Why P2P networks are crucial to Web5

The following content is translated from Jan Xie, Chief Architect of Nervos CKB, X tweet, the original English text:

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Peer-to-peer messaging and Consensus are like the two sides of the yin-yang of the encryption economy network. However, it seems that the most followed is the novel Consensus layer protocol, while the P2P layer is neglected. Just a reminder, the word ‘peer-to-peer’ appears in the title of BTC White Paper (while the term ‘blockchain’ appears 0 times in the entire White Paper).

In terms of architecture, the main difference between Web5 and Web3 lies in the emphasis on the P2P network. In Web5, the blockchain or consensus layer is just a means to achieve larger goals and is a complement to the P2P network, like the yin or yang in the balance. Is it really necessary to cram everything we can think of into the consensus layer and move the whole world on-chain? The endless on-chain vision in Web3 is not only incomplete but also monotonous. In contrast, the concept of Web5 is simple and clear: to build a P2P network with the chain and let yin and yang coexist. (Well, I admit that Web5 sounds like a lame joke, but believe me, it’s more than just a joke.)

Why? Because in most cases, it’s best for us to handle the problem ourselves locally, without involving any unnecessary middlemen like Consensus validators or Block producers. If Alice wants to pay Bob 1000 Satoshi/USDT/other currency, the ideal way is for Alice to directly give the money to Bob, rather than going through some validators, as this is not only faster but also naturally provides privacy protection. Even if direct transactions are not possible, it is still a better choice to complete the transaction through professional payment processors like Charlie, because: 1. Alice can independently choose Charlie, Daniel, or others as payment processors; 2. Alice can minimize intermediate steps and better protect privacy compared to making payments public to everyone; 3. Payment processors have flexibility and can provide customized services to meet the preferences of different recipients. This is exactly why we favor payment channel networks like BTCLighting Network and CKB Fiber Network. Payment channel networks are essentially P2P networks.

This logic also applies to other scenarios, such as when Alice wants to rent 10GB of storage space from Bob for 3 months, or when Bob wants to outsource a heavy computation to Alice’s computer cluster for 1 week. Allowing people to autonomously execute transactions (of any type) would be better. The role of blockchain or consensus layer here is to facilitate the formation and coordination of transactions, not to take over their execution. In this new architecture of Web5, blockchain runs parallel to the P2P network. The P2P network is a place for information exchange, a market for consumers and producers, a place for Inquiry and bidding (possibly presented in a public/partially public transaction form). Whenever demand matching is found in the P2P network, the blockchain intervenes to provide Smart Contracts and guarantees to ensure that the Decentralization market operates like a market in the real world. The Decentralization economy based on a diverse P2P network and market-executing blockchain is closer to a free market than an economy built on resource-consuming “I can do everything” blockchain.

Web5 is a revival of the original spirit of the decentralized P2P network, combined with a new consensus layer that can be achieved in today’s era. It is an information+value network that is being realized. Web2 + Web3 is not just a pun, Web5 is a reality.