Web3 is filled with brilliant developers, but here’s a hard truth, most of them aren’t thinking like product builders.

Too often, Web3 projects focus on technical innovation but forget the most important question, will anyone actually use this? That’s where Web2 product managers excel. They don’t just build features, they prioritize what truly matters for adoption, retention and growth.

If Web3 developers want to create products that people actually use, they need to adopt a product mindset.

Stop Building for the Tech, Start Building for the User

Web3 loves to innovate, new consensus mechanisms, modular chains, complex smart contracts. But if users can’t navigate the product seamlessly, none of it matters.

Web2 PMs focus on solving real problems, not just adding new features. The best Web3 products? They feel invisible, users shouldn’t have to think about wallets, gas fees or private keys. Make it seamless or lose users.

Avoid Feature Creep - Focus on Core Value

Many Web3 teams try to do too much at once, multi-chain support, staking, NFTs, governance, all in one. But the best products start simple and focused.

Web2 PMs ask:

• Not “Is this feature cool?”

• But “Will this feature improve user adoption or retention?”

Web3 teams need to ship faster, test early and iterate based on real feedback, not just build for the sake of building.

Prioritization is Everything

Not all features are equally important. Some drive user growth, others are just distractions. Web2 PMs use data to prioritize, Web3 devs often rely on intuition.

Ask yourself:

• What’s the one feature that will bring 80% of the value?

• What’s taking time but won’t impact user adoption?

Instead of a roadmap full of experimental ideas, Web3 teams need to focus on high-impact features first.

Web3 UX Needs to Feel Like Web2, But Better

Web3 devs often think decentralization is the goal. It’s not. User adoption is the goal.

Look at successful Web2 apps, they onboard users in seconds. Now compare that to Web3:

• Wallet setup is complicated.

• Gas fees are confusing.

• Transactions feel risky.

Web2 PMs focus on frictionless UX. Web3 needs to do the same. If your product doesn’t feel as smooth as a Web2 app, users won’t stay.

Build for Adoption, Not Just Innovation

Some of the best Web3 innovations failed because they were too complex. The projects that win? They make Web3 accessible.

Successful Web2 PMs:

• Study user behavior.

• A/B test features.

• Iterate based on real data.

Web3 needs to move away from "build first, fix later" and adopt a data-driven, user-first approach.

The Future of Web3 Belongs to Those Who Think Like Product Builders

Great tech alone isn’t enough. The next wave of Web3 winners won’t just be the best developers, they’ll be the best product thinkers / UX designers.