A comprehensive introduction to Blockchain, Crypto, Metaverse and Web3: Beyond the Hype

Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA -

Foundation - Blockchain and Web 3.0

If you are new to crypto, getting a big picture of why Bitcoin is created, its underlying Blockchain technology, and how it evolves to Ethereum and Smart Contracts will lay an essential foundation for understanding a vast majority of the rest of crypto.

A gentle introduction to Blockchain - from Bitcoin cryptocurrency to Ethereum Smart Contracts
The Bitcoin system creates a decentralized platform that disrupts financial payment. This article introduces why Bitcoin is created, what its underlying blockchain technology is, and how the follow-up Ethereum blockchain with the smart contract could extend the disruption to the real economy.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

A gentle introduction to Blockchain, Bitcoin, Ethereum and Smart Contracts

What is Web 3.0? What is its relationship with Blockchain? We explain the history and the different scopes of the Web3/Web 3.0 concept.

What is Web 3.0, after all?
This article helps you understand what the most important technologies in Web 3.0 are, such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR). We illustrate how they are evolving and shaping our next-generation web.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

What is Web3 / Web 3.0

Web 3.0 will be an Autonomous Spatial Web
We review the existing three-layer architecture for the evolution of the Web and discuss ways it can be expanded to further reflect the entire picture. We then present our adapted architecture for the Autonomous Spatial Web 3.0.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

A layered architecture that illustrates the Web's evolution

Framework - Metaverse and Crypto

With the base knowledge in blockchain and Web 3.0, you are in a great position to start exploring diverse topics of the crypto ecosystem. The figure below illustrates a simple framework I adapted based on my earlier work in 2018.

Metaverse, Crypto, and Blockchain

The outer triangle consists of the three pillars of blockchain systems (Distributed Consensus, Token Economics, and Smart Contracts). The inner circles show the major crypto applications (DeFi, NFT, DAO). Together, crypto and blockchain form the infrastructure for the Metaverse economy.

A full-fledged Metaverse will also signal the arrival of the Web 3.0 era. In addition to the blockchain and crypto infrastructure, hybrid reality technologies that drive the convergences of the physical and the virtual world is the other key propeller for the Metaverse.

What is the Metaverse and where are we in the journey?
We present the two critical aspects of a matured Metaverse: convergence of the physical and the virtual world, and a self-sustainable social-economic ecosystem. We also explain why 2021 is a milestone year for Metaverse and how crypto and blockchain provide the foundation for the Metaverse economy.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

What is the Metaverse

Introduction to Token Economics (Tokenomics)

Token Economics or Tokenomics is a crucial concept for Web3 projects. Yet it is also a term that confuses most people - not only those new to crypto but also many who have been in the space for a while. The following six-part pieces should give you a solid basis on this topic.

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part I: W5H framework & Why token?
We provide a beginner-friendly approach to understanding Tokenomics through a W5H framework - “Why, When, What, Where, Who and How” for token design. This first one of the six-piece series on W5H addresses “Why token”, especially from a crypto-product-market fit perspective.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part I: W5H framework & Why token

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part II: When, What, Where, Who token?
Following the prior “Why token” discussion, we continue on to the “When, What, Where, Who” questions under the W5H framework for token design, and provide various examples.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part II: When, What, Where, Who token

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part III: How token?
Following the “Why, When, What, Where, Who” of token design, we discuss the “How token” of the W5H framework and cover the number of distinct tokens needed, token supply generation and allocation, token supply distribution, as well as building token liquidity.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part III: How token

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part IV: Token supply & demand dynamics
After prior coverage of the “Why, When, What, Where, Who and How” of token design, we explore the supply-demand and their dynamic equilibrium that close the W5H loop. We introduce token supply-demand regulation mechanisms and illustrate how to analyze a given project using case studies.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part IV: Token supply & demand dynamics

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part V: Token value accrual
Based upon prior discussions of sustainable value creation in crypto economies, this article discusses the allocation and distribution of those values. We focus on how the process enables value accrual to token holders, through both universal and selective distribution mechanisms.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part V: Token value accrual

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part VI: Token value assessment
We discuss various TradFi modeling methods for token valuation and their limitations, look at speculative token values and their impact on price, and briefly introduce token engineering as a rigorous modeling methodology for token-based crypto-economic system analysis.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Tokenomics Fundamentals Part VI: Token value assessment

Prominent Crypto Applications - DeFi, NFT and DAO

The three most notable crypto use cases as we enter 2022 are Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Non-Fungible Token (NFT), and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO). You can find an overview for each of them below:

Blockchain in finance - from Initial Coin Offering (ICO) to Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
Financial services use cases have been in the forefront of blockchain applications since Bitcoin was born. We will introduce the two major milestones for blockchain in finance, from the ICO boom in 2017 to the DeFi movement today, and help you understand how they are changing the financial industry.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

What is Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

What is NFT and where is it heading?
The year 2021 witnesses the explosion of NFT. In this article, we briefly introduce what NFT is and examine what are the factors behind the success of the top NFT projects. Then we discuss the possible future directions NFTs are heading to.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

What is a Non-Fungible Token (NFT)

Is DAO the next big thing in crypto and beyond?
We present a big picture of the DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) and explain why they could be a central pillar for future social coordination. We also discuss the process of forming a DAO and the challenges ahead in this space.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

What is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)

Blockchain for the Real Economy

If you wonder whether all the crypto stuff is too detached from everyday life, you may find comfort in how blockchain can be applied in diverse real economy sectors.

Blockchain in the real economy: an overview of use cases and sustainability goals
This article provides a brief overview of potential blockchain usage in major real economy sectors and their relationship to the four pillars of urban sustainability.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Blockchain for the Real Economy

Blockchain in the real economy - use case classification methods
This article introduces two classification methods that enable us to analyze blockchain use cases from a cross-sector perspective. One method is based on the blockchain’s role as Improver, Transformer, or Enabler; and the other method is based on the use case’s business model.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Blockchain use case analysis framework

Blockchain in the real economy - use case classification methods
This article introduces two classification methods that enable us to analyze blockchain use cases from a cross-sector perspective. One method is based on the blockchain’s role as Improver, Transformer, or Enabler; and the other method is based on the use case’s business model.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Blockchain use case classification methods

Additional topics

How will blockchain transform the creator economy?
The rapidly expanding communities of creators and fans are fueling a burgeoning creator economy. How will blockchain transform the creator economy? How will these transformations impact the challenges faced by today’s creator economy?
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

Blockchain and the creator economy

Bridging blockchain and the real world - from Oracle to Hybrid Smart Contracts
Blockchain itself forms a separate digital space. But whether in finance or real economy sectors, a blockchain use case often needs to interact with the external world. How can this be accomplished? We introduce how oracle helps bridge the on-chain and off-chain worlds of blockchain.
inWeb3Charles Shen, PhD, EMBA

How does blockchain communicate with the external world using Oracle?