“The world is a village.” The well-known phrase personifies the evolution of the Web. The World Wide Web is a dynamic space close-knit with numerous tools that distribute information and connect people. Moreover, the Web has evolved from the syntactic Web 1.0 to interactive Web 2.0 to the decentralized Web 3.0.
Decentralization is one of the significant features of Web 3.0. Blockchain is the backbone that drives the decentralized network. The DApp browser is essentially a tool that bridges the users and the DApps (decentralized applications). The blog explains the basics of the DApp browser and lists the best DApps and DApp browsers. So, let’s delve deeper.
What are DApp browsers?
A DApp browser is a UX or messaging interface that helps users interact with decentralized blockchain applications. So, how does DApp work? DApps browsers include peer-to-peer file hosting integration and crypto wallet support to interact with decentralized applications.
Why use DApp browsers over traditional web browsers? Although superficially, DApp browsers and web browsers appear the same. DApp browsers are for Web 3.0 and crypto. And traditional web browsers don’t support DApps. Hence, DApp browsers help users to experience the world of decentralization with ease and utmost security.
The best DApp browsers enable one to access decentralized applications and possess additional functionalities. They allow crypto users to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets. Some DApp browsers have a web3 wallet and are browser extensions of the wallet.
What are DApp platforms?
DApps run on blockchains. Ethereum is the best DApp blockchain for building blockchains. Quick action scaling and smart contracts are the primary features of the Ethereum blockchain. Further, Ethereum has a programming language called Solidity. Developers can create different types of digital currency and build web applications that are decentralized in nature using Ethereum.
Is MetaMask a DApp browser?
Metamask is a browser extension for Google Chrome, Firefox, and Mozilla. The extension injects Web 3.0 API into the website’s javascript context; hence, the DApps can read from the blockchain. DApp browser metamask helps you buy, store, send and swap tokens. Furthermore, it also helps to manage your identity with private keys, local client wallets, and hardware wallets. The DApp browser provides a secure interface to review the transaction.
How Do I Get a DApp browser?
Once you understand the working of the DApps browser, let’s understand how to enable a DApp browser. You can access the DApp browser either through mobile or PC. If you wish to access the browser through mobile, download the crypto wallet app for your mobile, either from Google PlayStore or iOS, depending on your platform. Next, you can create an account and connect it to the various DApps.
PC users can upgrade their traditional web browsers to access Web 3 functionalities via Web 3 wallets. Therefore, you can manage crypto assets with ease and security.
What is the best DApp browser?
Better privacy and security distinguish the best DApp browsers from regular web browsers. The following are a few significant DApp browser platforms:
1. Metamask
Metamask is the most widely used crypto wallet with over a million users for transferring and receiving ETH and ERC20 tokens. Apart from being available as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices, it is also available as a web browser extension. Metamask supports Chrome, Firefox, or Brave browser as an extension. The extension injects Web 3.0 API into the website’s javascript context, thus enabling the regular browsers to interact with DApps. Further, it also provides a secure login key vault and token wallet for managing digital assets.
2. TrustWallet
With over 5 million users, Trust wallet DApp, the popular crypto wallet available for Android and iOS, hosts an in-built DApp browser for accessing DApps. DApps trustwallet is a highly secure and trusted browser to experience the world of DApps. It supports Ethereum, ERC20, ERC223 tokens, and other digital assets. Binance acquired TrustWallet in 2018, and security and ease of use are the distinctive features of the DApp browser.
3. Brave
Brave DApp browser provides a similar user experience as Chrome and Firefox and provides an in-built crypto wallet to interact with DApps. Brave has over 25 million users and thus makes it the top DApp browser. Privacy support and open source are the main features of the browser. Unlike crypto-wallet plugins, Brave is a native browser adding an extra layer of security.
Furthermore, it prevents data collection by blocking ads and trackers and offers a native ERC20 token called Basic Attention Token(BAT). Besides, it provides IPFS support that enables distributed file storage that reduces security risks and file concentration.
4. Opera
We know that Opera is a significant player in the traditional web browser space. However, the popular Web 2.0 browser platform offers DApp support with Web 3.0 functionality. Moreover, it has an inbuilt cross-wallet that enables token storage and DApp access. It supports tokens like Ethereum, TRON, and CoBak.
5. Dharma
Dharma is a mobile, Ethereum-based DApp that connects with any DApp on the Ethereum blockchain. It is one of the top DApps for Defi protocols. Moreover, you can link your bank account with its wallet; thus, making it easier to borrow, lend and earn interest on crypto holdings. Although it supports Android and iOS, it is one of the best DApp browsers for iOS.
6. Osiris
Osiris claims to be the world’s first net-neutral browser. Speed, Efficiency, and Transparency are the three pillars of the DApp browser. Osiris is a Decenternet initiative that runs on “Spyce,” its native cryptocurrency. Moreover, it is made explicitly for cryptocurrencies and offers an in-built wallet that hosts ETH, TRON, and Acent. The browser’s main features are lower transaction fees, an ad-blocker, and high speed.
7. Puma
Puma, the famous sportswear brand, has recently ventured into crypto. It is a mobile-based browser and wallet for the Web 3 ecosystem. Furthermore, it enables creators, game, and app developers a smooth payment through Coil and Interledger protocol. Moreover, Puma renders peer-to-peer payment and file hosting; with a distinctively private and secure user interface.
8. Guarda
Guarda is one of the major browsers in the crypto market. It is a multi-platform browser offering mobile, desktop, and Web services. Moreover, it supports over 50 blockchains and 10,000 tokens and links to DApps using the Wallet Connect protocol. Security is a crucial feature of the first multi-currency DApp extension. Furthermore, it has a built-in exchange for swapping and buying crypto with a card.
9. Coinomi
Coinomi is a multi-blockchain wallet that enables accessing mobile and desktop computers. It helps you to secure, manage and exchange over 1,770 digital assets. Enhanced privacy, multi-chain, and 24×7 live support are the key features of the browser. Its versatility and ease of design make it a well-known browser.
10. Coinbase
Coinbase DApp wallet has an in-built browser for interacting with Ethereum-based applications. Moreover, it supports over 500 tokens, giving a broad range of cryptocurrencies. It is available for both mobile and desktop computers. The DApp browser is convenient and helps you efficiently access your wallet to interact with DApps. It is a reliable platform for storing and collecting NFTs. Besides, it adds an extra defense layer, as the keys are not at one location.
What is the best DApp?
DApps are programs that run on the blockchain or peer-to-peer computers instead of a single computer. The following are the best DApp platform:
1. PanCakeSwap
PanCakeSwap is a decentralized exchange(DEX) built on Binance Smart Chain that helps you to swap two BEP20 coins. Smart Contracts are an inherent feature of the DApp that helps to execute all its trade operations. CAKE is the chain’s native token. Further, the platform also has NFT collectibles, yield farms, and governance voting.
2. Compound
The compound is DApp which provides a platform to borrow, lend and earn interest in selected cryptocurrencies. Similar to traditional bank deposits, users can deposit their cryptocurrencies on the DApp to earn interest over time. Built on the Ethereum network, the platform supports over 14 cryptocurrencies. A user can access the DApp by connecting wallets like Metamask, Ledger, and Coinbase wallet to the DApp. Furthermore, the DApp has an automated system to match the lender with the borrower. After finding the match, it exchanges funds from the liquidity pool.
3. OpenSea
OpenSea is a decentralized marketplace for buying, selling, and trading crypto assets. It is a vast marketplace for NFTs. OpenSea’s significant categories are art, collectibles, music, domain name, music, sports, and virtual world, amongst others. So, the user can create a collection, add the NFT and list the NFT on the marketplace for sale.
4. UniSwap
UniSwap allows users to swap between two ERC-20 tokens. Therefore, it reduces the number of transactions and the overall gas fees. Simplicity in the execution of trades is the primary feature of the platform. In Uniswap, Solidarity is the language for smart contracts.
5. Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is a prominent play-to-earn DApp that works on the blockchain. Built by Vietnamese Studio Sky Mavis, the DApp works on Non-Fungible (NFT). In the game, the players collect and mint NFTs through digital pets called Axies. And the platform charges 4.25% fees when they trade Axies on the marketplace.
Conclusion
A DApp browser is a bridge that connects traditional browsers and crypto wallets with DApps. Most DApp browsers are multi-blockchain and secure for crypto transactions. The need for DApp browsers is a cue of the emergence of the Web 3.0 era. Unlike centralized networks, they don’t have a single point of vulnerability for intrusions or malicious attacks. To conclude, users prefer DApp browsers as they value data and privacy. And they are a gateway to the evolving world of decentralization.
