The Internet Is Booming — But Not for Europe

The internet is one of the most powerful economic engines in human history. Every day, billions of people create value through their time, attention, data, and creativity. But the financial rewards? They flow almost entirely elsewhere.

Today, almost 90% of the internet’s $25 trillion wealth is captured by companies in just two countries:

• 67% goes to the United States
  
• 20% to China
  
• Less than 3% stays in Europe

Despite being home to hundreds of millions of users and thousands of developers, Europe remains a digital under-earner. The wealth created online bypasses the people who make it possible.

A Better Model: Let Users Share in the Value They Create

The core issue is ownership. The platforms that dominate our lives — social networks, marketplaces, entertainment Apps — are owned by corporations, not communities. Users generate the value, but they don’t share in the upside.

Now imagine a different model: a user-owned internet where people earn real, tradable shares in the Apps they help grow.

• Share music? Earn shares.
  
• Post content? Earn shares.
  
• Invite friends or contribute data? Earn shares.
  
  

With the right infrastructure, everyday users become co-owners of the digital world they help build — automatically and transparently.

What This Would Mean for Europe

The impact of this shift would be enormous. If ownership were more evenly distributed, Europeans could retain a much larger portion of the internet’s growing value.

Based on estimations that put the total market cap of the internet at $75 trillion by 2035, a rebalancing could generate:

• More than 5 trillion in long-term digital wealth for European users - that’s over €10,000 per citizen
  
• Hundreds of billions in recurring income from the platforms they use daily
  
  

This wealth wouldn’t be locked in the hands of a few corporations. It would be held directly by people — hundreds of millions of citizens benefiting from their own digital activity.

The Opportunity to Reclaim Digital Sovereignty

This isn’t just about money. It’s about control, dignity, and fairness. A user-owned internet puts Europe’s future in European hands — not as consumers, but as stakeholders.

As digital infrastructure continues to define every part of modern life — from communication to commerce — this model offers a way for Europe to build a digital economy by the people, for the people.

Conclusion

Europe missed the first internet boom. The next one is just beginning — and this time, the value doesn’t have to flow overseas.

By embracing a user-owned model, Europe can turn its digital engagement into real, lasting prosperity. The internet reshaped the world. Now we have the chance to reshape who it enriches.

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