Crypto has come a long way. First, there was Bitcoin, and somebody decided to use it to buy pizza. Then, DogeCoin and the never-ending posts about the first meme coin launched. These days, there are almost 23,000 cryptocurrencies on the market, a whole lot of technology updates behind them, and nearly half a billion crypto users worldwide.
From fiat to crypto, offline to digital, and Web2 to Web3, first, it is essential to understand Web 3.0. How it will change the internet, and as you may have heard, several Web3 companies are making their way in various industries. But what is Web3, and how do Web3 companies interfere with crypto investing? Well, let’s find out.
What Is Web3?
Web3 is believed to be a new and better version of the internet, considered one of the most essential parts of the internet. Because it uses blockchain technology and is a series of open-source, interconnected decentralized applications, you could address Web3 as the decentralized internet that gives users the power of ownership through crypto and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Various Forms of the World Wide Web
Web1 represents the first internet bubble, roughly from 1990 to 2004, where the internet consisted of static pages to be read and surfed, kind of like a traditional magazine but on a global distribution network for anyone to access.
Web2 is the next step on the ladder we are all used to, and it represents a shift from a read-only internet towards a decentralized web. But we are not there yet, and now, Web2 allows us to interact with web pages. The internet is not only to be read but also to be interacted with based on users’ preferences; remember all the pop-ups and the cookie information?
Web2 consists of user-generated content on platforms such as Facebook Meta, Google, YouTube, and many more, where users can interact with each other by liking and commenting on the available content. As nothing is as easy as it seems, big tech companies have made a custom browsing experience available to billions of users, thus raising concerns over centralization and data privacy.
But here’s the thing: with all of its implications, Web3 has the potential to change this towards a more data-secure and private internet, where users still enjoy Web2 features but comprise concepts of decentralization, openness, and more excellent user utility.
The pioneer of early internet development, Berners-Lee, addresses Web3 as the Semantic Web, which aimed to introduce structure to the meaningful content on webpages and empower software to execute complex user tasks.
What Defines Web 3.0?
To better understand the “Why,” it is essential to look at the key features and what defines Web3:
1. Web3 is Decentralized
The Web3 data and information will be stored in multiple locations simultaneously, including phones, desktops, vehicles, and many more, thus ensuring that users retain ownership control.
2. Web3 is Trustless and Permissionless
Web 3.0 will allow parties to interact instantly without going through a trusted intermediary, meaning anyone can partake without authorization from a governing body, storing digital assets within the blockchain infrastructure.
3. Web3 Uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)
In Web 3.0, computers will use data and algorithms to imitate how humans learn, gradually improving accuracy, thus producing more relevant results and new materials instead of merely targeted advertising that forms the bulk of current efforts by the world’s leading companies.
What Are Web3 Companies?
Web3 companies use the blockchain ecosystem and blockchain protocols to transform the internet for users’ benefit, in our case, to facilitate crypto investing, to purchase digital assets or digital currencies, and to offer creative freedom.
The main features of Web3 companies include offering users ownership over their data and enabling them to share data in a peer-to-peer manner and monetize their content.
Why Do We Need Web3 Companies?
Web3 companies provide high levels of privacy and security. They usually achieve that by storing data across multiple servers spread all over the world, thus making Web3 companies more reliable and trustworthy.
Furthermore, dApps are based on a cooperative governance architecture, where a community makes decisions for new token holders in the open and is publicly documented on a blockchain.
Web3 eliminates many of the Web2 issues that derive from its centralization, offering custom software development services, NFT creative services, and many decentralized finance opportunities.
Top Web3 Companies That Change the Crypto Economy
Thousands of Web3 projects are being developed, but some have remarkable results and offer valuable features while revolutionizing the industry. Here are a few instances of Web3 applications:
Company | Category | Established | Country | Primary Offerings | Technological Infrastructure |
Binance | Web3 Cryptocurrency Exchanges | 2017 | China | Crypto exchange, NFT listings, P2P merchant app, market data analysis, Web3 trading | Blockchain |
OpenSea | Web3 Software Companies | 2017 | USA | NFT account management, NFT software development, NFT marketplace | Blockchain |
Chainalysis | Web3 Blockchain Analysis Companies | 2014 | USA | Compliance & investigation software for NFTs & Web3 protocols | Blockchain |
ConsenSys | Web3 Development Companies | 2014 | USA | ConsenSys Product Suite, ETH Staking, Enterprise Blockchain Development | Blockchain |
Polygon | Web3 Development Companies | 2017 | India | dApps development, Scaling solutions | Blockchain |
Trust Wallet | Web3 Crypto Wallet Companies | 2017 | USA | Non-custodial software wallet | Blockchain |
Brave | Web3 Software Companies | 2016 | USA | Web Browser | Blockchain |
BitGo | Web3 Financial Services Companies | 2013 | USA | Liquidity, Custody, Security | Blockchain |
Uniswap | Web3 Software Companies | 2018 | Canada | Decentralized cryptocurrency exchange | Blockchain |
Messari | Web3 Software Companies | 2018 | USA | Crypto & Blockchain data & research, Market analysis, Developer tools | Blockchain |
Etherisc | Web3 Insurance Companies | 2016 | Germany | Decentralized insurance platform | Blockchain |
AAVE | Web3 DeFi Companies | 2017 | Finland | Borrowing & Lending Crypto Assets | Blockchain |
Lido Finance | Web3 DeFi Companies | 2020 | Cayman Islands | Staking Services | Blockchain |
Decentraland | Web3 Gaming Companies | 2020 | USA | Virtual world powered by VR/AR | Blockchain |
Arpeggi Labs | Web3 Music Companies | 2021 | USA | Web3 music platform, ARP protocol | Blockchain |
Republic | Web3 Investment Companies | 2016 | USA | Asset Tokenization, Institutional Investing, Asset Management, Metaverse Consulting | Blockchain |
Axie Infinity | Web3 Gaming Companies | 2018 | Vietnam | Play-to-Earn (P2E) game | Blockchain |
Stacked | Web3 Software Companies | 2021 | USA | Live-streaming platform | Blockchain |
Braintrust | Web3 Recruiting Companies | 2018 | USA | Hiring services, Web3 community building, Governance participation | Blockchain |
Paragraph | Web3 Publishing Companies | 2022 | USA | Content creation tools, NFT-based membership management | Blockchain |
Gitcoin | Web3 Development Companies | 2017 | USA | Open-source funding, Quadratic funding, Grants programs | Blockchain |
8th Light | Web3 Development Companies (not strictly Web3) | 2006 | UK | Software development & consultancy services | Blockchain |
Binance
- Category: Web3 Cryptocurrency Exchanges
- Established: 2017
- Country of Origin: China
- Primary Offerings: Crypto exchange, Web3 applications listing, P2P merchant application, market data analysis, Web3 trading
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Binance stands as a pioneering force in the Web3 landscape, offering extensive services spanning exchanges, NFTs, and trading solutions. Operating across major platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and MacOS, Binance boasts compatibility with various Web3 applications and technologies.
Partnering with industry leaders such as Simplex and SafePal, Binance ensures a user-friendly experience, complemented by its proprietary tokens like Binance Coin and Binance USD, which leverage the Binance Smart Chain.
OpenSea
- Category: Web3 Software Companies
- Established: 2017
- Country of Origin: New York, United States
- Primary Offerings: NFT account management, NFT software development, NFT marketplace
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
OpenSea is an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) marketplace launched in 2017 as a non-custodial platform. OpenSea is among the largest crypto collectibles platforms ever created, with millions of active users and hundreds of millions of visits monthly.
OpenSea allows users to look for NFT collections of all sorts, from collectibles created by beginner artists to popular NFTs created by some of the most renowned NFT creators.
Chainalysis
- Category: Web3 Blockchain Analysis Companies
- Established: 2014
- Country of Origin: New York, United States
- Primary Offerings: Compliance and investigation software for NFT tokens and Web3 protocols
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Chainalysis is a leading company in Web3 analysis, specializing in compliance and investigation software tailored for tracking NFTs and Web3 protocols within the metaverse economy. Their services cater to government agencies, decentralized exchanges, financial institutions, and insurance firms across more than 70 countries.
One of Chainalysis’ notable achievements includes assisting law enforcement in recovering tokens from illicit activities, with a total recovery exceeding $1 billion.
ConsenSys
- Category: Web3 Development Companies
- Established: 2014
- Country of Origin: New York City, USA
- Primary Offerings: ConsenSys Product Suite, ETH Staking, Enterprise Blockchain Development
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain Node Infrastructure Service
ConsenSys is a leading decentralized company focusing on Ethereum-based solutions. Specializing in blockchain node infrastructure services, ConsenSys enables participation and product development in the Web3 space. Its product suite encompasses renowned Web3 companies such as MetaMask, Infura, Truffle, Teku, Besu, and Diligence.
Consensys has been pivotal in scaling several prominent Web3 companies, including Mastercard, Paraswap, Akropolis, Palm, Smart Dubai, Covantis, Aura, and Komgo. With significant funding rounds totaling $650 million from various venture capitalists, ConsenSys continues to drive innovation in the blockchain space.
Polygon
- Category: Web3 Development Companies
- Established: 2017
- Country of Origin: Mumbai, India
- Primary Offerings: dApps development, Scaling solutions
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Polygon is a decentralized Ethereum scaling platform that enables developers to build scalable, user-friendly, affordable dApps without compromising security. Despite interacting with the Ethereum blockchain infrastructure, Polygon is not a layer 2 protocol. Instead, it helps improve transaction speeds and lower costs for developers.
Polygon, formerly recognized as Matic Network, has gained considerable popularity as a cryptocurrency, consistently ranking among the top 20 cryptocurrencies in market capitalization. The MATIC token facilitates thousands of decentralized applications (dApps), operating without intermediaries.
Trust Wallet – Top Web3 Wallet Company for Digital Assets
- Category: Web3 Crypto Wallet Companies
- Established: 2017
- Country of Origin: California, United States
- Primary Offerings: Non-custodial software wallet
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Trust Wallet is a popular cryptocurrency wallet available globally. It offers users control over their crypto assets, supporting nearly half a billion assets, including BTC and ETH. With Trust Wallet, users can exchange, send, receive, and hold cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Additionally, it features a Decentralized Exchange (DEX), providing a comprehensive experience for crypto investors. Trust Wallet emphasizes user privacy and does not require KYC procedures during registration.
Brave
- Category: Web3 Software Companies
- Established: 2016
- Country of Origin: California, United States
- Primary Offerings: Web Browser
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Brave Browser, launched on January 20, 2016, by Brave Software, is a popular web browser with over 20 million daily active users. Founded by Brendan Eich, the creator of JavaScript, Brave Browser prioritizes security and privacy.
Leveraging the Chromium platform, Brave Browser is available on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. With its automatic ad and tracker blocking feature, Brave Browser offers users a high-speed browsing experience, distinguishing itself in the competitive browser market.
BitGo
- Category: Web3 Financial Services Companies
- Established: 2013
- Country of Origin: California, USA
- Primary Offerings: Liquidity, Custody, Security
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
BitGo is a leading financial services and crypto solution provider. Specializing in liquidity, custody, and security, BitGo serves institutional investors and crypto platforms worldwide.
In 2018, it launched BitGo Trust Company, the first qualified custodian purpose-built for storing digital assets. BitGo’s customer base includes the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges and spans over 50 countries, including qualified custodial entities in Switzerland and Germany. Also, BitGo processes over 20% of all global Bitcoin transactions and supports over 250 coins and tokens.
BitGo was acquired by Galaxy Digital for $1.2 billion in May 2021. Before the acquisition, BitGo had raised $69.5 million in funding over seven rounds, backed by Goldman Sachs, Craft Ventures, Digital Currency Group, DRW, Galaxy Digital Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, and Valor Equity Partners.
Uniswap – Top Decentralized Web3 Exchange
- Category: Web3 Software Companies
- Established: 2018
- Country of Origin: Ontario, Canada
- Primary Offerings: Decentralized cryptocurrency exchange
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Uniswap is a fully decentralized crypto exchange built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, which makes Uniswap compatible with all ERC-20 tokens, besides other popular cryptocurrencies built on blockchains such as Polygon, Optimism, and Arbitrum.
Being fully decentralized, Uniswap is not owned or controlled by a centralized entity. Instead, the ownership spreads across various servers. Moreover, Uniswap is open source, meaning that anyone can copy the code to create other similar projects.
Messari
- Category: Web3 Software Companies
- Established: 2018
- Country of Origin: New York, United States
- Primary Offerings: Cryptocurrency and blockchain data & research, Cryptocurrency & blockchain market analysis, Developer tools
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Messari is a leading provider of reliable market intelligence, empowering crypto investors and professionals to make informed decisions about the crypto economy.
With a commitment to reliability and accuracy, Messari equips its users with comprehensive data and insights essential for navigating the dynamic landscape of cryptocurrencies.
Through its platform, individuals gain access to valuable resources that facilitate better decision-making, ultimately contributing to the growth and stability of the crypto market.
Etherisc
- Category: Web3 Insurance Companies
- Established: 2016
- Country of Origin: Munich, Germany
- Primary Offerings: Decentralized insurance platform
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Etherisc is among the Web3 companies that focus on safety, providing a platform for decentralized insurance applications. It was built on the Ethereum blockchain and launched in December 2016.
The primary purposes of Etherisc are to provide on-chain insurance, offer users lower insurance costs, and democratize access to reinsurance. The platform uses smart contracts to automate insurance processing and transactions.
Besides, Etherisc allows users to develop insurance applications to increase the efficiency of insurance purchases and sales.
AAVE – Top Web3 Lending Company based on Smart Contracts
- Category: Web3 DeFi Companies
- Established: 2017
- Country of Origin: Finland
- Primary Offerings: Borrowing and Lending Crypto Assets
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
AAVE is a Web3 company that has developed a decentralized crypto platform allowing users to borrow and lend crypto assets. Using smart contracts, AAVE works with preset rules regarding funds distribution, collateral handling, and fees.
The company specializes in overcollateralized loans; thus, those who borrow crypto must deposit several digital assets worth more than they will take.
Lido Finance – Prominent Web3 Staking Company
- Category: Web3 DeFi Companies
- Established: 2020
- Country of Origin: George Town, Cayman Islands
- Primary Offerings: Staking Services
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Lido Finance is a DeFi (Decentralized Finance) platform launched in late 2020. The platform allows users to stake tokens, including Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon.
Users who stake on Lido Finance are rewarded with stETH (staked ETH), tokens that can be used in various activities, such as liquidity provision, borrowing, lending, and trading.
The main focus of Lido Finance is to make staking more accessible to a broader audience, no matter the users’ technical knowledge and funds. The platform achieves that through lower fees and reduced requirements.
Decentraland – Top Cap Metaverse Web3 Company
- Category: Web3 Gaming Companies
- Established: 2020
- Country of Origin: California, United States
- Primary Offerings: Virtual world powered by virtual reality and augmented reality
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Launched in February 2020, Decentraland is a game developed in 3D that was built on the Ethereum blockchain. Decentraland aims to offer crypto users a virtual world empowered by virtual reality and augmented reality, also called an open-world metaverse.
In the Decentraland universe, users can be part of a shared digital experience where they can play, exchange various collectibles, socialize, interact, and buy digital real estate or wearables.
Arpeggi Labs
- Category: Web3 Music Companies
- Established: 2021
- Country of Origin: California, United States
- Primary Offerings: Web3 music platform, ARP protocol
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Arpeggi Labs has revolutionized music production with its Web3 music platform built on the ARP protocol. Arpeggi allows musicians and music producers to share their music for reuse while being assured that their sounds will be attributed to them whenever they are used.
Furthermore, Arpeggi Labs offers Arpeggi Studio, a platform where musicians can quickly produce music and get ownership in the form of NFTs. Every created sound is published as an on-chain record which other producers can use for their songs.
Republic
- Category: Web3 Investment Companies
- Established: 2016
- Country of Origin: New York City, USA
- Primary Offerings: Asset Tokenization, Institutional Investing, Asset Management, Metaverse Consulting
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Republic is a leading Web3 company enabling investments in startups and established businesses across various sectors, including real estate, crypto, music, art, and culture. With Republic, individuals can invest in leading Web3 startups for as little as $50, facilitated by the platform’s dedicated profit-sharing token, Republic Note. The platform lists companies backed by prominent investors such as Sequoia, Techstars, Lerer Hippeau, and Kleiner Perkins.
Axie Infinity – Top Web3 Play-to-Earn Game
- Category: Web3 Gaming Companies
- Established: 2018
- Country of Origin: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Primary Offerings: Play-to-Earn (P2E) game
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Axie Infinity is a P2E (Play-to-Earn) game launched in March 2018 by Sky Mavis. The Axie Infinity universe focuses on Axies, some creatures similar to Pokémon characters.
Axie Infinity players can raise and prepare their Axies (also stored as NFTs) to take part in various battles and championships, thus being able to win two types of tokens: AXS (Axie Infinity Shards) and SLP (Smooth Love Potion). AXS and SLP are ERC-20 tokens and can be used for in-game activities and updates and traded on DEXs (Decentralized Exchanges).
Stacked – Top Web3 Video Streaming Platform
- Category: Web3 Software Companies
- Established: 2021
- Country of Origin: California, United States
- Primary Offerings: Live-streaming platform
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Launched in 2021, Stacked is among the Web3 companies offering live-streaming platforms. The STKD token governs the venue, being programmatically provided for creators as a reward for their content, thus redefining ownership over live-streaming content.
Stacked has a creator-first focus, constantly developing new features to help video content creators have a better user experience and feel incentivized to deliver more high-quality content.
Braintrust
- Category: Web3 Recruiting Companies
- Established: 2018
- Country of Origin: California, USA
- Primary Offerings: Hiring services, Web3 community building, Governance participation
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Braintrust stands out as a top Web3 company that is revolutionizing the hiring process by offering rewards to both recruiters and talents. With its digital token, BTRST, users can contribute to the governance of the Braintrust platform, ensuring a decentralized decision-making process.
Leveraging over 6 years of experience in the hiring and Web3 industry, Braintrust has curated a network of over 50,000 talents for job seekers and companies to choose from.
Paragraph
- Category: Web3 Publishing Companies
- Established: 2022
- Country of Origin: California, United States
- Primary Offerings: Content creation tools, NFT-based membership management
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Paragraph is among the Web3 companies that focus on content creation and publishing. And to do that, Paragraph has launched a publishing platform focusing on Web3 writers, DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), and NFT communities. The primary purpose of Paragraph is to help such creators monetize their content through an all-in-one newsletter service.
Gitcoin
- Category: Web3 Development Companies
- Established: 2017
- Country of Origin: Colorado, United States
- Primary Offerings: Open-source funding, Quadratic funding, Grants programs
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
Gitcoin is a platform built for coders and developers. On Gitcoin, they can get paid to work on open-source software in various programming languages.
Gitcoin was launched in 2017, and since then, it has focused on helping worldwide programmers by allowing them to monetize their codes on the platform.
8th Light
- Category: Web3 Development Companies
- Established: 2006
- Country of Origin: London, United Kingdom
- Primary Offerings: Software development and consultancy services
- Technological Infrastructure: Blockchain
8th Light is a trusted global software consultancy firm. With a dedicated team of developers, designers, and technologists, they tackle complex software challenges with passion and expertise.
Focused on building elegant, robust, and transformative software solutions, 8th Light partners with businesses of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises. Their comprehensive services cover the entire software development lifecycle, from concept to implementation and ongoing maintenance. With a commitment to data-driven decisions, streamlined processes, and user-centric design, 8th Light sets itself apart in the industry.
FAQ
What is Web3?
Web3 is a version of the internet that will be fully decentralized, relies on crypto and blockchain technology, and is not owned by any centralized entity.
How do Web3 companies make money?
There are several ways in which Web3 companies can make money, such as organizing fundraising events, providing services for their users and tokenizing their business, or tokenizing data collected from users while offering free services.
Can you invest in Web3?
Yes, you can invest in Web3 and Web3 companies. You can invest in Web3 by purchasing crypto from Web3 companies, investing in Web3 company stocks, or using services provided by Web3 companies.
Does Web3 have stocks?
Yes, some Web3 companies have stocks listed on the traditional stock market.
What are the best Web3 stocks to watch?
Some of the best Web3 Stocks to keep an eye on are considered to be Coinbase, NVIDIA, Meta Platforms, Apple, and Unity Software.
Top Web3 Companies: Final Thoughts
Web3 is most certainly revolutionizing the online space, and while some users still try to understand the concept, Web3 companies keep launching and evolving.
Thousands of Web3 companies are on the market, spread across every industry. From Web3 companies specializing in crypto wallets, staking, and crypto landing, we can go to businesses that offer live-streaming platforms, fully decentralized social media platforms, or music production tools.
While discovering the power and magic of Web3, remember to thoroughly research the companies you choose to invest in and the platforms you use in your daily crypto activities.