Hashed Out V10: Web 3 Culture & Digital Identity

Welcome to the tenth issue of Hashed Out, a weekly newsletter from Argot (www.argotagency.io) that serves as a guide for those looking to learn the basics of the web3 space. In time, our vision is to create a forum where web3 enthusiasts and newcomers can come together to explore the new digital world. Hashed Out seeks to provide you with all the resources and insights you need to go from web3 virgin to web3 virtuoso. 

As the sherpa for your expedition into the new digital great beyond, we promise to make the complicated feel simpler, connect you to the most important data and resources from the builders, researchers, and creators that are shaping web3, and respond to your needs as we grow together.

Introduction: The Soul of Web3

Web3 is often defined by technology—blockchains, smart contracts, NFTs, and DAOs. But beneath the tech, there’s something deeper driving this transformation: culture and community.

In this issue of Hashed Out, we explore how Web3 is reshaping digital identity, governance, and social interaction. Unlike Web2, where corporate platforms dictate online experiences, Web3 enables self-sovereign identity, decentralized ownership, and community-led innovation.

🔹 Our Lead Article, The Culture of Web3: From Decentralization to Digital Identity, unpacks the ethos of Web3—how DAOs, NFTs, and digital identity are redefining the way people interact online.
🔹 Our Editorial, Why Web3 Communities Matter More Than Ever, explores why strong Web3 communities are critical for the future of decentralization and digital belonging.
🔹 Our Case Study, Nouns DAO – The Power of On-Chain Community Governance, examines how Nouns DAO is pioneering a new funding model for digital and real-world innovation, using daily NFT auctions to fuel treasury-backed projects.

Web3 is more than a technological evolution—it’s a cultural shift toward a more open, community-driven internet. The question isn’t just how Web3 will change the world, but who will shape its future.

Let’s dive in.

In This Issue- Table of Contents

• The Culture of Web3

• The Case Study: Nouns DAO

• Editorial: Web3 Communities: Why They Matter More Than Ever

• Connections- Curated Links for the Curious

• The News Drop- Web3 News You Can Use

• The Wrap- Key takeaways for the TLDRers & A Look Ahead

Ok Hashers, are you ready to get started learning about Web3 culture and your future digital identity? I know I am! Let’s go!

The Culture of Web3: From Decentralization to Digital Identity

The Culture of Web 3

The internet has always been shaped by the communities that use it. From the early message boards and blogs of Web1 to the social media giants of Web2, the way we interact online has continually evolved. Now, with Web3, the internet is undergoing another transformation—one that shifts power away from centralized platforms and into the hands of users.

But Web3 is more than just a collection of technologies like blockchain, NFTs, and DAOs. At its core, Web3 is an idea: that individuals should have control over their data, identity, and money without reliance on corporate gatekeepers. It represents the democratization of the online experience, where creators and communities—not institutions—define what is valuable, how interactions take place, and who benefits from them.

This cultural shift is still in its early stages, but it is already shaping the future of digital ownership, identity, and community in ways we are only beginning to understand. (Continue online…)

The Case Study: Nouns DAO

In the world of Web3, where decentralization is a core value, Nouns DAO has emerged as one of the most innovative experiments in on-chain community governance and funding. Unlike traditional NFT projects that rely on hype cycles and scarcity, Nouns DAO operates with a continuous, self-sustaining funding mechanism—one new Noun NFTis auctioned every day, and the proceeds go directly into a community treasury that funds new initiatives.

With over $50 million in its treasury (as of recent estimates), Nouns DAO has funded everything from IRL marketing activations to experimental digital projects. But how does this model work? And can it serve as a blueprint for decentralized community ownership in Web3? (Continue online…)

The Editorial: Web3 & The Power of Communities

Why Web3 Communities Matter More Now Than Ever

The internet has always been about people. From the earliest message boards to today’s decentralized networks, online communities have shaped how we connect, collaborate, and create. But in Web3, communities aren’t just social spaces—they are the foundation of everything.

Whether it’s a DAO coordinating global funding decisions, an NFT project fostering a digital tribe, or a decentralized protocol rallying users around a shared vision, Web3 thrives on collective action. This is a sharp contrast to the centralized platforms of Web2, where engagement is driven by algorithms, and users are products rather than stakeholders. (Continue online…)

Did you miss out on the previous issues of Hashed Out? See them all here!

The Wrap

For those requiring a TLDR or just want a fast recap here it is:

Web3 isn’t just a technological shift—it’s a cultural revolution. This issue of Hashed Out explores how decentralization, digital identity, and community-driven governance are reshaping the internet.

🔹 Web3 Culture is built on self-sovereign identity, tokenized ownership, and decentralized collaboration. Unlike Web2’s platform-controlled digital spaces, Web3 enables users to own their data, identity, and creations.

🔹 Strong Communities Drive Web3’s Future. From DAOs to decentralized social media, Web3 communities thrive on shared incentives, governance participation, and direct creator-audience relationships. While challenges like tribalism and speculation exist, the foundation of Web3 is people-powered innovation.

🔹 Nouns DAO is proving how decentralized governance can fund culture and public goods. With millions in its treasury, Nouns DAO has backed everything from open-source Web3 projects to mainstream branding initiatives, all through a daily NFT auction model.

Final Takeaway:

The success of Web3 depends on community, creativity, and sustainability. As decentralized identity, DAOs, and Web3-native networks grow, the internet will become less about big platforms and more about people.

A Look Ahead

Ok, it’s about time to roll the credits! Where do we go from here? A deep dive into Web3 regulation and the legal landscape! We will be covering the how basic web3 technologies are regulated, how the new presidential administration may alter the regulatory course, and why regulation is important to the growth of Web3.

One last call, if you haven’t already, hit the subscribe button below to stay in the know. We have a lot of great stuff ready to be released and we would love for you to join our community and grow with us.

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I hope that you enjoyed this edition of Hashed Out. There is much more to come and your feedback is invaluable to how we will grow. If you have questions or comments drop us a line.

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Ok Hashers, that’s The Wrap. Many thanks!

(Cue awesome exit music of your choice)

Dr. Scott