Tech seems to be dividing into a "web3" camp and everyone else. I don't run in web3 circles, so all of this stuff just seems like a big, continuing grift. I still remember my feelings after seeing the Matt Damon ad.

Really sad to see so much energy put into this space. Out of all the web3 use cases, maybe 5% at the most are truly useful to have on the blockchain, while the rest are just databases wearing blockchain clothing. The really useful cases probably aren't as valuable as selling a landgrab, however.

Very excited for more people working on identity and ownership. Everyone calls web3 a grift because the stack is too young to see the truly useful applications, so all we've seen are some scammy NFTs and coin drops. We're at web browser state of 1993 where the core pieces have just launched but nothing has been proven.

It's actually very hard to develop a real app in smart contracts. We're missing the ability to store private data. Tooling is highly lacking for anything beyond deploying a simple 100 line NFT contract. As soon as these problems are solved, we'll start to see some traditional applications rebuilt in a way that gives users ownership of their own data.

That's the goal of web3 to me, not specifically the exact implementation of whether we're on a blockchain or doing peer to peer file storage. Web3 means I have all the rights to my data, and ideally, applications can live on beyond their creators.

The name says "unstoppable", but the fees paid to a centralized authority tell me that these domains are, in fact, quite stoppable.

[EDIT - strike the incorrect "yearly" from the "fees paid" statement]

Why does this need web3? Why can’t you do “unstoppable domains” using non-crypto decentralized techniques like those in Tor or BitTorrent?

I'm not a grifter pushing Web3 or NFTs, or a sucker who's in the market for either, so I guess I'm not the target market for Brave.

But honestly, what is the strategy here?

I wonder where the people behind this think it will end? On the surface, this appears like a libertarian attempt to dethrone governments and other authorities from having control over internet content. But what we have seen time and time again is that these things follow a cycle so predicable its almost boring:

(a) technologists break free of control and invent libertarian paradise (b) criminals and other bad actors flock there (c) governments create laws and regulations that make it either illegal or practically so inconvenient to operate such services that nobody can do it any more

In practical terms, what exact plan do they have when Web3 becomes a giant cess pool of child porn and underground illegal gambling and drug trading? Do they really think governments are going to say "Oh well we can't do anything about these 'unstoppable' domains so I guess child porn is ok now?".

Do they understand that the inevitable actions taken by government to regain control will end up over-reaching - almost by definition. The more resistent the libertarian paradise is to control, the more blunt and severe the response is going to be in regaining it.

The worst thing is, when the over-reach happens, it doesn't just affect thelibertarians; it wrecks every other valid use of the technology. Witness the sun setting on legal encryption as governments steadily outlaw it around the world.

this is exactly kind of stuff that makes me distrust brave, they give off shady sell out vibes with terrible partnerships like this

Understanding web3 has given me a newfound appreciation for our government.

Why do we need another type of domains? IF you need a domain, just buy one normally. You have more control over it, and it is fully accessible from the open web.

I don't trust Brave. Brave makes statements like this:

>a secure and privacy-centric browser that allows you to explore the Internet without being tracked

But you can find info on Brave's in-browser analytics: https://brave.com/privacy-preserving-product-analytics-p3a/

And you can find out how the Brave browser itself tracks the ads it shows you, while providing aggregated info to Brave's advertising engine: https://brave.com/intro-to-brave-ads/

Brave appears to have simply replaced other tracking with itself, even if they claim to use aggregation to provide anonymity. To be clear, the Brave browser tracks you in multiple ways, claiming to do this in a privacy preserving way.

If you are not into crypto, and buying into Web3, then I have no idea why you'd use Brave.

Is there someplace that spells out exactly what an unstoppable domain is and how it works? I looked at their website but it's hard to find clear technical details.

Every time I want to give Brave the benefit of the doubt they pull this shit. Inexcusable.

Wish Brendan would start a team that would port features into servo/and nightly ;)

> "... explore the Internet without sacrificing their privacy or their autonomy, ,” said Brendan Eich ...

My irony meter exploded