Web3 Will Win Only When It Feels Like Web2


Imagine sending crypto as easily as sending an email.
No seed phrases. No browser extensions. Just one click — and you’re on-chain.
That’s the future Web3 needs. And it’s finally becoming real.
The First Time I Tried Web3, I Almost Gave Up
I still remember the first time I tried a Web3 app.
It asked me to install a wallet.
Then it gave me 12 random words to write down.
Then I had to approve a “gas fee” I didn’t understand.
And finally — the app broke.
I wasn’t just confused. I felt stupid.
And I thought:
“If this is the future of the internet, we’re in trouble.”
Why Most People Bounce Off Web3?
Let’s be honest: nobody wants to write down a seed phrase. Most people don’t care how blockchain works.
They just want it to:
Work fast
Feel familiar
Keep them safe
But today’s Web3 onboarding feels not that user-friendly. That’s user-hostile.
The Real Problem: UX ≠ Web2
It’s not decentralization. It’s not privacy.
It’s user experience.
You know what most people want?
They want to click “Sign in with Google.” Just a Tap!
They want to tap “Send” and know their payment went through. Received!
They want to forget they’re even using blockchain.
Web3’s biggest enemy isn’t regulation. It’s friction.
Then I Found This Thing Called zkLogin…
So I’m deep in my zk research rabbit hole, and I come across this thing called zkLogin on Sui.
It basically lets you log into Web3 apps using your Google or Apple account
but here’s the twist: without giving up control, without a wallet, or even without revealing your identity.
Wait, what?
Yeah. You log in with Gmail.
No wallet needed
No seed phrase
No one knows who you are (thanks to Zero Knowledge Proofs)
And then it gives you a blockchain address tied to that proof.
Boom. You're onchain.
With zkLogin, your Google login becomes your blockchain identity, cryptographically private and self-custodial.
It's like: "Prove you're you — without showing who you are."
What’s Happening in the ZK Login Flow (on Sui) ?
1. You open the app.
You just visit a dApp. Nothing crazy happens — no popup wallet, no download request. You're just... there.
2. The app asks you to log in — the normal way.
The app says something like, "Sign in with Google." You click the button. You log in like you always do.
Behind the scenes, this login gives the app a secure token from Google, called a JWT (JSON Web Token). Think of it like a digital receipt that says:
Hey, this person logged in through Google. It’s legit.
3. Now comes the secret ingredient: Salt.
Here’s where it gets a little Web3-ish — but still simple.
To protect your privacy and prevent tracking or impersonation, the system uses something called a salt.
What’s a salt?
A salt is just a random piece of data that gets added to your login info to make it unique and secure. Even if someone else logs in with the same Google account tomorrow, their salt will be different.
It’s like adding an invisible padlock to your identity that only you can unlock, but no one else can copy.
4. Using the token + salt, a zero-knowledge proof is created.
This is the magic part.
The system combines:
your Google login token (JWT),
the salt, and
some cryptographic math…
…to generate something called a ZK proof (Zero-Knowledge proof).
It’s basically a way of saying:
“’ve logged in through Google. I can prove it cryptographically. But I won’t tell you anything else about me.
No wallet address. No email. No identity leaks.
5. The proof is sent to the blockchain (Sui).
The ZK proof is sent to Sui, where it’s verified. If everything checks out, the blockchain says:
Cool! you’re in.
From there, you can start interacting with smart contracts, dApps, tokens just like any other Web3 user.
Email. As. A. Wallet.
Here’s where it gets wild.
Someone can just send tokens to your Gmail account.
And whenever you log in with Google + zkLogin, you can claim your funds.
This is what people are calling “email money.”
It’s basically UPI vibes but onchain.
Send funds to someone’s email → done.
That right there? That’s what the next 100 million users need.
Would you try this?
Wait…
But What If You Don’t Trust Google?
Valid point!
What if you don’t want Google in your login stack at all?
Enter: ZK Authenticator — the cool, privacy-maxxed upgrade.
This is beyond: Sui’s ZK Authenticator
This is next-level onboarding.
Instead of just OAuth logins like Google or Apple, this lets you use:
Biometric data (like Face ID)
Your device's secure key
A passkey
Or even just a signed link via email
All of this gets turned into a zero-knowledge proof with the same idea:
You prove it’s you, without revealing who you are.
And then? You get access to your onchain identity, without ever setting up a wallet or giving away your data.
ZK Authenticator = zkLogin without the limits
It’s:
Providerless (no Google dependency)
Privacy-first
Modular — developers can plug in any identity source
Scalable to billions
It’s not just a login tool. It’s a new way to enter the Web3 world — effortlessly.
I would love that!
Web2 Vibes, Web3 Core
Let me translate this:
Web2 Action | ZK-Powered Web3 Equivalent |
Login with Google | zkLogin → self-custodial blockchain login |
Login with Face ID | ZK Authenticator → onchain access via device |
Pay with UPI | “Email money” → transfer tokens via identity |
Use any app | Use any dApp — no wallet setup required |
Why this isn’t Just Cool but It’s Necessary
Web3’s biggest enemy is friction.
And friction kills dreams faster than bad tech.
But with tools like zkLogin and ZK Authenticator, we’re seeing the rise of something different:
Web3 that doesn’t feel like Web3, Aww!
But still gives you full ownership, full privacy, and full control
That’s not a compromise. That’s the sweet spot.
So Why Am I Hyped?
Because for once, we’re not saying:
Let’s teach everyone how blockchain works.
We’re finally saying:
Let’s make blockchain so smooth… people don’t even have to think about it.
That’s a huge shift. And that’s the power of zkLogin and ZK Authenticator.
You keep ownership, privacy, and control — but you log in like it’s 2024, not 1999.
Hahaa!
In my opinion, Web3 Shouldn’t Feel Like a Tutorial
Web3 wins when:
It feels like logging into Netflix
Sending tokens feels like GPay
And nobody ever asks, “What’s a seed phrase?”
So yeah — I’m bullish on ZK Auth, not just as a researcher, but as someone who’s tired of saying:
Okay, open MetaMask. No, not that tab. Yes, sign it. Wait—don’t refresh…
Let’s stop teaching Web2 users how to use wallets.
Let’s meet them where they already are.
That’s how Web3 actually grows.
You’ve read enough. Time to click buttons: https://sui.io/zklogin
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