Web3 promised a revolution, a user-owned internet. But currently, instead it seems like a complete disjointed hodgepodge. Picture needing to set up a new email account each time you log on to a new platform. Sounds ridiculous, right? That’s about what we can expect with this current iteration of Web3 identity.

Web3 Identity Is A Hot Mess

We leap from platform to platform, hopping from one ecosystem to another, generating new wallets, new identities, new sign-ons. Your well-earned following on one? Demolished on the other. User experience It’s a really bad user experience, period. Oh, if we’re being honest, it’s a security disaster. Tasking users with depending on Google or Twitter logins essentially undermines the entire point of substituting everything with decentralization. We’re only re-creating the pain points of Web2, but multiplied and with a greater unfriendliness.

Think about it. You build up a following on a decentralized social media platform, painstakingly curating your content and engaging with the community. Next, you’re looking to engage with a DeFi protocol. Guess what? You have to build as an entirely new pseudonym, go through all the KYC hurdles once more, and begin anew. It’s sort of like being a musician where you have to re-audition for each gig, no matter how good you’ve played before. This isn't the future we were promised.

Current Solutions? Not Quite Cutting It

Of course, I’m aware of these solutions — ENS, other existing DID projects, etc. I know, I know—every one of these ideas is implemented in awkward and clunky, convoluted ways that do the opposite of helping users. They tend to have a huge technical barrier to entry that most folks just don’t possess. Despite their claims of decentralization, many are dependent on centralized infrastructure, which can introduce single points of failure. Are they actually fixing the problem, or creating yet another layer of confusion on top? I think it's the latter!

Unfortunately, many of these solutions break down when faced with the challenge of cross-chain interoperability. You might have a shiny new DID, but if it's not recognized across different blockchains, it's not doing you much good. We know, it’s like having a passport that only works in one country. What's the point?

Moca Chain: A Unified Web3 Identity?

This is where Animoca Brands’ Moca Network and its layer-1 blockchain, Moca Chain, enter the scene. At the core of the promise is a decentralized user verification system and a cross-blockchain data verification process. Finally!

Consider Moca Chain your universal translator for Web3 identities. JUST SO’s mission is to equip the decentralized internet with an interoperable framework that enables applications across diverse blockchains to identify and authenticate users. Goodbye to making new profiles on each new platform. No more having to begin from square one each time you want to experiment with something new.

The key here is the architecture. As an L1, Moca Chain allows for higher scalability. It provides much greater security than solutions developed on top of popular blockchains. Inherently, the MOCA token incentivizes active positive participation in order to deter bad actors and Sybil attacks, maintaining the network’s integrity. This is a very important piece of the puzzle.

It’s about controlling your internet persona, your trust, your information. Yat Siu gets it. To put it in his words, users should be in charge of and profit from what they do online. Earned, not given… That’s the fundamental promise of Web3, and Moca Chain appears to be living up to it.

From Streaming Music To Web3 Identity

As one who spins records for a living, I can’t help but draw a corollary to the splintered world of music streaming. Think back to the original music ecosystem where you had to pay per song on iTunes, subscription fee Spotify, and free ad-supported Pandora for radio. It was a mess! Now, imagine if all those services could recognize your listening habits and preferences, regardless of which platform you were using. That’s the effortless experience Moca Network is building for Web3 identity, too.

This is about more than just convenience. It’s about restoring technological and economic power to the end users. It’s an idea whose time has come to create a more equitable and empowering digital future. It's about building a truly decentralized internet.

A Step Towards User-Owned Internet

Moca Network’s approach is a promising step to create a more decentralized and user-owned internet. It goes against the playbook of the centralized, often US-controlled Web2 platforms. This change represents a step into a future where users are more empowered to control their digital identities.

It’s not just a technological change. This is a philosophical change. It's about reclaiming our digital sovereignty.

So, is Moca Network the silver bullet to solve Web3’s identity crisis? It's too early to say for sure. But it’s an encouraging sign of progress. Definitely watch this space! The upcoming testnet launch in Q3 will therefore be a critical phase.

I invite you to go further, discover more about Moca Network, and become part of this exciting discussion. This is an often under-the-radar but very important debate, and your voice can make a difference. Let's build a better Web3, together.