Presearch on Thursday launched its 3.0 platform, becoming the first Web3-native search engine to operate fully on Base, the Layer 2 blockchain incubated by Coinbase.
The upgrade completes the project’s transition from Web2 to Web3 and introduces a decentralized infrastructure where users retain full custody of their digital assets while participating in search and staking activities.
Unlike platforms that bolt token mechanics onto centralized systems, Presearch 3.0 runs entirely on decentralized rails.
It introduces real-time, gas-efficient transactions across millions of searches, self-custodial PRE token rewards, and integration with over 40,000 community-operated nodes.
These nodes process queries, anonymize requests, and deliver results while being rewarded based on performance and stake.
The search engine also expands its scope with “Frontier Intelligence”, a new independent index designed to surface human-generated content that is often de-ranked or inaccessible on mainstream engines.
This includes independent journalism, Substack posts, and data on underreported topics, offering an alternative to algorithm-driven feeds dominated by AI-generated material.
Presearch 3.0 combines three staking mechanisms: node staking, keyword ad staking, and search staking, allowing users and advertisers to earn or display results through decentralized participation.
Its ad system uses an auction-style model similar to Google Adwords, but advertisers stake tokens instead of paying directly for placement.
According to the company, the overhaul addresses three critical Web3 hurdles: sovereignty, transparency, and scalability.
Features include real-time reward calculation, seamless wallet integration, and sub-penny transaction costs on Base.
The update also introduces support for AI tools, enterprise integrations, and creator-first ecosystems.
With the shift to Web3 rails, Presearch aims to position itself as a gateway to the decentralized internet, enabling direct integration with DeFi applications, dApps, and AI agents.