There are two very different audiences in Web3.
They look similar on the surface.
They use the same tools. They interact with the same platforms.
But they behave differently.
And building for one is not the same as building for the other.
Who Web3 Users Actually Are
Web3 users are familiar with the space.
They:
- Understand wallets
- Accept complexity
- Expect some level of friction
- Know how systems work
They’ve already adapted.
They’ve learned the rules.
And they’re willing to operate within them.
Who Real Users Are
Real users are everyone else.
They:
- Don’t understand the underlying technology
- Don’t want to learn new systems
- Expect simplicity
- Expect things to work immediately
They don’t adapt to the system.
They expect the system to adapt to them.
The Core Difference in Expectations
Web3 users expect:
- Control
- Flexibility
- Transparency
Real users expect:
- Ease
- Speed
- Clarity
Web3 users tolerate friction.
Real users avoid it.
Why Most Products Target the Wrong Audience
Many Web3 products are built for Web3 users.
They:
- Assume knowledge
- Expose complexity
- Prioritize technical features
This works for early adoption.
But it limits growth.
Because the audience is small.
The Comfort of Building for Familiar Users
Building for Web3 users is easier.
They:
- Understand the system
- Provide feedback
- Engage quickly
This creates:
- Faster iteration
- Early traction
- Visible activity
But it doesn’t create scale.
Why Real Users Don’t Convert
When real users encounter Web3 products, they face:
- Too many steps
- Too much responsibility
- Too much uncertainty
They don’t:
- Set up wallets easily
- Understand transactions
- Trust the process
So they leave.
Not because they aren’t interested.
But because the experience isn’t designed for them.
The Cost of Misalignment
If a product is designed for Web3 users:
- It remains niche
- It struggles to onboard new users
- It depends on the same audience
This creates:
- Limited growth
- Recycled users
- Slower adoption
What Building for Real Users Looks Like
Products built for real users:
- Hide complexity
- Simplify interaction
- Deliver value immediately
They:
- Reduce onboarding friction
- Provide clear outcomes
- Feel familiar
Web3 becomes:
- The infrastructure
- Not the experience
Why This Shift Is Necessary
The next phase of Web3 isn’t about:
- Serving the existing audience
It’s about:
- Expanding beyond it
This requires:
- Rethinking design
- Rethinking assumptions
- Rethinking priorities
The Transition From Niche to Mainstream
Web3 users built the foundation.
Real users create adoption.
The transition happens when:
- Products stop assuming knowledge
- Systems stop exposing complexity
- Experiences become intuitive
That’s when growth accelerates.
WTF does it all mean?
Building for Web3 users creates traction.
Building for real users creates scale.
And you can’t reach one by optimizing for the other.
Because in the end, Web3 doesn’t grow when more Web3 users show up.
It grows when everyone else does.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you want to understand how to build products that move beyond the Web3 bubble and reach real users, I break it down across my books.
Start here:
https://books.jasonansell.ca/
Or check out:
- Understanding Web3 – A practical breakdown of how real users interact with these systems
https://books.jasonansell.ca/mastering-crypto-series/understanding-web3 - Understanding Blockchain – The foundation behind scalable systems
https://books.jasonansell.ca/mastering-crypto-series/understanding-blockchain - A Beginner’s Guide to Cryptocurrency – How new users actually enter the space
https://books.jasonansell.ca/mastering-crypto-series/a-beginners-guide-to-cryptocurrency
