Web3 has come a long way, thanks in no small part to the success of bitcoin and eth, hit protocols like Uniswap and SushiSwap, and the gateway drug that is the NFT. But how can the web3 revolution reach the next level – mainstream adoption?
In a sense, the goal itself is illusory. NFTs have already been discussed on SNL, pretty much everyone is familiar with bitcoin, and crypto spot ETFs are tradeable among ordinary investors. Despite these strides, web3 entrepreneurs continue to strive for WhatsApp or Facebook levels of brand recognition.
One tantalizing avenue for industry growth is to ‘port’ existing web2 apps into the blockchain ecosystem. In effect, letting web2 builders do the spade-work then retrofitting the apps with tokenization, smart contracts, and the attendant bells and whistles.
But could this model actually work?
From Web2 to Web3: Is Porting Possible?
The idea of porting – equipping existing web2 apps with technologies like NFTs, blockchain infrastructure, and peer-to-peer transactions – is understandably appealing. Indeed, some believe it could be the key to unlocking mainstream adoption of all decentralized technologies, from digital assets and P2E games to DAOs and DIDs.
By bringing familiar interfaces and functionalities into the web3 space, we could potentially convert millions – or even billions – of users to the DeFi cause without requiring them to learn entirely new platforms.
Of course, some have tried merely to replicate web2 apps and products and make them in a web3 image. Trading card games like NBA Top Shot and NFL Rivals didn’t reinvent the wheel, they merely introduced NFTs and P2P trading into the sports collectible space. While they were successful in doing so, they had to build their own audiences from the ground up. Porting – if it could be achieved – would be much simpler.
This process isn’t without its challenges, though. One of the most significant concerns is storage. In web3, storage takes on a whole new meaning since all data needs to be recorded on-chain. This is in stark contrast to web2 apps, which have not had to concern themselves to anywhere near the same degree – cloud storage services being extremely plentiful.
When porting such apps to the crypto world, developers must consider the cost and efficiency of storing every piece of data on the blockchain. Something that can be particularly challenging for data-intensive apps like social media networks, file-sharing services, or MMORPGs.
How Xandeum Solves the Data Storage Problem
But what if this storage problem could be solved? Enter Xandeum, a scalable storage layer for the Solana blockchain that aims to complete the ‘world computer’ by adding ‘hard drive’ to its CPU and RAM. The brain trust behind Xandeum believes that it could be the answer to making web2-to-web3 smooth for developers and users alike.
Xandeum’s goal is to ‘make on-chain storage limitless.’ But how can that possibly be achieved? Well, through Buckets, a decentralized file system available to developers building on Solana that can scale up to exabytes of storage (an exabyte being equal to one quintillion bytes, FYI). These Xandeum buckets are accessed via extended Solana primitives using special Xandeum-enabled RPC nodes.
To put it more simply, Xandeum gives smart contracts a place to store tremendous amounts of data without clogging up the blockchain. Meaning developers can store and retrieve as much data as they like, while the network continues to run unhindered.
The implications of this innovation are profound. With Xandeum, even the most data-hungry web2 apps could be brought to web3 without sacrificing functionality or UX. Social media platforms, for instance, could store user-generated content; file-sharing services could maintain their vast libraries; and games could record extensive player histories on-chain.
Xandeum’s design is such that it works seamlessly even if not all validators are actually Xandeum-aware, ensuring compatibility with the existing Solana ecosystem. Moreover, because storage fees are collected in SOL, the entire network economy benefits from the Cambrian explosion of ported dApps brought to life through the storage layer.
The Potential for a Web3 Explosion
It is not hubristic to suggest that the potential of this technology is enormous. Not only could we see successful ports of mainstream web2 apps, but we might also witness the emergence of entirely new categories of decentralized services that were previously impractical due to long-standing storage limitations.
As we look to the future, solving the storage problem will remain vital for bringing web2 apps into the decentralized world. Novel solutions like Xandeum are smoothing the path forward, potentially unlocking the door to mainstream adoption of blockchain technology.
