Unstoppable Domains
 | This article contains promotional content. (June 2025) |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Blockchain, Web3, Domain name services |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Matthew Gould |
Key people | Matthew Gould (CEO); Sandy Carter (COO) |
| Products | Blockchain domain names (.crypto, .nft, .x), Web3 login integration |
| Services | Decentralized domain name registration, Web3 identity, wallet aliasing |
| Website | unstoppabledomains.com |
Unstoppable Domains is a private technology company based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2018 by Matthew Gould, the company registers both traditional DNS domain names, and domains with endings like '.crypto', '.bitcoin' or '.wallet' that are built on blockchain networks. These blockchain domains can be used to receive cryptocurrency, access decentralized websites, and manage digital identities.
Overview
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Unstoppable Domains manages domain names minted as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).[1][2] These domains, often referred to as blockchain-based or NFT domains, function similarly to traditional web addresses, but are stored on public blockchains rather than managed by centralized authorities.[2] Unlike traditional web domains, NFT domains incur a one-time purchase fee, with no annual renewal cost.[2] They thus allow users to own their domain names outright. Unstoppable's NFT domains and can be used to simplify crypto wallet addresses, host decentralized websites and to authenticate log-ins for Web3 wallets and applications.[1] As Reuters explains: "'Domain' names such as coin.crypto ... and beer.eth ... are a new breed of NFTs that owners can use to replace the jumble of 16 random numbers and letters that form their digital wallet addresses."[3] The company also registers traditional DNS domain services.[4]
History
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Unstoppable Domains (UNS) was founded in 2019 by Matthew Gould as part of a wave of blockchain startups aiming to build infrastructure for the decentralized web (Web3). The company positioned itself at the intersection of digital identity and domain name systems (DNS), providing blockchain-based NFT domains used for wallet aliases and decentralized websites.[1][4] It began operations offering blockchain-based domain name registrations, primarily as a way to simplify cryptocurrency transactions and provide censorship-resistant web infrastructure. Early on, the company supported TLDs such as `.crypto` and `.wallet` on the Ethereum blockchain before transitioning to Polygon, which has lower gas fees.[1][4] In June 2021, Unstoppable Domains partnered with Blockchain.com to allow users to send and receive cryptocurrency using human-readable domain names instead of traditional long wallet addresses, thereby reducing the risk of errors in blockchain transactions.[5]
UNS gained early prominence alongside Ethereum Name Services (ENS) as one of the two largest providers of blockchain domain names,[1] amid a broader migration of Silicon Valley talent to crypto start-ups. In December 2021, the New York Times reported a wave of departures from firms like Amazon, Meta, and Google to blockchain ventures, including Unstoppable Domains.[6] Sandy Carter, former vice president at Amazon Web Services, joined the company as Senior Vice President of Business Development that same month. Her LinkedIn announcement drew over 350 job inquiries within two days.[6]
By March 2022, the two services had collectively registered just over one million domains; this number rose to more than 6 million by March 2023. Of these, UNS accounted for over 3.2 million registrations by April 2023.[1]
By early 2022, Unstoppable Domains had generated $80 million in revenue.[2] In July 2022, the company raised $65 million in a Series A round led by Pantera Capital, achieving a $1 billion valuation and becoming a so-called blockchain "unicorn."[2] The round also included investments from Alchemy Ventures, OKG Investments, and Polygon, with the funds earmarked for expanding the company’s role in Web3 identity infrastructure.[7]
As of 2024, Unstoppable Domains operates as both a traditional domain registrar and a Web3 domain provider. The company received accreditation from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in August 2024.[8] This accreditation allows Unstoppable Domains to operate as an official registrar of conventional DNS .com domain names. It also enables the company to integrate decentralized identity tools into the existing DNS framework, advancing interoperability between Web2 and Web3 services.[9]
In 2025, the company restructured its business model to emphasize on-chain identity and interoperability between Web2 and Web3, in response to the evolving Web3 infrastructure.[10]
Technology
[edit]Unstoppable Domains operates on the Polygon, Solana, Base and Sonic blockchains, which are compatible with Ethereum’s computational model but offer lower transaction fees.[1] The company provides second-level domain names under proprietary top-level domains (TLDs) such as '.888', '.bitcoin', '.blockchain', '.coin', '.crypto', '.dao', '.nft`', '.wallet', '.x', and '.zil'. These TLDs are not recognized by traditional internet governance bodies such as the DNS root zone or the IANA Special-Use Domain Names registry.[4]
Unlike the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), which operates as a decentralized public good under a DAO model, Unstoppable Domains is a for-profit entity. It requires all domain registrations to be processed through its own centralized web interface. The underlying smart contracts for data storage can only be initialized by the company itself, and users must register and pay directly through Unstoppable Domains.[4]
Domains minted via Unstoppable Domains are issued as ERC-721 NFTs and stored in users’ crypto wallets, granting permanent ownership without renewal fees. They can function as human-readable aliases for cryptocurrency wallet addresses, can be used as login credentials for some Web3 applications, and host decentralized, censorship-resistant websites using the peer-to-peer InterPlanetary File System (IPFS).[1][2]
In the past, the platform also supported domain "parking", allowing users to store domain names in custodial wallets either individually or in bulk. This enabled speculation on resale value or delayed activation. According to reporting by Reuters, some names have sold for substantial sums, including "wallet.crypto" for $250,000.[3][1]
As of 2023, Unstoppable Domains reported support of over 265 blockchain-integrated applications with crypto partners including Blockchain.com, Bitcoin.com, Polygon, and OKX.[11] [2]
Legal challenges
[edit]Blockchain domain names (BDNs), such as those offered by Unstoppable Domains, operate independently of the traditional Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) system. As a result, they are not subject to ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), which complicates trademark enforcement in cases of infringement or cybersquatting.[12] Legal scholars have noted that existing trademark laws, including the U.S. Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), may not be fully applicable to BDNs, and courts have not definitively ruled on the matter.[12] Due to the absence of centralized oversight and verification mechanisms, BDNs may be vulnerable to practices like "cryptosquatting"—the unauthorized registration of domain names incorporating trademarks.[12]
To address brand protection, the company introduced a "Protected Brands Policy" which reserved domains under the .blockchain TLD for the top 100,000 trademarked names.[1] Unstoppable Domains has also initiated legal action over TLD collisions, notably suing Wallet Inc. and Handshake over the duplication of the .wallet domain, citing consumer confusion and misdirected traffic.[1]
Outreach and promotional efforts
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In March 2022, Unstoppable Domains launched the "Unstoppable Women of Web3" (Unstoppable WoW3) initiative with a $10 million grant and partnerships with over 65 organizations. These included Google Cloud, Deloitte, Blockchain.com, Polygon, Gemini, and Consensys. The initiative aims to advance diversity and education in the Web3 space by supporting the next generation of talent, particularly women and historically marginalized groups.[13]
As part of the program, Unstoppable Domains committed to distributing over $10 million worth of NFT domains to support women entering Web3. All partner organizations pledged to ensure that at least half of all educational materials feature contributions by historically marginalized creators. Educational content is shared via Twitter Spaces, Discord, Telegram, and in-person events, with the initiative launching on International Women’s Day through a 24-hour Twitter Spaces event.[13]
In March 2023 the company partnered with Unstoppable Women of Web3 (Unstoppable WoW3) to launch a five-year initiative to provide Web3 and metaverse education to six million African women. The program focuses on addressing gender inequality in the Web3 space and improving access to decentralized technologies across the African continent.[14]
The program includes collaborations with over 19 organizations - including the African Leadership Group, Chipper Cash, Africa Women CEOs Network, Polygon Labs, and the Virtual Brand Group - and offers participants free blockchain-based domains to support user-owned digital identities. Educational content is delivered through online courses, resources, and in-person events, and is made available in multiple languages, including Portuguese, French, and Arabic.[14]
The program is led by Chief Operating Officer Sandy Carter, who also founded Unstoppable WoW3. In a 2023 interview, Carter emphasized the importance of addressing gender disparities in Web3 and AI industries, and described the development of a free educational content stream available in English and Spanish. The platform includes instructional sessions on topics such as decentralized identity, blockchain, and digital careers, with dedicated tracks for young girls exploring technology.[15]
In January 2024, Unstoppable Domains colloborated with The Sandbox, a decentralized virtual world, to create a multiplayer metaverse game that integrated decentralized digital identities into an interactive gaming environment. The project included live gameplay as well as avatar customization tools and digital collectibles tied to in-game achievements. The collaboration aimed to explore how blockchain-based domain names could function as persistent, user-owned identities within virtual spaces, and to examine new forms of engagement in Web3 gaming.[16]
Privacy and criticism
[edit]According to the company, its platform protects user privacy and reduces the risk of centralized data breaches or “honeypots,” because domain ownership resides entirely with the user.[2]
However, the lack of centralized oversight has also raised concerns. A Microsoft report in 2021 warned that blockchain domains could be used to establish criminal infrastructure that is difficult to detect or dismantle due to anonymity and decentralization.[2]
Recognition
[edit]Forbes ranked the company on its list of Best Startup Employers for four consecutive years, including in 2025, noting its fully remote work model.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Osborn, Georgia; Alan, Nathan (2023). "Web3 Disruption and the Domain Name System". Journal of Cyber Policy. 8 (2): 142–164. doi:10.1080/23738871.2023.2294759.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Maria Gracia Santillana Linares, "Registrar Unstoppable Domains Raises $65 Million", Forbes, 2022.URL:https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariagraciasantillanalinares/2022/07/27/registrar-unstoppable-domains-raises-65-million-to-make-website-domains-into-nfts/
- ^ a b Lisa Pauline Mattackal & Medha Singh (2022). "Cryptoverse: Trading names in a mind-boggling crypto craze", Reuters, October 4. https://www.reuters.com/technology/cryptoverse-trading-names-mind-boggling-crypto-craze-2022-10-04/
- ^ a b c d e Durand, Alain (27 April 2022). "Challenges with Alternative Name Systems" (PDF). ICANN. Office of the Chief Technology Officer. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (24 June 2021). "Blockchain.com will let people use human-readable usernames in blockchain transactions". VentureBeat. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b Daisuke Wakabayashi & Mike Isaac (2021). "The New Get-Rich-Faster Job in Silicon Valley: Crypto Start-Ups", The New York Times, Dec. 20. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/technology/silicon-valley-cryptocurrency-start-ups.html
- ^ Melinek, Jacquelyn (July 27, 2022). "Web3 digital identity startup Unstoppable Domains raises funds at $1 billion valuation". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Internet Assigned Numbers Authority. "Registrar IDs." IANA.https://www.iana.org/assignments/registrar-ids/registrar-ids.xhtml
- ^ CircleID (2024). "Unstoppable Domains Receives ICANN Accreditation", August 14. https://circleid.com/posts/20240814-unstoppable-domains-receives-icann-accreditation
- ^ Allemann, Andrew (February 10, 2025). "Unstoppable Domains' New Biz Model – DNW Podcast #521". Domain Name Wire. Retrieved 2025-05-22.
- ^ Lin, Connie (28 November 2023). "The 4 next big things in fintech, crypto, blockchain, and Web3 for 2023". Fast Company. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Glonina, Vera (2024). "Back to the Future with Blockchain Domain Names: Toward a Global Policy to Fight Cybersquatting in Web 3.0". Trademark Reporter. 114: 587–644.
- ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (8 March 2022). "Unstoppable Domains launches $10M Women of Web3 initiative". VentureBeat. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ a b Unstoppable Women of Web3 leads initiative to provide metaverse education for 6 million African women. The Guardian Nigeria. March 7, 2023. https://guardian.ng/technology/unstoppable-women-of-web3-leads-initiative-to-provide-metaverse-education-for-6-million-african-women/
- ^ Digital First Magazine (2023). "Inspiring, Elevating, & Supporting Women in the Tech Industry: Interview with Sandy Carter", December 15. https://www.digitalfirstmagazine.com/inspiring-elevating-supporting-women-in-the-tech-industry/
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (22 January 2024). "Unstoppable Domains and The Sandbox create Unstoppable metaverse experience". VentureBeat. Retrieved 4 June 2025.