Who could forget when Web3 was going to free us as digital entrepreneurs and disintermediate everything? Decentralization! Ownership! Freedom from the clutches of Big Tech! Yeah, about that…

For example, just last week, Cloudflare blocked access to RTFKT’s CloneX NFT artwork. This move dramatically exposes the emperor’s lack of raiment. Or, in this instance, that your pricey NFT art can vanish quicker than your most recent payday.

Web3 Was Supposed To Be Different

Let's be real. Gen Z, you were promised a revolution. A digital landscape that you, the innovators and pathfinders, would at long last have the freedom to shape. NFTs were supposed to completely redefine how we exist in digital spaces. They provided a vehicle for people to truly tamper-proof digital identity and assets. Here's the catch: if the art associated with your NFT lives on a centralized server, how much do you really own?

No, this isn’t limited to the spooky premise of a pixelated picture of a digital avatar disappearing. It’s the bigger picture of Web3’s very tenets being sold out. It's about the rug pull of the century, only this time, it's not some shady DeFi project – it's a major infrastructure provider flexing its muscles.

Per the above, the official line is that RTFKT were in violation of Cloudflare’s ToS for video streaming. Okay, maybe. The timing is suspect. When RTFKT suddenly ceased operations in December, the CloneX floor price dropped from $60,000 to approximately $230 worth of ETH. Today, it appears their art is being subjected to some very unexpected censorship. In a time period like this one, when foolish conspiracy theories are everywhere, who could blame anyone for raising an eyebrow?

Is Centralization Web3's Achilles Heel?

The CloneX debacle exposes a critical flaw in the Web3 architecture: the reliance on centralized infrastructure. Here we’re speaking about platforms like Cloudflare, who even with the decentralized crypto dreams, are real world gatekeepers that state still completely empower to rule over the internet. They can, and when convenient, as in this case, are pulling the plug.

You spend your hard-earned cash (or your parents' hard-earned cash, no judgment) on an NFT, believing it's a secure, immutable asset. If that NFT's visual representation is hosted on a server controlled by a single company, you're essentially leasing, not owning, that asset.

This isn't just a problem for RTFKT. It’s a huge issue for the whole NFT space. It’s an existential threat for all who share our belief in the promise and potential of a decentralized future. It’s no longer sufficient just to mint an NFT on a carbon-neutral blockchain. The actual content of that NFT has to be really decentralized, too.

RTFKT is in the process of moving CloneX and Animus NFTs to Arweave, a decentralized storage platform. That's a step in the right direction. It shouldn’t require a crisis to move projects in the direction of more decentralized, therefore more sustainable, solutions.

All this sounds a lot like the wild west days of the internet’s inception. At that point, we were idealistic enough to think that it was going to be a free and open space, not controlled by corporations. We all know how that turned out. Or are we fated to make all the same mistakes again with Web3?

Gen Z, It's Time To Act

This isn't a death knell for Web3. It's a wake-up call.

This isn't just about NFTs. It's about control. It's about power. It’s about developing our digital future in a way that centers these values of decentralization, ownership, and freedom. Gen Z, you're the digital natives. You understand this better than anyone. Don’t allow the promise of Web3 to be coopted by the same centralized entities again.

  • Demand Transparency: Hold centralized platforms like Cloudflare accountable. Ask tough questions. Demand clear and consistent policies.
  • Support Decentralized Solutions: Champion projects that prioritize true decentralization, like Arweave. Vote with your wallets and your voices.
  • Build Alternatives: The future of Web3 depends on building genuinely decentralized infrastructure. Get involved in developing these solutions. Contribute your skills, your ideas, and your passion.
  • Boycott Centralized Dependence: Seriously consider projects that are too reliant on centralized platforms. If decentralization is the core promise, it needs to be followed through.

The revolution won't be centralized. It won't be televised. But it’s going to be decentralized, and it’s going to be creation by you.

The revolution won't be centralized. It won't be televised. But it will be decentralized, and it will be built by you.