Using a Web3 app can feel simple on the surface.
- connect wallet
- click a button
- confirm a transaction
But behind that interaction is a series of processes
most users never fully see.
Understanding what actually happens
changes how you think about Web3.
Step 1: Connecting Your Wallet
The first action in most Web3 apps is:
👉 connecting a wallet
This does not:
- log you into an account
- send your data to a server
Instead, it:
👉 proves ownership of an address
Your wallet acts as:
- identity
- access point
- authorization layer
Step 2: Reading the Blockchain State
Once connected, the app reads data from the blockchain:
- balances
- token holdings
- contract states
This is done through:
- RPC endpoints
- node infrastructure
The app is not storing your data.
It’s:
👉 querying a shared system
Step 3: Preparing an Action
When you click something like:
- “Swap”
- “Stake”
- “Mint”
The app prepares a transaction.
This includes:
- destination contract
- function to execute
- parameters
At this stage:
👉 nothing has happened yet
Step 4: Transaction Signing
Before anything executes, you must:
👉 sign the transaction
This happens inside your wallet.
Signing does not send funds.
It:
👉 authorizes the action
This step is critical.
Because it’s the point where:
- user intent becomes executable
Step 5: Broadcasting the Transaction
Once signed, the transaction is:
👉 broadcast to the network
It enters a pool of pending transactions.
From there:
- validators or miners process it
- it gets included in a block
Step 6: Network Execution
The blockchain executes the transaction:
- smart contract runs
- state changes occur
- balances update
This is deterministic.
Meaning:
👉 the same input produces the same result
Step 7: Confirmation
After execution:
- the transaction is confirmed
- the state is updated
Depending on the network:
- this can take seconds
- or longer
Step 8: UI Updates
Finally, the app updates:
- balances
- status
- transaction history
This gives the appearance that:
👉 the app performed the action
But in reality:
👉 the blockchain did
Why This Feels Complicated
Because users are interacting with multiple layers:
- frontend application
- wallet
- blockchain network
- infrastructure providers
Each step introduces:
👉 friction
This layered process is why many Web3 apps still feel difficult to use.
Where Things Break
Failures can occur at multiple points:
- wallet connection issues
- incorrect transaction parameters
- network congestion
- failed execution
Which leads to:
👉 inconsistent experiences
Why This Matters
Understanding this process helps explain:
- why transactions take time
- why fees exist
- why errors happen
It also explains:
👉 why UX is still evolving
The Role of Abstraction
The future of Web3 is not about making users understand this process.
It’s about:
👉 hiding it
Through:
- better UX
- automation
- invisible infrastructure
The future depends on hiding this complexity from the user.
What This Looks Like Long-Term
Eventually:
- wallet interactions become seamless
- transactions happen in the background
- users focus on outcomes
Not processes.
Where This Connects to Broader Tech Trends
This mirrors shifts across technology:
- fewer visible steps
- more automation
- systems handling execution
Web3 is moving in the same direction.
WTF does it all mean?
Every action in Web3 is more complex than it appears.
Because you’re not using an app.
You’re interacting with:
👉 a distributed system
The future isn’t about making this process visible.
It’s about making it:
👉 disappear
Part of the Web3 Reality Series
This article is part of a series exploring how Web3 actually works in practice.
👉 Explore the full series:
https://jasonansell.ca/web3-reality-what-decentralization-actually-looks-like/
