Recently, crypto made headlines for all the wrong reasons: $TRUMP and $MELANIA-themed meme coins launched, embodying the worst of the space—pure speculation, lack of regulation, and an underlying greed that dominates the perception of blockchain. These types of projects put Web3 in its worst light, fueling skepticism and reinforcing the narrative that crypto is a game for the lucky few rather than a tool for real-world progress.

But that’s exactly what we want to avoid. Web3 isn't supposed to be about making quick fortunes. It’s about creating a safer, more inclusive digital space that serves people beyond the speculative frenzy.

The reason it matters? Our lives are increasingly digital. But digital assets and identities are intangible, making trust more difficult to establish. This is why Web3 has the potential to redefine how we verify and protect digital interactions.

Beyond volatility, the digital world faces new threats:

• AI-driven disinformation: The rise of deepfakes and AI-generated media makes verifying authenticity harder than ever.
• Phishing and security risks: As digital interactions become more embedded in our lives, the risks of AI-driven threats increase dramatically. AI enables more sophisticated phishing attacks, automated scams, deepfake-based fraud, and large-scale disinformation campaigns, making trust in digital ecosystems harder to establish.
• Data ownership: Who really owns your digital identity, your social media presence, and your transaction history? Today, it’s centralized entities. Web3 offers an alternative.

Overcoming the limits of web2: what we’re working on

Decentralized technologies such as blockchain and Solid hold the key to solving these problems, but it’s not through speculation—it’s through applied research and real-world solutions that don’t make dramatic headlines. The topics we’re currently focus on include:

• Interreg Secuweb: researching blockchain / verifiable credentials, Solid, the integration of AI, quantum computing, IoT, and 5G for a better and safer internet.
• Carbon Credits: leveraging blockchain to ensure transparent and trustworthy climate action.
• Digital Product Passports: creating transparency in supply chains through decentralized verification.
• Europeum: as a node host for the European Blockchain Service Infrastructure, we provide the foundational infrastructure enabling seamless cross-border verification in Europe.