Internet Computer (ICP) — The Gate to Web3 and the Future of a Decentralized Internet

The modern internet (Web2) is fully controlled by large corporations that own servers, manage user data, censor content, and can block access to information at any time. I wrote more about this in one of my previous articles. I don’t think Web2 will simply collapse with the rise of Web3. Too many powerful forces and major corporations are involved to just give up so easily. Moreover, Web3 is currently mostly embraced by advanced users, and it may take a long time before it reaches the mainstream. Essentially, we are seeing two parallel directions—DAO for those who advocate for freedom, and the rest of the world, which isn’t used to making an effort.

What is Internet Computer (ICP)?

In my view, it is the gate to Web3, a new decentralized platform that enables the deployment of any digital services on a distributed neural network without relying on centralized servers.

With ICP, you can build any online service—from websites and social networks to banking systems and games—and make it completely independent from traditional infrastructure like Amazon, Google, or Microsoft data centers.

ICP: A New Internet Space, Free from Corporations

ICP is not just another blockchain—it is a full-fledged alternative to the traditional internet, operating on the principles of decentralization and self-governance.

?? What can be built on ICP?

Any digital service that exists in Web2 can be transitioned to Web3 and launched on ICP:

? Websites and blogs without server hosting

? Social networks without censorship and advertising algorithms

? Financial services without banks and intermediaries (DeFi)

? Games and metaverses with real digital economies

? Decentralized online stores and e-commerce services

? Chat applications and messengers with data protection

All of this works without centralized servers because ICP itself is a global decentralized neural network, where data is distributed across numerous independent nodes.

Let’s Look at an Example

You create your own website, purchase a domain from ICP, and host it in the network. The website works as usual, but without relying on servers owned by a company.

?? Your cost to maintain the website? Around $20 per year (for a small site).

?? Yes, it won’t appear in search engines of google, but who even uses those anymore?

?? Can ChatGPT recommend such a website if someone searches for a solution? Theoretically, ChatGPT could recommend it if:

1. The site is indexed in open sources—for example, it is mentioned in blogs, forums, social networks, or other places accessible for analysis.
2. The user’s query matches the site's topic—if the website content is relevant and I have information about it, I can suggest it.

?? What about promotion?

Promotion remains the same as in Web2—through social media, advertising, email marketing, community engagement, ?? articles, press releases, and more.

A second example—you develop a mobile application. People can use it on their phones, downloading it not from traditional app stores like Apple’s App Store or Google Play, but through specialized Web3 platforms, directly from websites, or via Internet Computer Apps or NNS Dapp—a decentralized application for staking and voting on the ICP network.

Did You Know? There are phones that run on decentralized operating systems—not Android or iOS! ?? These devices are fully autonomous, censorship-resistant, and can run Web3 applications without restrictions.

?? I will write more about this in one of my upcoming articles!

Web3 on ICP: A Decentralized Alternative to Traditional Systems

ICP enables the decentralization of all key internet systems, transforming them into trustless, tamper-proof environments:

?? 1. Registries and Databases

Instead of centralized registries (land registries, business registration databases, banking records), ICP’s blockchain can store ownership data, contracts, intellectual property rights, and legally significant transactions in a way that prevents deletion, forgery, or unauthorized modification.

?? 2. Social Networks and Content Platforms

In Web2, platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram own all the content. They can delete your posts, ban your account, or manipulate visibility.

With Web3 on ICP, social networks can exist without centralized control, ensuring that content truly belongs to users. No one can ban or deplatform you.

?? 3. Financial Systems and Payments

ICP enables decentralized financial services (DeFi) that operate without banks or centralized intermediaries. Users can process instant payments, execute smart contracts, and manage their assets without middleman fees.

?? 4. Gaming, Metaverses, and Digital Economies

Gaming companies control their in-game economies and can change the rules or shut down services, wiping out digital assets.

ICP enables games and metaverses where digital assets truly belong to players, existing independently of any single company’s decisions.

Why ICP have place as the Internet of the Future

?? ICP makes the internet truly free—information is no longer controlled by corporations, and the entire blockchain industry emerged with this exact goal in mind.

?? Users control their own data—no one can delete your account or website.

?? Full transparency—any code or data changes are fully traceable.

?? Speed and convenience—decentralized applications run just as fast as traditional ones.

?? Lower costs—no need to pay for traditional hosting, cloud storage, or infrastructure.

ICP is a real alternative to the internet as we know it today, capable of replacing corporate servers, government registries, banks, social networks, and other centralized structures.

To be honest, since the Crypto Valley Summit last fall, I’ve been searching for a foundation in this industry. I wrote about my perspective in this article. I have been looking for the "axis" around which all blockchain, cryptocurrency, smart contract, and DAO technologies revolve.

?? And I think I found it in ICP.

This is the foundation upon which the future of Web3 will be built.

It’s exciting to be here, almost at the very beginning.

ICP was founded in 2016 by the Dfinity Foundation, led by Dominic Williams. The mainnet was launched in 2021.

?? This is just my first dive into the topic—there’s much more to explore… ??