What is a web3 community?

A web3 community is a group of people who interact virtually based on some common ownership or interest. Web3 communities usually involve some skin in the game and encourage people to participate in decision-making. 

This member-centric model aligns with the principles of decentralization, fosters collaboration, and, with the right setup, significantly enhances engagement. Below, we'll share a few tips and insights from the web3 community-building trenches. 

Web3 community management 

A good web3 community provides members with a common purpose, an easy method of participation, a say in decision-making, and intrinsic or extrinsic rewards (ideally both). These are the basics, and how these aspects look varies by community.  

Whatever the variety, a common web3 community-building tactic has been an airdrop or other incentives to bootstrap engagement. But as countless cases attest, such an approach attracts mercenaries who will leave at a minute's notice. 

This is the transactional, one-off, short-term mindset, and it typically fails. Rather than relying on incentives, it's best to work towards a durable culture. Culture can only be created with a sustained commitment to building a common story and a shared identity. Doing this takes time and patience because web3 is complex and noisy. 

How to build web3 communities 

Building a thriving web3 community requires a multi-layered approach that combines strategic planning, consistent engagement, and an understanding of the unique dynamics of decentralized environments. There's no exact playbook, but there are a few things worth considering.

Shared virtual and physical gatherings forge relationships, which is the foundation of any strong community. Being digital-only has historically been one of the big barriers to creating lasting web3 communities. So, if feasible, it's best to shoot for a combination of virtual events and IRL meetups. 

Another key is humans. When you boil it down, community is nothing more than a feeling. It's a feeling that there are others, a group who are in this together. That time we did, we went, we saw, we laughed, we felt. etc.

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That might sound obvious, but it's worth repeating. You need a story, you need individuals, and you need things people can plug into to get their needs met, whether that's excitement, entertainment, intellectual stimulation, money, etc. To achieve this requires people to show up, be visible, be open, live the values, joke around, share stories/memes, and be willing to help others. 

The final and most important piece is education. Web3 is intimidating and hard to approach for newcomers. Everyone knows this, and there are many education initiatives designed to address it. The problem is that many skip *why* they should interact with or learn about it. A better approach is to create an education hub with peer-to-peer knowledge transfer and community sessions aligned with member goals while also scaling efforts through grassroots initiatives. 

Filling the blockchain education gap

Now, if we're talking about education, we have our own Oasis Academy. This online platform is a learning portal for everything you need to know about blockchain, whether that's the basics, the ins and outs of DeFi, or the latest in AI development. The Academy additionally features a community forum, numerous tutorials, and a knowledge base section. 

We've also taken our education efforts offline, into the halls of universities. University programs allow easy win-wins for any web3 project looking to grow. Students are the innovators and users of tomorrow, and by providing opportunities and getting them involved early, you're planting seeds that will grow for years to come. 

We're launching our own university program, where we'll be hosting lectures, workshops, and hands-on sessions that dive deep into blockchain tech and how it's shaping the future. The aim of all this is to cultivate energy that, ultimately, takes on a life of its own. The goal is to foster a bottoms-up movement based on something genuinely value-additive. 

Multiplying growth with web3 ambassadors

Another critical piece in this puzzle is ambassador programs. They're common in web3 because there's no better way to scale efforts and spread the word. At Oasis, we've got our Sentinels Program, a dedicated group who are all in on helping us grow.

These ambassadors aren't just there to cheer from the sidelines. They're on the ground, hosting local meetups, attending conferences, and representing us at regional events. We equip them with all the knowledge and resources they need to become experts in their communities. 

Best of all, our Sentinels Program isn't just about contributing to the community; it can also be a gateway to a full-time career in Web3. More than a few of our current core team members started as ambassadors, and their passion and dedication opened doors to subsequent opportunities. 

Web3 community: education is empowerment

At the end of the day, a sustainable web3 community isn't something you can hack or artificially produce, and it's not just about numbers. Rather, it's about creating the conditions for a network of human nodes to develop organically and take your project to the next level.

Our community plays a central role in everything we do, whether through our Sentinels Program, Oasis Academy, or university partnerships. If you're passionate about web3, privacy, or artificial intelligence and want to help us spread the word, we'd love to have you join us! More details can be found here. 

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