Unstoppable Domains drops nine TLD bids after ICANN rules

Unstoppable Domains has abandoned plans to apply for nine top-level domains (TLDs) in ICANN’s 2026 expansion round, citing incompatibility with proposed integration rules for web3 naming systems. The decision affects .crypto, .wallet, .polygon, .nft, .bitcoin, .dao, .unstoppable, .zil, and .blockchain—all of which the company previously offered as alt-root, blockchain-only domains without DNS registration or public ownership records.

The company attributed its withdrawal to a draft framework from ICANN’s technical working group, which would require every name in an integrated namespace to be registered in the DNS root zone and subject to standard registration fees and WHOIS disclosure requirements. Unstoppable Domains stated the rules would force over 4 million existing web3 name holders—many of whom purchased names years ago for on-chain use only—into the traditional DNS system, with associated costs and privacy implications.

What changed

Unstoppable Domains initially announced intentions to apply for the nine TLDs, positioning them as both blockchain-native and traditional DNS domains. However, the company had a representative on ICANN’s integration working group and was aware of the proposed requirements before the draft report’s public release, which occurred two days prior to the application deadline. The final framework confirmed that any integrated TLD would need to enforce DNS registration and public WHOIS data for all names, including those already issued on-chain.

“ICANN’s planned integration rules would require every name in an integrated namespace to be registered in the DNS and paid for, and for registrants to disclose their data. For us, that means 4M+ existing Web3 names, including people who bought a name years ago purely for on-chain use and never asked to be in the DNS. We aren’t willing to force that on our users, or bill them for it.” — Unstoppable Domains, quoted in Domain Name Wire

The company is now offering refunds to users who registered web3 names matching the withdrawn TLDs after specific cutoff dates. For .blockchain, refunds apply to registrations made on or after 5 June 2024, while other affected TLDs use a cutoff of 5 March 2025. Five additional TLDs—including .privacy, .brave, and .anime—were also abandoned after partner applicants withdrew from planned collaborations with Unstoppable Domains.

Industry impact

While Unstoppable Domains has exited direct applications, it remains involved in the 2026 round as a registry service provider for five other bids. The most notable is Telegram’s .gram, which could become one of the largest new TLDs if approved. Unstoppable Domains is also supporting applications for .agi, .robot, .hub, and .xmr, indicating its continued interest in bridging web3 and traditional domain infrastructure—provided the technical and policy frameworks align with its decentralized model.

The withdrawal highlights tensions between ICANN’s DNS governance and alternative naming systems, particularly those built on blockchain. ICANN’s integration framework aims to prevent namespace collisions and ensure consistent resolution across systems, but its requirements for DNS registration and public WHOIS data conflict with the privacy and cost expectations of many web3 users. The outcome may influence how other blockchain-based naming providers approach future TLD applications or partnerships.

What to watch

Telegram’s .gram application will be closely monitored, given its potential scale and Unstoppable Domains’ role as registry service provider. The success or failure of this bid could set precedents for how web3-native companies engage with ICANN’s processes. Additionally, ICANN’s final integration rules—expected later this year—may prompt further adjustments from other applicants with blockchain-based naming systems. Operators should assess whether their own TLD strategies remain viable under the proposed requirements, particularly if they involve existing on-chain name holders.