Most Web2 developers dip into Web3 thinking it’s just another backend with a different API. Then they hit gas fees, strange error messages, and a completely alien account system.
This always results in frustration, half-finished projects, and tweets about how “Web3 UX sucks.”
Lol.
But the problem usually isn’t Web3 alone — it’s carrying Web2 assumptions into a world that plays by different rules. Here are the top mistakes Web2 devs make or pitfalls I'd say, and how to avoid them.
By the way, I used NEAR and EVM chains as citations
- Treating the Blockchain Like a Database
Web2 mindset: “I’ll just store everything on-chain.”
Reality: Every byte of storage is expensive. For instance, on NEAR storage is paid with tokens; on EVM chains, it’s permanent and costs gas.
The fix: Use the chain for what it’s good at — verification, trust, and shared state. Push bulk data to IPFS, Arweave, or centralized storage, and keep hashes/pointers on-chain.
- Expecting Instant State Updates
Web2 mindset: “If I write to the DB, my next API call will reflect it immediately.”
Reality: Blockchains are eventually consistent. NEAR finality is ~1–2s, Avalanche ~2s. Cross-contract calls can be async, so you can’t assume synchronous state updates.
The fix: Design around async. Wait for transaction confirmations, use event listeners, and architect workflows like message queues — not like direct DB calls.
- Ignoring the Account Model
Web2 mindset: “Users just log in with email + password.”
Reality: Accounts are keys, wallets, or even contract accounts. On NEAR, accounts can have multiple keys with different permissions; on EVM chains, it’s just an externally owned account (EOA).
The fix: Learn account abstraction. Use wallet adapters (e.g. NEAR Wallet Selector, MetaMask SDK). Don’t roll your own login system.
- Forgetting Users Pay for Execution
Web2 mindset: “I run servers, users just consume for free.”
Reality: In Web3, users pay gas. Onboarding friction is real if every click costs tokens.
The fix: Use meta-transactions or relayers so contracts/projects can sponsor fees. Think hard about when users really need to sign transactions.
- Assuming Tooling Is Like Web2 Frameworks
Web2 mindset: “Where’s my Rails/Django full stack?”
Reality: Tooling is younger and fragmented. Hardhat, Foundry, NEAR Sandbox, Substrate, BOS… it’s not unified.
The fix: Start small. Use CLI tools, explore official SDKs, and lean on templates. Don’t expect polished scaffolding for every use case.
- Forgetting About Governance & Upgrades
Web2 mindset: “I’ll just push a hotfix.”
Reality: Smart contracts are immutable by default. If you don’t plan for upgradeability or governance, you’re stuck.
The fix: Learn proxy patterns, DAO-controlled upgrades, or account-based contract ownership models. Plan governance from day one.
✅ The Web3 Dev Mindset
Building in Web3 is less about “porting Web2 apps” and more about thinking in shared state machines:
Design around async workflows.
Optimize for trust-minimized state, not raw data storage.
Build onboarding flows that hide blockchain friction from users.
Accept that governance and upgradeability are part of the software lifecycle.
Takeaway
Web2 devs who succeed in Web3 are the ones who unlearn first,
Read that again.
Then relearn.
The faster you drop old assumptions, the sooner you can ship something users love.
stay safe!
And updated too, lol.
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