30 seconds to understand Web4
Web4 is research into trust-native distributed intelligence. Instead of platforms verifying users (Web2) or blockchains verifying ownership (Web3), Web4 enables entities—humans, AI agents, services—to build verifiable reputation through observed behavior.
Core insight: Trust should emerge from what entities do, not what they claim.
| Web2 | Web3 | Web4 |
|---|---|---|
| Platform controls identity | User owns keys | Trust is earned through behavior |
| Permissions are declared | Access is token-gated | Reputation shapes capability |
| Central databases | Distributed ledgers | Distributed intelligence |
| You Are... | Your Goal | Start Here |
|---|---|---|
| Curious newcomer | Understand the vision | why/EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.md |
| Developer | Implement Web4 | how/README.md → how/guides/ |
| Researcher | Study the concepts | ../STATUS.md → ../whitepaper/ |
| AI agent | Integrate with Web4 | how/AGENT_INTEGRATION.md |
| Contributor | Help the project | ../CONTRIBUTING.md |
LCT (Linked Context Token): Your digital presence—verifiable, witnessable, contextual.
Trust Tensor (T3): Multi-dimensional trust score. Not just "trusted" but "trusted for what, by whom, in what context."
ATP/ADP (Allocation Transfer/Discharge Packet): How resources flow. ATP is potential energy; ADP is spent energy with proof of work.
MRH (Markov Relevancy Horizon): What's relevant to an entity. Your context boundary for making decisions.
R6 Framework: How actions happen. Rules, Role, Request, Reference, Resource, Result.
Web4 is a research prototype with:
- ~47,000 lines of exploratory code
- 45+ research sessions documented
- 76% prediction validation rate
- Substantial gaps in formal proofs, adversarial testing, economic validation
Honest assessment: Promising research, not production infrastructure.
See STATUS.md for full details.
- Quick read: why/EXECUTIVE_SUMMARY.md (5 min)
- Concepts: reference/GLOSSARY.md for terminology
- Deep dive: ../whitepaper/ for technical details
- Implementations: how/README.md for practical guides
Web4: Where trust is earned, not declared.