“dApp” is short for decentralised apps; that is, apps that are built on a blockchain network. The word ‘decentralised’ suggests that no single entity is in control of the entire app or its data. This is why it’s so different from traditional apps. Instead of running on a central server, dApps are hosted by participating nodes in a peer-to-peer network; no central authority controls the data or its accessibility. It’s almost like BitTorrent for apps. Beyond a simple name change, the shift from traditional to decentralised applications (dApps) signals a new way of thinking about web services. The term dApp was coined in 2013 by Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin to refer to an autonomous app built atop a blockchain, operating without any central controlling authority. dApps are likely to drive services and functions in cryptocurrency, DeFi, and possibly the future metaverse. In this article, we explore the...