Beyond Connecting Wallets: What Web3 Was Meant to Be

If you’ve been around Web3 for a while, connecting wallets, doing a few tasks for some tokens, and linking socials,  probably sound familiar. It’s how many new projects try to get people involved. But lately, more and more people are asking questions. Is this really what Web3 is all about?

A tweet by Tony Emeka (Co-founder of Crypto TV Plus and CEO of Earnathon) caught my eye on X (Twitter) recently.

“Is Web3 all about connecting your wallet, linking your socials, and completing tasks?” He questioned.

It’s a fair question and one that’s hard to ignore. Web3 was meant to be much more than just quests and rewards. It promised a new kind of internet. One where people truly owned their data, identity, and creative work. A place where communities had power, not just platforms. But somehow, we’ve ended up chasing airdrops.

What went wrong? And more importantly, what can still be made right? Because if we’re only here to click, claim, and move on, maybe we’ve missed the point entirely.

See More Articles on Web3:

Web3: The Next Generation Internet

Is Web3 The Future of The Internet or a Passing Fad?

The Original Vision of Web3

To understand where Web3 is today, we have to remember what it was meant to be. Web3 was imagined as the next phase of the internet. Unlike Web2, where tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon control most of our data and online experiences, Web3 promised something radically different. It promised a decentralized internet, owned and shaped by its users and not corporations.

This idea didn’t come out of nowhere. It was born from the rise of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. These tools introduced a new way of creating trust without middlemen. It is about using code instead of companies. With smart contracts, developers could build apps that ran automatically, without needing a central server or authority.

Then came DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), which allowed communities to make decisions together and manage resources without CEOs or hierarchies. The goal wasn’t just to create new financial systems, but to reimagine how we collaborate, govern, and create value on the internet.

At the heart of Web3 are three big ideas:

1. Permissionless Access: Anyone, anywhere, should be able to join and build without needing approval. No gatekeepers. Just a wallet and an internet connection.
   
2. Censorship Resistance:  Content, transactions, and identities shouldn’t be controlled or deleted by centralized powers. If something exists on-chain, it should stay there open and verifiable.
   
3. Self-Sovereign Identity: Users should control their own data, reputation, and digital identity. You decide what to share, who sees it, and how it’s used. Not Facebook or Google.
   

Put simply, Web3 was about shifting power back to the people. It wasn’t just about tokens or technology but about freedom, ownership, and trust in a digital world. That was the dream. But somewhere along the line, the vision got blurry.

The Rise of Task-Based Engagement

As Web3 projects began to grow, builders needed a way to attract users and build community fast. But without ads, email lists, or traditional marketing channels, they turned to something new. What we call task-based engagement.

Platforms like Zealy (formerly Crew3), Galxe, and Layer3 became popular tools to onboard users. These platforms let projects set up “quests”, small tasks like joining a Discord server, following on Twitter, writing a blog post, or voting in a DAO proposal. In return, users earned points, NFT badges, or the promise of future token airdrops.

At first, it worked. People were excited. The tasks felt like a fun way to explore new projects while earning rewards. For startups, it was a quick way to build hype and show “growth.” Wallets connected. Discords filled up. Social media buzzed. But over time, cracks began to show.

The system encouraged transactional behavior, not true community. People came for the rewards, not the mission. Tasks became checklists. Engagement became shallow. Many users never returned after claiming their airdrop  or even worse, they dumped the token and moved on to the next project offering rewards.

Instead of building real connections or shared values, many Web3 communities became mini gaming ecosystems, chasing points instead of purpose. Projects started optimizing for numbers like how many wallets, how many retweets, rather than for people who cared. Pure vanity metrics.

In trying to grow quickly, Web3 lost some of its depth. The goal shifted from building meaning to building momentum. And now, many are asking if web3 is about building community or just attracting mercenaries.

The Psychology of Points, Tasks, and Airdrops

It’s easy to see why the “do task, get reward” model caught on in Web3. It works on a psychological level. Humans are wired to respond to small wins. Whether it’s just game points, badges, or token promises, these systems tap into something powerful and that’s dopamine.

Dopamine is the brain’s “feel good” chemical, and it spikes when we achieve something even if it’s as simple as clicking a button or completing a checklist. Platforms like Zealy and Galxe use this loop to keep users engaged. Each completed quest gives you feedback, a point, a rank, a reward. It feels like progress.

This isn’t new. Social media apps use likes and notifications in the same way. But in Web3, where rewards can be financial, the effect is even stronger. But there’s a catch.

When engagement is built only around dopamine, just quick hits, short-term goals, people stop caring about the why. They start showing up just to collect. They hop from project to project, looking for the next opportunity, not the next mission. And soon, even those rewards lose their meaning. The result? Communities full of people who are present, but not participating. Active wallets, but passive hearts.

Gamification can be a great tool when used in balance. But when it replaces purpose, it turns Web3 into just another points-based game. And if everything is a task, nothing truly feels meaningful.

Real engagement isn’t about feeding reward loops. It’s about building spaces where people care  with or without the rewards.

What Real Web3 Community Looks Like

Web3’s strongest feature was never the tech. It was the people who believed in building something new. A real Web3 community isn’t just a crowd of wallet addresses completing tasks. It’s a group of humans working toward a shared vision, connected by trust, creativity, and values. So what does that actually look like?

It looks like Lens Protocol, where users own their social graph and follow people across platforms. No more starting from scratch if a platform disappears. It looks like CabinDAO, a decentralized network for digital nomads building co-living spaces around the world  with real collaboration and offline meetups..

These communities don’t rely on taskboards or airdrops to keep people engaged. They rely on stories, shared identity, and a sense of belonging.

What’s the difference? A crowd shows up when there’s something to gain. A community stays when there’s something to believe in.

Real Web3 communities have clear missions and values. They make space for different kinds of contributors, not just coders or early investors. They use tools to coordinate, not control and encourage creativity, not conformity. These communities reward contribution and not just completion. They’re not perfect, but they’re alive.

And in a space that’s often noisy, spammy, or shallow, that kind of community feels rare  and powerful. Because when people find a place where they can create, connect, and be part of something meaningful, they don’t need daily quests. They just need each other.

Where It Went Wrong: Wallets Over People

At some point, Web3 stopped feeling like it was designed for us. Instead of building communities filled with real people, many projects started treating wallets like users as if every wallet address was a loyal fan or community member. But in reality, many wallets were just there for rewards. No real interest. No real connection. Just a quick task, a quick claim, and they were gone.

The more projects focused on numbers, how many wallets connected, how many tasks completed, the more they lost sight of the people behind the screens. Some communities even turned into “engagement farms.” You’d see hundreds of people join a Discord, spam emojis, and disappear. Or Twitter threads full of comments like “To the moon!” but no real conversation. Everything started to feel fake, robotic, or forced.

This is the problem with incentive-first systems. They attract attention, but not always intention. People come for rewards, not relationships. And once the rewards stop, so does the crowd.

Even social linking,  connecting your Twitter or Discord,  became just another checkbox. It rarely led to real interaction or deeper involvement. Instead of building trust, many Web3 projects built empty numbers.

And the truth is, when you measure success only by how many wallets you’ve connected, you risk building something that looks alive but isn’t. If Web3 is really about people owning the future of the internet, we need to stop designing for wallets and start designing for humans.

What the Ecosystem Needs

If Web3 is going to grow the right way, it needs to stop chasing attention and start building connections. That begins with fixing the onboarding experience.

Right now, most projects greet new users with:

“Connect your wallet.”

For many people, that’s confusing or even scary especially if they’re not familiar with crypto. Wallet-first onboarding creates a wall instead of a welcome. What’s the fix?

Instead of making people sign in before they understand what your project is about, let them explore. Let them see the vibe, read the stories, listen to the community, and feel the purpose. Then, when it makes sense, invite them to connect.

Some projects are already doing this well. Paragraph lets writers create token-gated newsletters, but people can read and explore before committing. Interface builds social apps where people can browse, react, and connect before needing a wallet. Lore helps DAOs tell their stories through beautiful timelines and community pages. Storytelling first, crypto second. Design also matters. A friendly, beautiful experience makes people stay. And so does user care. Think of clear language, helpful guides, and communities that are kind to newcomers.

The truth is, people don’t fall in love with tech. They fall in love with the impact and how it makes them feel. If Web3 wants to matter, it needs to feel more like a movement, not a checklist.

The Soul of Web3 Is Still Possible

Web3 was never supposed to be about just connecting wallets and completing tasks. It was meant to shift power from platforms to people, from corporations to communities.

Yes, the space has drifted. Growth hacks and reward systems have taken center stage. But that doesn’t mean the original vision is lost. It just means we have to fight to bring it back.

Web3 still holds the tools to build a better internet. One where identity is owned, creativity is rewarded, and communities are built on purpose, not prizes.

The soul of Web3 isn’t in the code. It’s in the people we create with for. So let’s build platforms that feel human. Let’s tell better stories. Let’s make people feel something before we make them connect anything. Because if Web3 is ever going to work it has to be for people first.

We’ve seen what happens when we chase quick wins: crowded Discords that go silent, wallets that show up but never stay. But we’ve also seen glimpses of something more. Communities building for the long term, projects that lead with meaning, and users who want more than another airdrop.

The real Web3 isn’t something you “claim.” It’s something you grow into. It begins with curiosity. It deepens with trust. And it lasts when people feel seen and valued not just counted.

So, no! Web3 was never just about connecting wallets. It was always meant to connect people.