Can PWAs enhance the user experience of Web3 by turning on-chain services into apps?

Some believe that the next step in blockchain user experience development, in addition to account abstraction and trading bots, may involve leveraging Progressive Web App (PWA) technology to turn on-chain services into mobile apps, offering users a more convenient experience and potentially driving mass adoption.

PWA is Progressively Moving Towards the Future

What Does the Future Look Like

Before discussing PWA, let's look at an example. One morning, you open your phone, and the first app you open is OpenSea to check if your bid on a desired NFT from yesterday was accepted. Not only was it not accepted, but someone offered a higher price, so you open Uniswap on your computer to buy more ETH to place a new bid. Throughout this process, all apps can automatically link to your wallet account, usable across all platforms, without the need for separate downloads.

The user scenario described above is much more convenient compared to the current state of Web3, and to achieve this goal, the market may ultimately turn to PWA technology.

What is PWA

PWA stands for Progressive Web App, which was first introduced at the 2016 Google I/O developer conference to enhance user experience. However, due to technological limitations and performance issues at the time, it did not receive much market attention. Recently, with iOS 16 starting to support this technology, it has re-entered community discussions.

PWAs can run on multiple devices and effectively solve the poor mobile experience of most web services, providing users with a similar experience to native platform applications.

Advantages of PWA

For users, the advantages of PWA can be summarized as follows:

• Reliability: Depending on the product's purpose, some services can still be used or have corresponding screens even without an internet connection.
• Experience: For users, it feels like using a native platform app and can provide more responsive feedback and animation effects, leading to a better immersive experience.

For developers, using PWA technology allows them to enjoy the benefits of both web and app versions.

Compared to app versions, web products are accessible on most platforms, making it easier to reach different users across multiple platforms. Development time and modification costs are relatively lower, making it more suitable for products still in testing, which is why most Web3 services currently remain in web versions.

App versions offer more diverse and reliable functions compared to web versions. App programs can generally execute more complex functions, such as accessing the local system's camera, enabling location services, customizing ad placements, reading Bluetooth and USB, etc. The stability comes from the fact that the app functions normally regardless of the network connection status.

In terms of functionality and reach, app versions can provide the best features, while web versions represent more user reach. PWAs can enjoy the benefits of both, providing complex functionality and reliability, while quickly deploying multi-platform touchpoints to reach the most users with web programs only.

Currently, one significant advantage of PWAs for developers is that they do not need to pay app store commissions, which is indeed a noticeable difference for developers.

In summary, PWAs can reduce development costs by building services using standard web programs, complete development in a short time, without separately creating versions for iOS, Android, desktop, and web. Look at the Metamask mobile version, which took several years to launch. On the other hand, it also reduces marketing and promotion costs. Skipping platform taxes at this stage is indeed very attractive to development teams.

Examples of PWA Cases

Currently, there are many implemented PWA cases, including well-known products such as:

• Twitter X

• Starbucks

• Instagram

• Pinterest

• Spotify

Most cases have proven that PWAs help improve various aspects of websites. For instance, after implementing PWA, Pinterest saw a 40% increase in user time spent on the app, a 44% increase in ad revenue, and a 60% increase in core engagement behaviors. Source

I have personally used Claude's PWA version before, and it did increase my frequency of use.

Why PWA is Important for Web3

Poor User Experience in Web3

The biggest issue with Web3 currently is the user experience, with many barriers and difficulties in wallet registration, cryptocurrency transactions, buying and trading, asset storage, etc. This has long been a drawback of online services, leading to lower adoption rates compared to Web2 services like centralized exchanges.

Blockchain application researcher Chill points out that services like Unibots trading bots are a step in the right direction to provide users with better experiences, but it's not enough and is just a transitional phase product. While trading bots on Telegram can assist with transactions, there are still many limitations, requiring more convenient and native platform-supporting applications to enable Web3 to achieve widespread adoption.

Chill believes that PWA will be the key to revolutionizing on-chain transactions, ushering in significant industry growth.

Mobile vs. Telegram: Different Platform Levels

While trading bots on Telegram can offer users simple trading options, there are limitations. For instance, users need a Telegram account, face interface restrictions that limit additional functionalities, single-point failure risks, and concerns about user asset security, among others.

These issues stem from the fact that the application is built on top of Telegram, which has its limitations as a platform for growth. With increasing competition, it's evident that the next step for all these trading bot providers is to create services outside of Telegram, and this is where PWAs come into play.

Telegram is not the core; the essence of these teams' business models is to offer users desirable mobile experiences. Therefore, transitioning is normal and expected.

Using PWA allows teams to easily enter the mobile platform, which has a much larger market compared to Telegram. In terms of trading functionality, it may even have the potential to replace users' need for centralized exchanges. Leveraging the stability and good experience of PWAs mentioned above, services can be optimized, such as sending transaction notifications and streamlining operations. In the future, additional functions beyond trading can also be provided, making the user scenarios more diverse.

In less than 6 months, Unibot on Telegram has had a total trading volume close to $500 million. By bringing services to the mobile platform, there is a greater opportunity for massive adoption on-chain. On-chain products typically offer incredible opportunities from a traditional perspective. Chill gives an example that when users can easily "download the app" and see substantial profits, everything falls into place.

Current Web3 Projects Supporting PWA

Among the more well-known projects in Web3, only a few have implemented PWA technology, such as:

• Sushiswap

• Magic Eden

• Friend.Tech

• Orca

• LooksRare

• Lyra Finance

• OpenSea Pro

• Hop Exchange

• Highlight

Personal Experience with PWA

I have used some of the above Web3 applications, and overall, the desktop versions of the apps usually work fine, achieving the targeted experience. However, the mobile versions of the services often encounter issues when connecting to wallets, and sometimes, the web or desktop versions cannot be downloaded, indicating that there is still much work to be done in the development and technology of PWAs in the Web3 industry.

PWA Brings New Opportunities

Most of the development efforts in the Web3 world are focused on an impossible triangle, maintaining decentralization while striving to increase security and performance. However, as new market entrants join, the issue of user experience becomes increasingly important. Designs such as smart contract wallets, account abstraction AA, intent-centric design, all centered around user experience, are unfolding in new ways.

Will PWAs bring new opportunities to Web3 in the future? It's too early to discuss at this stage, as more efforts and developments are needed before gaining market attention and validation.