Web3 Needs Better Infrastructure: State Channels Challenge Google and Amazon Dominance

Modern internet users face unprecedented platform dependency, where tech giants like Google and Amazon function as digital landlords. Users essentially become "cloud serfs," surrendering personal data while generating trillions in value for algorithms they don't control. Over 80% of Netflix content consumption is guided by recommendation algorithms, while Amazon's marketplace favors its own products - with third-party sellers paying up to 50% revenue in fees. The original Web3 vision promised liberation from these digital intermediaries. Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood initially defined Web3 in 2014 as a "post-Snowden web" emphasizing peer-to-peer trust over centralized control. However, this technological vision became overshadowed by financial speculation during the ICO boom, where billions flowed into projects with 90% experiencing significant losses. Centralized platforms derive power from their intermediary role - users trust Amazon for payment processing and Google for information vetting. This "trust-as-a-service" model creates dependency where intermediaries control rules, data, and value extraction. State channels (ERC-7824) present a revolutionary solution, functioning as private transaction lanes bypassing congested blockchains. This technology enables thousands of instant, fee-free interactions with cryptographic security. Key applications include: - Commerce: Direct buyer-seller channels replace Amazon's 50% fee structure - Data management: Temporary, revocable data access replaces permanent data surrender to Google This infrastructure combination enables autonomous enterprises - business logic encoded in smart contracts operating globally without traditional corporate structures. Just as Bitcoin revolutionized trust in currency and Ethereum transformed contract enforcement, state channels now challenge platform dependency, creating truly peer-to-peer digital ecosystems.