# Introduction ## What This Is This initiative is an exploration of the ideations of crypto and "web3" and its constituent technologies, aspirations and economics. The concept of [web3](/concepts/web3.md) is a fuzzy term often accused of being a buzzword that can be hard to make sense of, this initiative aims to address the misunderstandings and shed a light on basic macroeconomics and technology for those tasked with doing sense-making for the public. Our [methodology](/guide/method.md) aims to create a balanced and moderate perspective that incorporates ideas from conventional macroeconomics, political economy and computer science. This page serves as a root from which all other topics branch and can be explored. ## Key Concepts Understand the terminology used to describe crypto and web3. * [web3](/concepts/web3.md) * [cryptoasset](/concepts/cryptoasset.md) * [bitcoin](/concepts/bitcoin.md) * [ethereum](/concepts/ethereum.md) * [blockchain](/concepts/blockchain.md) * [money](/concepts/money.md) * [sound-money](../concepts/sound-money.md) * [deflationary](../concepts/deflationary.md) * [assets](/concepts/assets.md) * [speculative asset](/concepts/speculation.md) * [crypto-exchange](/concepts/crypto-exchange.md) * [bubble](/concepts/bubble.md) * [dao](/concepts/dao.md) * [private-money](../concepts/private-money.md) ### Claims Explore web3 in terms of the claims of its 1. [Is bitcoin a currency?](/claims/is-bitcoin-currency.md) 2. [What type of asset is a crypto token?](/claims/what-type-of-asset.md) 3. [How do we value a crypto token?](/claims/valuation-model.md) 4. Are crypto assets a systemic risk to the economy? 5. Are cryptoassets are being used to build a new internet? 6. [Are crypto tokens a negative-sum investment?](/claims/negative-sum.md) 7. Are crypto tokens a predatory investment? 8. Is bitcoin the basis for a new gold standard? 9. Is bitcoin mining harmful to the environment? 10. Are crypto assets a risk to the state? 11. [Are crypto assets legal?](/claims/legality.md) 12. [Is crypto a solution for the unbanked?](/claims/crypto-unbanked.md) 13. What is the narrative economics of crypto assets? 14. Is web3 the next generation of the internet? 15. Is web3 even a well-defined term? 16. [Why does crypto have such a weird subculture?](/claims/weird-culture.md) ## Contextual Understand Web3 in terms of recent news events and interviews. * [Video Iterviews](/guide/interviews) * [Recent News Stories](/notes/recent-events.md) ## Ideologies Understand Web3 in terms of different perspectives on politics and economics. * [market-fundamentalism](../concepts/ideologies/market-fundamentalism.md) * [austrian-economics](../concepts/ideologies/austrian-economics.md) * [libertarianism](/idelogies/libertarianism.md) * [technosolutionism](../concepts/ideologies/technosolutionism.md) * [keynsian-economics](../concepts/ideologies/keynsian-economics.md) ## Supporting Concepts Explore the deeper theoretical concepts behind the technical and economic claims. **Economics** * [artificial-scarcity](/concepts/artificial-scarcity.md) * [asymmetric-information](/concepts/asymmetric-information.md) * [central-banks](/concepts/central-banks.md) * [currency](/concepts/currency.md) * [currency-peg](/concepts/currency-peg.md) * [free-rider-problem](/concepts/free-rider-problem.md) * [gold-standard](/concepts/gold-standard.md) * [market-manipulation](/concepts/market-manipulation.md) * [moral-hazard](/concepts/moral-hazard.md) * [public-goods-problem](/concepts/public-goods-problem.md) * [zero-sum-game](/concepts/zero-sum-game.md) **Technology** * [blockchain](/concepts/blockchain.md) * [cryptoasset](/concepts/cryptoasset.md) * [defi](/concepts/defi.md) * [decentralization](/concepts/decentralization.md) * [ico](/concepts/ico.md) * [nft](/concepts/nft.md) * [ransomware](/concepts/ransomware.md) * [smart-contracts](/concepts/smart-contracts.md) * [stablecoin](/concepts/stablecoin.md) * [mining](/concepts/mining.md) * [cbdc](/concepts/cbdc.md) **Regulation** * [security](/concepts/security.md) * [aml](/concepts/aml.md) * [kyc](/concepts/kyc.md)