The Next Web Shift

In a previous post, we explored what it means to truly own your website, from your domain and hosting to your content and code. That foundation is still essential. But as the web continues to evolve, so do the expectations around digital control and independence.

If you have ever felt boxed in by your platform or worried about how future-proof your site really is, this post is for you.

Why Ownership Alone May Not Be Enough

Even when you own your hosting and domain, your site still depends on centralised infrastructure. That means relying on third parties, whether it is for storage, login systems, or content delivery. If one of those providers changes its pricing, policies, or service level, your website could be affected.

This is where Web3 enters the picture. While often associated with cryptocurrencies and NFTs, the real opportunity for businesses lies in the underlying principles: decentralisation, resilience, and user control.

Rather than being tied to a specific platform or provider, Web3 offers tools that allow your website and your audience to exist more independently.

Data privacy and control are under the spotlight

People are more aware than ever that big tech platforms collect and monetise personal data. Websites often rely on third-party services that track users in ways they do not fully understand or consent to. Web3 offers an alternative model. It allows users to manage their own identities and keep control of their personal data. It reduces reliance on centralised services and encourages more transparent and ethical data practices.

Pushback against platform lock-in

Whether it is creators on YouTube, merchants on Shopify, or businesses using Squarespace, many are realising how dependent they are on the platforms they use. If a platform changes its terms, raises prices, or suspends your account, your digital presence can be severely affected. Web3 aligns with a growing desire to break free from that dependency. It enables websites and content to exist outside of traditional platforms, giving businesses more resilience and long-term control.

What Is a Decentralised Website?

A decentralised website is one that does not rely on a single hosting company or service provider to stay online. Instead of storing your website files on a central server, the content is distributed across a network of computers using peer-to-peer technology. This makes the website more resilient and less dependent on any one company or system.

One of the main technologies behind decentralised websites is IPFS (InterPlanetary File System). It is a system for storing and sharing files where each piece of content is given a unique identifier and hosted across multiple nodes. If one node goes offline, others can still serve the content.

In place of a traditional domain name managed by a registrar like GoDaddy, a decentralised website might use a blockchain-based domain from services like ENS (Ethereum Name Service) or Unstoppable Domains. These domains are owned through a crypto wallet, which means no third party can suspend or reclaim them.

Some decentralised websites also support wallet-based login. Instead of creating an account and password, visitors use a crypto wallet to prove their identity. This keeps login data private and under the user’s control.

While the idea of a decentralised website can sound complex, the core concept is simple: the site is not controlled by one company or stored in one place. It belongs to you, and can continue running even if individual services or platforms fail.

That said, not every business is ready to fully embrace blockchain or crypto-based technologies. The good news is there are practical middle grounds where you can still take steps toward greater ownership and resilience without going all-in on decentralisation.

IPFS vs Cloud Hosting

While IPFS offers impressive benefits for decentralisation, it is not the only path to greater control. For many businesses, using a cloud hosting provider like DigitalOcean, Linode, or similar services can strike a practical balance between ownership and ease of use. To better understand which might be more suitable for you, here are the main differences between using an IPFS and Cloud Hosting:

IPFS

• Peer-to-peer and decentralised
• No central server
• Files are content-addressed and permanent
• Resistant to censorship and single points of failure
• Requires technical setup and less mainstream browser compatibility

Cloud Hosting (e.g. DigitalOcean)

• Centralised infrastructure, but with full user control
• You manage your own server or virtual machine
• Easy to scale and migrate
• More familiar tools and environments
• Greater flexibility than shared hosting platforms

Cloud hosting offers a step up from shared platforms without the technical and adoption hurdles of full decentralisation. It is an ideal middle ground for businesses that value autonomy but still want access to reliable support and infrastructure.

The Future of Secure Logins

Not everyone is ready to use a crypto wallet to log into websites, and that is okay. While wallet-based login is central to Web3 identity, email-based magic link logins are a step in the same direction. They reduce reliance on passwords, simplify access, and give users more control over how they log in.

As Web3 tools mature, we may see wallets become as common as email. But for now, passwordless email login is the more accessible option for most businesses and their users. It brings some of the same benefits, like ease of access and a more user-centric model, without the friction of onboarding new technologies.

Where Web3 Websites Make the Most Sense

Not every website needs to be decentralised, but some types of websites align more naturally with Web3 principles and technologies. Below is a breakdown by use case, showing where Web3 makes sense now and where a more traditional or hybrid approach may still be the better option.

Web3 projects and DAOs

These are are an ideal match for decentralised technologies. These initiatives are already built around the principles of distributed ownership and transparency, so using decentralised hosting, blockchain domains, and wallet-based authentication is both technically and philosophically aligned.

Artist and creator portfolios

These types of sites benefit from content permanence and independence from centralised platforms. In particular, creators who work with NFTs or want to maintain full control over their digital work may find Web3 technologies especially valuable.

Activist and journalism sites

Hosting content on decentralised networks can help protect it from censorship, suspension, or unexpected takedowns. This makes the content more resilient and less vulnerable to external control.

Personal or developer websites

For technically inclined users, a decentralised setup can be a great way to experiment, learn, and demonstrate forward-thinking capabilities. However, for general audiences, a more traditional setup may still be more accessible and easier to maintain.

Local business sites

These are typically better served by traditional or cloud hosting at this stage. Simplicity, affordability, and easy support remain more important than the added control Web3 tools provide. These sites often do not require the decentralisation benefits that Web3 offers.

E-commerce and SaaS sites

These are not yet a strong match for decentralised infrastructure. These websites rely heavily on dynamic content, backend databases, and real-time functionality, all of which are still limited or complex to implement using current Web3 technologies.

In most cases, a hybrid approach offers the best balance. Businesses can continue to use traditional hosting while adding elements like decentralised media storage, blockchain domain names, or wallet-based login features as needed. This allows them to maintain usability while gradually increasing their digital independence and future readiness.

The Takeaway: Stay Informed, Stay Flexible

Web3 is not an all-or-nothing proposition. It is a set of tools and ideas that are reshaping what is possible online. For website owners and businesses, the key is to understand what these changes mean and stay flexible.

Ownership matters, and now decentralisation is extending what that ownership can look like. Whether you are ready to dive in or just want to future-proof your digital presence, being aware of these developments is the first step.

The future of websites is not just about where they live. It is about who controls them. And increasingly, that answer can be: you.