Web3 Architecture refers to the decentralized framework and infrastructure enabling user-centric internet applications that operate on blockchain networks, emphasizing user ownership of data and digital assets, trustless interactions without centralized intermediaries, and transparent, immutable record-keeping through distributed ledger technologies.

For enterprise architects, Web3 represents an architectural paradigm shift from centralized platforms toward distributed networks where authority and control are algorithmically defined rather than institutionally granted. While still evolving, Web3 architectures typically incorporate several foundational components: blockchain platforms providing consensus mechanisms and smart contract capabilities; decentralized storage systems distributing data across peer networks; self-sovereign identity frameworks giving users control over credentials; token systems representing digital assets and access rights; and decentralized governance mechanisms for protocol evolution. These systems employ different architectural approaches ranging from public permissionless networks prioritizing censorship resistance to private consortium chains optimizing for throughput and compliance. Technical leaders must navigate significant design considerations including scalability limitations of current blockchain platforms; interoperability between different chains and traditional systems; key management approaches balancing security with usability; and oracle mechanisms connecting blockchain environments with external data sources. Enterprise implementations often adopt hybrid architectures that selectively apply Web3 principles to specific use cases—such as asset tokenization, supply chain traceability, or decentralized identity—while maintaining integration with conventional systems. For CIOs and CTOs evaluating Web3 approaches, the architecture requires careful assessment of trade-offs between decentralization benefits (reduced intermediary dependency, censorship resistance, automated trust) and associated challenges (transaction finality times, throughput limitations, complexity, and regulatory uncertainty) to determine where these technologies offer meaningful business advantages over traditional centralized architectures for specific business requirements.