Trying To Navigate The Decentralized System Of Web3

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The world of the digital space has given rise to different evolutions kick starting with web1 moving up to the realm web2 which produced social media tycoons like 2go, facebook, Twitter etc, huge tech companies and serving as the foundation for the current space popularly known as Web3. While its predecessors operated on a centralized system where power and data are controlled by the owners of these platforms, Web3 functions on a completely different pattern. In this space, control, value and power are at the complete digression of the users with minimal restrictions if at all any.

The objective of Web3 is to ensure a free space where everyone can participate in literally anything while also gaining value in the process. Since its inception the Web3 space has been a groundbreaking achievement that fostered both growth and success to people around the world. However, that does not mean it is not laced with its own setbacks. For people who started off the way I did, the experience was nothing short of "learning the hard way".

My web3 journey started in 2019 with Inksnation's cryptocurrency known as pinkoin. The project was described as a humanitarian platform for Nigerians to help the struggling masses through a simple registration and a referral process. Initially I planned on ignoring the noise but a close friend told me it was legit as he knew someone who works directly with Inksnation. We both paid the registration fee and within a month we were both given an inkcard which was meant for withdrawal of both profits and purchase of goods/services. The whole process seemed legit enough as there was numerous evidence online about people enjoying the benefits of being a member of this blockchain and stores displaying banners of its operations but as were newly onboarded members, we had to wait for about six months before we could make withdrawal and/or purchases.

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After months of patiently waiting for my reward, signs started to pop up that pinkoin might just be another ponzi scheme. I chose to ignore it at first until the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) declared the founder Omotade-Sparks Amos Sewanu wanted for fraudulent activities, that was when it truly hit me that I was indeed a victim of an online scam. I had already invested time and money into this gig and the only thing I was left with was a useless card that I decided to hold with me as a reminder never to fall for such tricks ever again.
The experience left me broken and what little faith I had completely gone. From that moment onward anything that does not involve me physically working for money was a hard NO for me.

Flashforward to 2021, I was casually surfing through YouTube when I accidentally stumbled on a video about pi. At first I was a little sceptical about it because of my previous experience but after realizing the sign up was completely free I decided to give it a try and boy am I glad I did. The project took its sweet time but it eventually launched late last year and I happened to make a few bucks from selling some of my work. I also invested in some airdrops last year and a few of them provided positive results which helped rebuild my interest for the web3 space once more though I still had lingering doubts about it.

My journey finally led me to the Hive blockchain after a colleague recommended I give it a try as it involved actually contributing value through creating contents and getting rewards for every work done. This was a complete game changer and so I decided to dive in head first at the beginning of the year and have tried to stay committed to the course ever since. I started posting, expressing myself, engaging in community activities, voting for other users and completely enjoying myself with every step I take. Here I am not just a bystander sheepishly going with the flow. I control, I participate, my opinions matter and I am allowed to express myself completely as long as I don't break the golden rule of No plagiarism. Hive has taught things I could never fathom and for that only, I don't see myself leaving anytime soon.

It took a lot of pain, sacrifices and consistency to get to where I am today. The pain was real but whenever I look back to all that I have been through, I know I would never have gotten to where i am today without those painful experiences. I used to doubt Web3 constantly searching for opportunities to talk down on it but the old me gave room for the new me to grow past his hurt to see the beauty behind the scams and get reach scheme corroding my sight. I hope to continue growing in the Web3 space, learning new things along the way because Web3 is the future and I don't intend to get lost in time
Thank you