The Decentralized Internet: Architectures, Technologies, and Open Challenges

Abstract

The contemporary Internet, a cornerstone of modern society, is characterized by a high degree of centralization. This centralization concentrates data and power within a few large corporations, raising significant concerns regarding data privacy, censorship, single points of failure, and monopolistic control. The "Decentralized Internet," often associated with the Web3 paradigm, proposes a fundamental shift toward a more open, trustless, and user-centric network. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the decentralized Internet, beginning with an exploration of its core principles—trustlessness, censorship resistance, and user-controlled data. We then examine the key enabling technologies that underpin the decentralized Internet, including distributed ledger technologies (DLT), peer-to-peer (P2P) data protocols such as the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and smart contracts. Finally, we discuss the significant open challenges and research questions that must be addressed, including scalability, usability, governance, and regulatory uncertainty. This paper aims to provide a structured overview for researchers, developers, and policymakers interested in the future of Internet architecture. Index Terms—Decentralized Internet, Web3, Blockchain, Peer-to-Peer (P2P), IPFS, Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), Smart Contracts, Decentralized Applications (dApps), Scalability, Governance.