Metaverse and DAO Foundations

This unit introduces learners to the metaverse, Web3 building blocks, and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) through industry case studies and domain-based identity examples. Students will distinguish utility from hype, map core Web3 components (domains, identity, smart contracts, governance), and prepare to design and implement a DAO membership model in subsequent units.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze case studies (for example, Cathy Hackl and Unstoppable Domains) to identify trends, stakeholder roles, and real-world applications within the metaverse and decentralized internet.
• Evaluate Web3 initiatives by contrasting utility-driven features with hype using defined criteria such as value proposition, scalability, security, and governance.
• Demonstrate understanding of core Web3 architecture by mapping components—digital identity, blockchain domains, smart contracts, tokens, and governance—and explaining how they interact to enable decentralized services.
• Apply foundational principles to design a simple DAO membership or domain-based use case, outlining roles, governance mechanisms, token/identity considerations, and initial steps to build the DAO.