Connections, Careers, Companies
On the Real Opportunities of Web3
By Lukas Seel
Problems & Solutions
I recently had the privilege to speak about Web3, blockchain, and the long-term opportunities they offer to a group of students at the Federal University of Lafia in Nigeria. The event was organized by an impressive young woman who recently began her journey in the industry through an internship at MultiversX’s community accelerator, xAlliance—a story she’s been sharing in her own blog series.
It’s always inspiring to see young minds eager to learn, but what makes these conversations particularly exciting in places like Nigeria is the sheer potential that exists both from a technological as well as societal perspective.
In most Western countries, blockchain still is a solution in search of a problem. While more efficient payment processing, digital ownership models, and tamper-resistant public ledgers might be inevitable in the long run, their revolution will likely be a quiet one. Very few consumers have the patience to jump through the hoops still required to actually take advantage of blockchain applications. Therefore, the smartest Web3 use cases have abstracted into user-friendly interfaces and feel no different from the rest of the internet.
In Nigeria, things are vastly different. Persistent economic insecurity—driven by inflation and the devaluation of the local currency against the US dollar—intersects with public sector corruption, a dysfunctional traditional banking system, and telecom companies that often charge high prices while delivering poor service. In this context, decentralized technologies don’t just offer incremental improvements; they present urgently needed solutions to systemic, everyday problems.
However, there are still major challenges to overcome—chief among them, access to reliable infrastructure. With internet penetration at just 45%, and frequent power outages, many young Nigerians interested in Web3 face practical hurdles just getting online and staying online, particularly outside urban centers. Yet, with expanding mobile networks and growing investment in digital infrastructure, these gaps are gradually closing.
Still, Nigeria is home to one of the largest, youngest, and most tech-savvy populations in the world. According to recent data, the country has over 226 million people, with more than 60% under the age of 25. That demographic advantage, combined with the gradual infrastructure improvements, creates a massive talent pool eager to participate in the global digital economy. Many of these young Nigerians are hungry for opportunities to learn, innovate, and build. However, traditional pathways—whether in education, employment, or entrepreneurship—often fall short in providing access to global opportunities.
And Web3 presents a huge opportunity.
A Long-Term Outlook
From a privileged perspective, blockchain and Web3 might seem like another passing trend, fueled by speculation, airdrops, and meme coins. And indeed, much of the space today is driven by short-term noise. But what remains when all of that fades is what actually matters:
The ability to connect and transact freely, without intermediaries.
The ability to own and monetize your work, your data, and your digital identity.
The ability to build and contribute to a borderless, decentralized economy.
In a place like Nigeria—where many young people are held back not by a lack of skill but by systemic barriers like bureaucratic inefficiencies, capital constraints, and limited access to global networks—Web3 offers a new paradigm. Unlike traditional industries, where opportunities are often concentrated in a few major cities or within exclusive networks, blockchain enables anyone, anywhere, to participate.
This is already visible in real-world examples: Nigeria consistently ranks among the top countries for cryptocurrency adoption, with an estimated 32% of Nigerians having used or owned crypto at some point. And successful local projects like BuyCoins Africa or Bundle illustrate how homegrown exchanges can thrive, even amid regulatory uncertainty.
Creating Value
Understandably, many young Nigerians, like their peers elsewhere, first approach the crypto space in search of quick gains. While play-to-earn games, airdrop farming, and memecoin trading all offer legitimate ways to earn a supplemental income in the short term (and are perhaps a “necessary evil” for adoption), the real opportunities lie elsewhere.
The path from discovery to success in Web3 isn’t just about making money—it’s about learning skills, building connections, and creating value. This is where long-lasting systemic change becomes possible—not just for individuals, but for entire communities, the country, and indeed the world.
Connections → Careers → Companies
Here’s a practical 'Triple C' roadmap for young talent everywhere. While the asymmetric opportunity of Web3 might be especially significant in places like Nigeria, these steps apply globally to anyone eager to create lasting value, both for their communities and the future of this technology.
Step 1: Connections
Unlike traditional tech industries, Web3 is largely built around community-led innovation. Dive into different ecosystems—join communities, create content, contribute to open-source projects, participate in hackathons or do whatever you feel is using both your voice and your talents. Experiment, have fun, and don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
Step 2: Careers
From developers and designers to marketers and project managers, there is a growing demand for Web3 talent. And the space is extremely dynamic and rewards doers. You don’t need a “perfect” résumé or the right degree—what matters most is what you can deliver. This has opened doors for countless creators, writers, and self-taught developers, many of whom have found remote roles with international blockchain startups.
Step 3: Companies
The biggest challenge and ultimate opportunity lies in building something new—whether it’s a decentralized app, a creator economy, a new financial tool. This isn’t only how you will find meaning by creating or contributing to something groundbreaking. It’s how you will contribute to changing the world around you. Startups in Web3 can tap into global capital, collaborate with teams worldwide, and scale in ways that were previously unimaginable. When local innovators solve real problems, their solutions tend to resonate far beyond national borders. And that’s exactly what Web3 is built for: collaboration.
Just Build It.
Start right now. And don’t look for quick wins or shortcuts—building something meaningful requires patience, effort, and resilience. And that’s exactly why young, ambitious builders in countries like Nigeria are so well-positioned.
If you’re a developer, creator, or entrepreneur looking for an industry that values talent over location, that rewards contribution over credentials, and that removes traditional gatekeepers—Web3 presents an opportunity to learn and start contributing almost immediately. The foundation is being laid, and those who start building today will be the ones shaping the future tomorrow.
Building What Matters, Where It Matters
Sustainable decentralized economies and applications need an infrastructure that can accommodate all kinds of different use cases. MultiversX has always been playing the long game, building a secure, scalable foundation that is ready for mass adoption—not just by people, but by AI agents who will create transaction volumes orders of magnitude higher than their human counterparts—because of its unique sharded architecture.
With its user-first approach, low-fee transactions, and robust developer tools, MvX aims to reduce Web3 entry barriers so that anybody with ambition and drive can start building meaningful solutions.
Through xAlliance, we are extending this vision by actively empowering local creators, entrepreneurs, and developers to launch projects that matter to their communities. By ensuring local voices shape the conversation, the technology remains both globally relevant and regionally impactful—especially in dynamic markets like Nigeria, where youth-led innovation is already reshaping the broader tech landscape.
On The Future of Web3
Nigeria’s young population and growing tech scene have created a near-perfect environment for blockchain adoption. The early success stories—from global NFT artists like Osinachi to local startups tackling payment inefficiencies like Zone and Ajé—prove that Nigerians aren’t waiting on anyone to ‘save’ them; they are building their own solutions.
Web3 in the Western world is an interesting, but often theoretical conversation. Web3 in countries such as Nigeria is a very real and tangible opportunity. It’s not a “future possibility” but a technology that solves real problems and provides life-changing possibilities for a young generation full of passion, resilience, and creative ingenuity.
Who—and what—will shape the future? As the noise fades and the truly transformative potential of Web3 emerges, those who step up now—equipping themselves with the right skills and networks—will be at the forefront of writing it.
By embracing both local opportunities and global connections, we can help ensure that Web3’s promise isn’t just another trend, but a once-in-a-generation breakthrough for young talent around the world.
The original article was published by Lukas Seel via Medium on March 5th, 2025.