Web3 is a vision of a decentralised internet built on blockchain technology, where users own their data and digital assets rather than surrendering them to tech giants. It encompasses cryptocurrencies, NFTs, DAOs, and decentralised applications.
An NFT is a unique digital token stored on a blockchain that proves ownership of a specific digital item — art, music, video, game items, or anything else. Unlike currencies, each NFT is distinct and cannot be directly exchanged 1:1 for another. The NFT boom of 2021 saw billions traded, before a sharp market correction.
DeFi refers to a suite of financial services — lending, borrowing, trading, yield generation — built on public blockchains, primarily Ethereum. It aims to replicate and disintermediate traditional finance without banks or intermediaries. At its peak in 2021, over $180 billion was locked in DeFi protocols.