"Agency"而非"Decentralization"——Gavin Wood重新诠释Web3的真实含义

In an interview at PBA Bali, Ethereum co-founder and Polkadot creator Gavin Wood posed a thought-provoking question: Why do people need Web3? His answer is not about technology itself but points to a long-misunderstood core — Agency (personal agency and autonomy).

The Essence of Web3 Has Been Seriously Distorted

Gavin coined the term “Web3” in 2014, initially to describe the collection of Ethereum and related technological ecosystems under development. But this term has undergone a severe “semantic drift.”

“Many projects and people now use this term in ways that depart from my original intention,” he admits. He explained his initial vision: Web3 should be a combination of various technologies — including smart contract platforms, decentralized transmission protocols like BitTorrent, browsers, and communication methods between nodes that require no consensus or fees. But the ultimate goal of this entire technological framework is only one thing.

The real issue is not the word “decentralization,” but that it has been seriously overused. Gavin pointed out that many people actually confuse “decentralization” with “distribution,” or even mistakenly think it means “federation” — a structure where power is dispersed among multiple centers. None of these are what Web3 should pursue.

Why “Agency” Is the Correct Expression

Rather than saying Web3 is decentralized, it’s more accurate to say Web3 grants you true Agency — making you an independent actor who controls your own destiny. This is the fundamental reason for Web3’s existence.

Gavin emphasizes that this concept has a precise definition in economics. In comparison, “decentralization” is vague and easily misused. “Agency is more direct, more powerful, and carries no controversy. Economists can understand it easily,” he says.

When asked why people are not adopting Web3 on a large scale yet, Gavin candidly states: the existing Web2 experience feels more comfortable — you use iPhone, Netflix, traditional banking apps, everything runs smoothly and conveniently. But these systems — whether Apple, Netflix, traditional banking systems, or even Solana — do not truly give users Agency. Users are passive consumers or participants, not independent actors.

Why Existing Systems Resist Agency

Why is market adoption slow? Gavin points directly to the core issue: the current system deliberately obstructs the public from entering new financial systems. Registering on exchanges, completing KYC verification, transferring money from banks to exchange accounts — every step is obstructed. Banks may even outright refuse to transfer to crypto exchanges, claiming “we do not trust cryptocurrencies.” This is not accidental but a defensive reaction of the system.

And this is why Gavin believes the true competition is not “money versus money,” but “values versus money.” Some ecosystems may hold large amounts of VC funding to attract projects and users — a short-term, profit-driven strategy. But in the long run, such investments cannot create genuine value.

Conversely, Polkadot and its ecosystem should attract people with a different value system — telling builders and users seeking independence: “Yes, they have money. But we have something else — we have a set of technologies and philosophies that can truly help you gain Agency.”

Education Is the Key to Freedom

Gavin’s ultimate view of the ecosystem centers on one belief: Education is the key to building a better society. The capability of technology is limited; what truly matters is whether people understand “why” they are using these technologies.

This explains why Polkadot Blockchain Academy (PBA) is so central to the entire project. PBA’s audience includes developers, engineers, and technical personnel, but increasingly also founders and decision-makers. His goal is to help three key groups understand Web3 and Polkadot: users, developers, and policymakers.

“My backpack says: ‘Educate to Liberate,’” Gavin says. The education he advocates is not quick-start tutorials or API call guides but rigorous academic education — covering fundamental disciplines like economics, game theory, cryptography, etc. so that people can truly understand the foundation of Web3.

This also explains why Gavin invests so many resources in educational projects — he sees not short-term dopamine hits but a bigger vision: When enough people truly understand and use these technologies, the world will become a better place.

Redefining the Mission of the Web3 Era

From creating the term Web3 to building Polkadot, from establishing the Web3 Foundation to now promoting the Proof of Personhood project, Gavin’s entire career trajectory points in the same direction — helping humans shift from passive consumers to true Agents with real Agency.

This is not just a technological innovation but a revolution in values. In an industry filled with “short-term profit signals” and “money bombardment,” maintaining such a stance requires rare resolve. But Gavin believes that, in the long run, competition based on values rather than capital is the true driver of a healthy ecosystem.