:
- High Transaction Speed: Capable of 65,000 TPS, enabling rapid processing for high-demand applications.
- Low Fees and Proof of History (PoH): Supports efficiency and affordability with minimal transaction costs.
      Use Cases:
- DeFi Platforms: Supports fast, cost-effective transactions for DeFi applications like Serum.
- Gaming: Low fees and high speed make it ideal for gaming applications requiring quick, affordable interactions.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Payments |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $6.77 Billion |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $54.4 Million |
| Market Cap | $13.998 Billion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 2.1 Million |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 85 |
Key Features:
- Optimized for Payments: Low-cost, fast, and efficient for digital payments.
- Scalable Network: High transaction processing capacity.
- Developer-Friendly Environment: Offers an accessible platform for dApps.
Use Cases:
Cross-border payments, entertainment applications, decentralized finance.
-
Bitcoin
|
Metric |
     Value |
| Type | Payment network |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $2.971 Billion |
| Market Cap | $1.477 Trillion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 432.2K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 7 |
Key Features:
- High Security: As the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is highly secure and robust.
- Decentralization: Entirely decentralized, driven by a massive global network.
- Store of Value: Often referred to as “digital gold” for wealth preservation.
Use Cases:
Peer-to-peer payments, store of value, cross-border transfers.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Layer-2 Scaling |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $2.711 Billion |
| Market Cap | $3.55 million |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $1.762 Billion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 1.2 Million |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | Avg 30.36Â |
Key Features:
- Ethereum Compatibility: Seamlessly integrates with Ethereum dApps and infrastructure.
- Reduced Gas Fees: Aims to lower transaction costs for high activity.
- Enhanced Scalability: Supports high throughput for dApps.
Use Cases:
Scaling dApps, cost-effective transactions, DeFi, and NFT applications.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Layer-2 Scaling |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $2.52 Billion |
| Market Cap | $2.269 Billion |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $1.325 Billion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 498.1K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 40,000 |
Key Features:
- Optimized for Speed: High transaction speeds enable quick dApp performance.
- Low Gas Fees: Significantly reduces gas costs, ideal for cost-sensitive users.
- Secure: Inherits Ethereum’s security properties.
Use Cases:
DeFi, NFT trading, gaming, cross-chain applications.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Layer-2 Scaling |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $1.108 Billion |
| Market Cap | $893.78 Million |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $1 Billion |
| Active Users (Daily) | 504K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 65,000 |
Key Features:
- Interoperability: Bridges multiple blockchains and dApps.
- High Throughput: Supports large-scale dApps with high transaction speeds.
- Cost Efficiency: Reduced fees encourage frequent, smaller transactions.
Use Cases:
DeFi platforms, NFT markets, metaverse applications, gaming dApps.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Layer-1 |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $1.098 Billion |
| Market Cap | $6.412 Billion |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $433.39 Million |
| Active Users (Daily) | 700K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 120,000 |
Key Features:
- Ultra-Fast Transactions: Achieves high transaction throughput with low latency.
- Scalability: Built for scalable applications, ideal for dApps needing high TPS.
- Developer-Friendly: Supports a modular architecture for seamless dApp integration.
Use Cases:
Gaming, DeFi, and decentralized exchanges that require high-speed performance.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Layer-1 |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $1.066 Billion |
| Market Cap | $11.051 Billion |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $219.7 Million |
| Active Users (Daily) | 34.3K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 4,500 |
Key Features:
- Subnets for Customization: Allows users to create their own blockchain subnets.
- Quick Finality: Near-instant transaction finality, enhancing user experience.
- Eco-Friendly Consensus: Designed for energy efficiency with a unique consensus protocol.
Use Cases:
Custom blockchain networks, DeFi, asset trading, and decentralized apps.
|
Metric |
Value |
| Type | Layer-1 |
| Total Value Locked (TVL) | $863.45 Million |
| Market Cap | $5.005 Billion |
| 24-Hour Transaction Volume | $30.13 Million |
| Active Users (Daily) | 666K |
| Transaction Speed (TPS) | 160,000 |
Key Features:
- High Transaction Efficiency: Known for very high TPS and fast transaction processing.
- Move Programming Language: Uses a unique programming language for security.
- Built for Scalability: Designed with a parallel execution engine for high-speed transactions.
Use Cases:
Decentralized finance, fast-paced dApps, and secure asset transfers
Conclusion
Web3 platforms are expanding rapidly, offering diverse use cases as a potential panacea to the issues of centralization in Web2. Whether the internet will fully transition to a Web3 space remains to be seen, but until then—WAGMI ✌️
BlockApex is working with cutting-edge technology at the forefront of Web3 development. Explore our services today to experience the benefits and step confidently into the Web3 space.
