# Ethereum's Intro to Web3

The Ethereum Foundation's framing of Web3: a decentralized web built on user-owned, programmable infrastructure.

## Summary

The Ethereum Foundation's explainer frames Web3 as an internet owned by its builders and users rather than by platforms — decentralized, verifiable, and built on programmable smart contracts. It generalizes [Nakamoto](/wiki/nakamoto.md)'s ledger from money to arbitrary applications and ownership.

This is a *living* web page maintained by its publisher; only an original summary and the canonical link are kept here.

## Why it matters

Web3 added programmable ownership to the [decentralization](/wiki/decentralization.md) story. The Independent Internet (Web 4.0) builds on it by adding *control* of the underlying compute and data — self-hosting, mesh networking, and post-quantum security on top of ownership.

> Part of the AP0110.ORG source library. See the [wiki overview](/wiki.md).

---
*Full source text: [read the original document](/docs/ethereum-web3.md).*