The Vision

Web3 is a new version of the web grounded on key principles such as decentralization, composability of applications, service accessibility, and data privacy. It also includes the ability for users to own and exchange digital assets while managing their online identities without intermediaries. This evolution is made possible by blockchain technology, and it represents more than just a technological shift; it is a socio-economic movement that fosters transparency, decentralized governance, and new business models. Web3 empowers users and creates opportunities for a more equitable and inclusive internet.

Web3Hub and its mission

Web3Hub is a center of excellence for blockchain and web3 technologies. Integrating both research and practical application, Web3Hub fosters a network of Italian and international companies, public institutions, and startups. Web3Hub began as an initiative in 2017 within the Politecnico di Milano, one of the leading technical universities in Italy and globally, driven by the need to explore the potential of blockchain and decentralized technologies. Initially, it operated as the Blockchain & Web3 Observatory, focusing on research and knowledge dissemination. Over time, it evolved to include projects dedicated to applied research, allowing the team to support real-world blockchain implementations. This expansion marked a transition from pure research to the integration of practical applications, establishing Web3Hub as a comprehensive center for blockchain activities.

The mission of Web3Hub is to generate and share knowledge on blockchain and Web3, contributing to the growth of both the Italian and international markets, while also bridging gaps between academia, industry, and public institutions.

The Research

The research conducted by Web3Hub spans several key areas. The main research streams cover the following topics:

• Analysis of the development of web3: understanding what web3 is, its technological trends, its impact on business and society, and its sustainability.

• Adoption analysis: investigating how various sectors, including businesses, public administration, startups, and consumers, are adopting web3.

• Technology use cases: studying specific blockchain applications such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs and other tokens, DAOs, and decentralized applications.

• Crypto-assets: analyzing the adoption of crypto-assets, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The research explores their market dynamics, regulatory compliance, use cases, and user adoption.

• Future trends: evaluating future directions and scenarios for blockchain and web3 technologies.

• Regulatory Landscape: mapping relevant regulations for web3 and blockchain across different jurisdictions.

The research includes both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as literature reviews, surveys, workshops with experts, and case studies.

Since 2017, the researchers of Web3Hub have analyzed over 1,300 blockchain and Web3 projects globally, including proof of concept, pilots, and fully operational solutions. The research focuses on the practical adoption of blockchain by companies and public administrations, highlighting key trends and use cases. To further understand blockchain adoption, they have developed multiple case studies focusing on different stakeholders, including enterprises, public administrations, and startups. Web3Hub conducts around 30 semi-structured interviews each year, analyzing real-world examples of blockchain adoption and implementation. Additionally, the research covers stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), examining major projects and their economic impact, offering a broad view of how the public and private sectors are shaping digital currencies' future. For three consecutive years, Web3Hub also partnered with DOXA to create a survey representative of the Italian population, gaining insights into the adoption of crypto-assets in everyday financial activities. Researchers of Web3Hub have also mapped over 150 blockchain and crypto-asset regulations across Italy and Europe, providing businesses and public entities with guidance on navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.

This comprehensive approach keeps Web3Hub at the forefront of blockchain innovation, supporting both academic inquiry and industry application.

The Projects

Web3Hub serves as a bridge between research and market needs. For that reason, in addition to research, it aims to promote, facilitate, and enable blockchain projects involving various players by creating a pre-competitive development environment for applied research. Here are the main types of projects on which it focuses:

• Ecosystem Coordination: thanks to its super-partes role as a public university, Web3Hub supports companies in coordinating with partners, competitors, and relevant stakeholders to innovate together.

• Research Projects: Web3Hub conducts on-target research to help companies better understand specific trends within web3 and blockchain technologies. This research could be both a technical deep dive on a topic (e.g., Zero Knowledge Proof) or a business-related focus (e.g., on how companies adopt blockchain and web3 within a sector or a country).

• Education: Web3Hub provides comprehensive and tailor-made educational programs that can have a business focus, a technical one, or a mix of these two.

• Decision Support: Web3Hub offers on-target research and frameworks to guide companies in their web3 and blockchain implementation strategies, ensuring informed and strategic decision-making.

• Business Model Evaluation: Web3Hub analyzes and evaluates how blockchain and web3 can disrupt existing business models, creating new revenue streams, reducing costs, and transforming the value proposition.

• Evaluation and Certification: as a super-partes player, Web3Hub also analyzes existing web3 and blockchain projects, potential partners, and startups to provide certification and validation of their capabilities, expertise, and alignment with industry standards.

Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach Web3Hub can assist companies and institutions in any phase of their project. With all these possible options, Web3Hub aims to connect theory to real-world implementation, promoting cooperation and favoring the adoption of these technologies.

The Network and Activities

Web3Hub is more than just a research center; it is a dynamic community actively engaging with the blockchain market every day. The hub brings together numerous companies and public institutions, fostering collaboration through a wide range of activities. Throughout the year, Web3Hub hosts workshops and conferences that cover critical topics such as decentralized finance, cryptocurrencies, and tokenization. These events provide a platform for industry leaders, academic experts, and European institutions to connect and exchange ideas. Web3Hub also regularly publishes detailed reports on regulatory developments, blockchain performance, and adoption trends, which are accessible to its community members through a repository of research documents, rankings, and charts.

By creating opportunities for networking, education, and practical collaboration, Web3Hub serves as a bridge between research and market needs. Through its public conferences, industry workshops, and frequent updates on blockchain trends, Web3Hub ensures that its community is not only well-informed but also actively engaged in shaping the future of web3 technologies.

Since its inception, Web3Hub has:

• Organized 8 public conferences in Milan, each with over 500 attendees.

• Held approximately 7 workshops per year, with an average of 40 participants each (CIOs, CTOs, IT Managers, etc.).

• In addition to workshops for the Italian community, in the last 3 years, Web3Hub hosted workshops in London (at UCL), Paris (at the OECD), and a public conference at the EU Parliament in Brussels.

• Engaged 30-40 companies annually as active supporters of research.

• Created a community of over 9,500 professionals in Web3 technologies.

Join us in shaping the future

Web3Hub is leading the next evolution of the internet by combining research, innovation, and practical application. By connecting companies, startups, and institutions, Web3Hub bridges the gap between academia and industry, turning the potential of blockchain into real-world outcomes. Through applied research and public education, Web3Hub isn't just studying Web3—it’s helping to shape it. Be part of our mission to build a decentralized, fair, and inclusive web that changes how we connect, transact, and innovate.

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