Why web3 won’t change the internet—and how web0 could

The blockchain revolution promised decentralization—but in many ways, it has only reinforced centralized power structures. From institutions holding Bitcoin to web3 being built atop legacy internet infrastructure, decentralization is still more of an idea than a reality.

Sasha Ivanov wants to change that. A veteran blockchain developer and founder of the Waves protocol and Units network, Ivanov has spent over a decade pushing the boundaries of decentralization (a system without central authority) beyond financial applications. 

He calls himself a “decentralization evangelist,” driven by the belief that blockchain can do more than create digital currencies—it can reshape governance, artificial intelligence (AI), and the very foundation of the internet itself.

“If we are able to create new governance models (on-chain or code-based voting, off-chain or community-driven, or hybrid—a mix of both) that would enable communities to function on different principles, also, maybe on new principles, that will be a game changer,” Ivanov told The Crypto Radio.

“Blockchain technology is the only technology that can enable that, like changing the way we manage communities, changing the way we govern like societies, and that will be amazing.”

For Ivanov, decentralization isn’t just about removing middlemen—it’s about creating entirely new ways of organizing societies. From AI to memecoins, he sees an untapped potential for blockchain to shift power structures in ways few have considered.

Why web3 isn't enough—and why Ivanov believes in web0

The web3 (a decentralized, user-owned internet) movement claims to empower users, but Ivanov argues that it is still fundamentally dependent on centralized systems (controlled by a single authority).

“So people usually discuss web3, you know, but I think we actually need web0, something like a deeper level that is based on decentralized technologies,” he said. “It should actually underpin the internet itself, because the internet itself is quite centralized.”

Web0, as Ivanov envisions it, would integrate decentralized ledgers (shared, tamper-proof records) into the internet’s core infrastructure rather than just building decentralized applications on existing networks. Without this fundamental shift, he believes true user sovereignty is impossible.

“Web3 won't be a game changer in this regard, because it's gonna work on top of a very centralized core level,” Ivanov said. “And to achieve this through decentralization, probably we should start from the ground up by integrating decentralized ledgers into the very core of the Internet itself.”

Decentralizing AI to break corporate control

Beyond governance, Ivanov sees AI as the next major battleground for decentralization.

AI today is largely controlled by a few corporations, a concentration of power that Ivanov sees as a fundamental issue. He argues that decentralization is the only way to break this control, envisioning a future where AI models are trained and operated across decentralized networks. In this model, no single entity would have authority over data or outcomes, ensuring a more transparent and equitable AI ecosystem.

“The only way to counter that is to decentralize it,” Ivanov stressed.

By integrating AI with blockchain, Ivanov envisions a world where decentralized neural networks process data without centralized oversight. This, he argues, could prevent corporate dominance over AI and ensure a more transparent, open-source approach to machine learning.

How memecoins can become more than hype

While memecoins are often dismissed as speculative bubbles, Ivanov sees them as a powerful but overlooked tool for digital identity and community building. He argues that these tokens serve as rallying points for online communities in ways that traditional brands or financial assets never could.

Rather than viewing memecoins purely as speculative instruments, he believes they can evolve into meaningful digital societies where participation extends beyond trading into governance and shared incentives.

“I thought that it would be absolutely necessary for a token to have some utility, because without utility, nobody would care… But history has proved me wrong,” he said.

“The utility is just like something that is not really necessary… If you can trade it, it has utility now, because it can go up and down in price, it can make some money, and volatility is its utility.”

Still, he acknowledges their flaws. The pump-and-dump culture surrounding memecoins undermines their long-term viability, and most projects lack utility beyond trading. To address this, Ivanov proposes a new model.

“So my idea here is that maybe you combine the ideas of memecoins, which are like pretty speculative instruments with ideas of decentralized autonomous organizations or DAOs (leaderless, blockchain-based organizations),” he said. “Maybe we can create something more valuable and more sustainable and more meaningful than memecoins.”

Ivanov’s mission as a decentralization evangelist is to push beyond surface-level applications and drive real structural change. Whether through web0, decentralized AI, or reimagined memecoins, Ivanov sees blockchain as a tool for reshaping digital society—not just financial systems.

 

Listen to the whole interview on The Crypto Radio's live player or in The Pulse podcast.