> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://despend.gitbook.io/despend/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://despend.gitbook.io/despend/background.md).

# Background

## The shackles of Web2 e-commerce and the dawn of Web3

The global cross-border e-commerce market is experiencing unprecedented growth. According to Statista, the size of the global e-commerce market has surpassed 6.3 trillion US dollars in 2023 and is expected to reach nearly 8 trillion US dollars by 2025. This growth is driven by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and blockchain, indicating that the critical point of industrial transformation has arrived.

<figure><img src="/files/EfdsAbqG3LDxpWOqA0vC" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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