For newcomers to Web3, what often confuses them the most is not 'how to make money', but 'what is this actually about'.

This is an introductory guide to Web3 prepared for you. You can think of it as a manual for transitioning your identity from Web2 (the internet we currently have) to Web3.

Core logic: Transitioning from 'tenant' to 'owner'

If Web1 is 'read-only' mode (like reading a newspaper), and Web2 is 'read-write' mode (like scrolling Douyin or posting on Weibo), then the core of Web3 is 'ownership (Own)'.

In Web2: You are a 'tenant' of the platform. Your account, data, and fans actually belong to the platform (Meta, Google, Tencent). If the platform bans your account, you instantly have nothing.

In Web3: You are the ‘owner’ of the internet. Through blockchain technology, you truly own your assets, identity, and data. No centralized company can arbitrarily take your things.

3 Essential Tools for Newcomers

To explore the Web3 space, you need to prepare these three things first:

1. Wallet (your digital identity & bank)

In Web3, you don’t need to register an account with a phone number or email, but use a wallet.

Decentralized wallet (like MetaMask, OKX Wallet): This is similar to your private safe. You hold the ‘private key’, meaning you have absolute control.

Remember: ‘No private key, no assets’. Never share your mnemonic phrase (12-24 words) with anyone.

2. Exchange (your transit station)

If you want to convert fiat currency (like RMB, USD) into cryptocurrency, you need to go through an exchange (like Binance). For newcomers, exchanges are like security checks and exchange points to enter the Web3 door.

3. DApp (your new tool)

Web2 has Apps, Web3 has DApps (Decentralized Applications).

DeFi (Decentralized Finance): No banks needed, borrow or invest directly on-chain.

NFT (Non-Fungible Token): Proves your ownership of a digital work.

GameFi: Earn assets while playing games (Play-to-Earn).

Survival rules that newcomers must know in 2026

The current Web3 has passed the era of wild growth, the rules are now clearer but also more challenging:

Dimension Web2 Habits Web3 Survival Guide Forget Password Click ‘Retrieve Password’ No remedy (must backup mnemonic phrase) Security Trust the platform DYOR (Do Your Own Research, don’t click suspicious links) Asset ownership Deposit in bank/platform Assets are code (stored in your own on-chain address) Decision-making listen to the CEO’s DAO (participate in governance through voting)

💡 First step advice for newcomers

Don’t think about doubling your investment right away, first try to complete a ‘micro-experience’:

Buy a small amount of mainstream coins (like $BTC or $ETH) at the exchange.

Download a plugin wallet and try to withdraw from the exchange to your own wallet.

Try exchanging once on a decentralized exchange (like Uniswap).

The learning curve of Web3 is steep, but when you first realize that your digital assets can exist without relying on any company, you have truly opened the door to a new world.