What is a DApp? Why are all Web3 users using it

The Pain Points of Traditional Apps and How DApps Can Solve Them

After using mobile apps for so many years, have you ever wondered: Are your data and assets truly secure?

Traditional apps run on centralized servers controlled by a single company. This brings real risks—susceptible to attacks, personal privacy easily leaked, transaction records tampered with. In 2014, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin recognized these issues and proposed a new concept.

DApps (Decentralized Applications) emerged. Simply put, a DApp is an application that runs on a distributed network, allowing you to independently control and manage your assets without any centralized authority or third-party intervention.

What is a DApp? Understand it through its five core features

Decentralized operation — No central authority controls it; everything is determined by underlying code logic

Strong programmability — Developers can write smart contracts to implement various functions

Data immutable — All transaction activities are recorded on the blockchain, permanently valid

Open-source code — Anyone can view, modify, or participate in development

Open access — No permission required; anyone can use

These features are not just made up. DApps are built on blockchain technology, relying on smart contracts, distributed storage, and cryptocurrencies. Because of this, DApps can ensure security and transparency.

Which fields are DApps changing?

Currently, the most successful DApp applications are concentrated in five major areas:

DeFi (Decentralized Finance) — Platforms like Uniswap, Aave, MakerDAO offer lending, trading, and savings services. Users can earn yields by providing liquidity and staking.

GameFi (Game Finance) — Axie Infinity, The Sandbox, STEPN combine gaming with blockchain, allowing players to earn NFTs or tokens for trading and monetization.

NFT Marketplace — Platforms like OpenSea, Foundation, Blur focus on issuing, trading, and auctioning NFTs.

Decentralized Social — Lens Protocol, Farcaster address issues like data monopoly and censorship in traditional social media.

Other Fields — AI, healthcare, logistics, and more still have huge development potential.

How big is the DApp market?

By 2025, the total number of DApps worldwide will reach 17,683, mainly deployed on public chains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Avalanche.

Among them, BNB Chain leads with 5,793 DApps, accounting for 33%; Ethereum follows closely with 5,077 DApps, accounting for 29%. These two platforms are currently the most mainstream DApp development ecosystems.

However, the overall market size is still small compared to traditional apps, but this also means huge growth potential. As technology matures and user education deepens, DApps are expected to become a core force driving the Web3 ecosystem.

Want to invest in DApps? Prepare these essentials first

Compared to the convenience of traditional apps, investing in DApps requires more caution:

Step 1: Choose a reputable wallet
Use decentralized wallets like MetaMask, imToken, Rabby. Never use unverified apps.

Step 2: Safeguard your seed phrase
The system will give you a seed phrase (or private key), which is the only way to recover your wallet. Backup offline, do not screenshot, photograph, or upload to the cloud. Never enter it on any website.

Step 3: Discover DApps through official channels
Check popular DApps on DappRadar or DeFiLlama, filter by category. Never trust recommendations from strangers, avoid clicking unknown links. Access directly from official websites.

Step 4: Connect your wallet and authorize carefully
On the DApp official site, click the “Connect” button and input your seed phrase. Most importantly, review authorization details, especially “token approve” operations, to avoid granting all assets. Regularly check permissions with tools like Revoke.cash.

What is a DApp, and what does the future hold?

What is a DApp? It is the infrastructure of the future Web3 ecosystem, characterized by decentralization, immutability, and transparency. These advantages enable DApps to quickly address real user needs.

But currently, DApps face challenges—high transaction costs, subpar user experience, regulatory risks. To promote widespread adoption, further optimization of underlying technology, improved user experience, and regulatory adaptation are necessary.

In the long run, as blockchain technology continues to evolve, DApps will achieve breakthroughs in more fields, becoming the main driver of decentralized internet.