Unstoppable Domains

Unstoppable Domains is a company and platform that issues blockchain-based domain names, such as .crypto, .x, .nft, and .wallet. Unlike traditional domains governed by ICANN and stored in centralized registries, these domains are minted as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on public blockchains, primarily Polygon. This gives the owner full, permanent custody of the domain name after a one-time purchase, eliminating recurring renewal fees. The core value proposition is censorship resistance; because the domain record lives on a decentralized ledger, it cannot be seized or taken down by any central authority.

Technically, these domains function by resolving human-readable names to blockchain addresses and decentralized website content. They integrate with the Decentralized Naming Service (DNS) standard, allowing compatible wallets and browsers to translate a name like yourname.crypto into a cryptocurrency wallet address for payments or an InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) hash to load a website. This simplifies user experience by replacing long, complex alphanumeric strings with easy-to-remember identities. Major applications include - simplified crypto payments, - hosting decentralized websites, and - serving as a universal username across Web3 applications.

The ecosystem is supported by integrations with over 500 applications, including major wallets like MetaMask and Trust Wallet, browsers like Brave and Opera, and exchanges like Coinbase. When you mint a domain, you receive an NFT in your wallet, which acts as the title deed. You can manage its records—such as which cryptocurrency addresses it points to—directly through Unstoppable's dashboard or compatible decentralized applications (dApps). This ownership model also enables the domain to be freely traded or sold on NFT marketplaces, creating a secondary market for digital identities.

A key differentiator from similar services like the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is the one-time payment model. While ENS requires annual renewal fees to maintain ownership, an Unstoppable Domains purchase is a single, upfront transaction for lifetime ownership. However, this also means the protocol relies on the continued operation of the company's resolution services for full functionality, introducing a point of centralization in the resolution layer, though the ownership record itself remains decentralized on-chain.

Looking forward, Unstoppable Domains is expanding its vision beyond payments and websites to become a foundational layer for digital identity in Web3. This includes logging into decentralized applications without passwords, verifying credentials, and creating portable reputation systems. By providing a user-owned, persistent identity that works across different blockchains and services, it aims to solve the fragmentation and usability challenges that currently hinder mainstream adoption of decentralized technologies.

Unstoppable Domains is a blockchain naming service that mints non-fungible token (NFT) domain names, such as .crypto or .x, on public blockchains like Polygon and Ethereum. The core mechanism involves a user registering a human-readable name, which is then cryptographically linked to their wallet address and minted as an NFT. This process creates a decentralized identifier (DID) that the user fully owns and controls, stored directly in their personal crypto wallet, eliminating traditional renewal fees and centralized registry control.

The system operates through a combination of smart contracts and client-side resolution. When a user registers a domain, the information—such as the linked cryptocurrency addresses for Bitcoin, Ethereum, or IPFS hashes for websites—is recorded on-chain. To resolve a domain (e.g., yourname.crypto), a wallet or browser with a compatible resolver extension queries the blockchain's smart contract. The contract returns the associated data, allowing the user to receive crypto payments or access a decentralized website without needing to share long, complex wallet addresses.

A key architectural feature is the single-payment model. Unlike traditional Domain Name System (DNS) services that require annual renewals, purchasing an Unstoppable Domain is a one-time transaction. The domain NFT is then owned in perpetuity, with the owner retaining the private keys. This model is enabled by the underlying blockchain's immutability and the domain's status as a bearer asset, meaning control is proven solely by possession of the NFT in a self-custodied wallet.

For decentralized website hosting, Unstoppable Domains integrates with the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). Website files are uploaded to this peer-to-peer storage network, generating a Content Identifier (CID) hash. The domain owner then sets this CID as the IPFS record for their domain within the domain management interface. When the domain is accessed via a supported browser, the resolver fetches the CID and retrieves the website content from the distributed IPFS network, creating a censorship-resistant web presence.

The service's interoperability is facilitated by open standards and partnerships. Unstoppable Domains supports multiple blockchain addresses and record types within a single domain, functioning as a unified Web3 identity. Furthermore, its resolution libraries are integrated into major wallets and browsers, and the domains are increasingly recognized by centralized exchanges and applications for simplified user logins and transactions, bridging the decentralized and traditional web ecosystems.

Unstoppable Domains is a blockchain-based naming protocol that provides human-readable domain names (like yourname.crypto or yourname.nft) which resolve to cryptocurrency wallet addresses, hashes for decentralized websites, and other blockchain data. Unlike traditional DNS domains, these Web3 domains are minted as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on supported blockchains, granting the owner full, permanent custody without recurring renewal fees. The primary function is to simplify user interactions by replacing complex alphanumeric strings (e.g., 0x742d35Cc6634C0532925a3b844Bc9e...) with a single, memorable name.

The service operates across multiple supported blockchains to enhance accessibility and reduce transaction costs. Domains are primarily minted as NFTs on the Polygon network, chosen for its low gas fees, while also being bridged to Ethereum as ERC-721 tokens for compatibility with a wider ecosystem of wallets and marketplaces. This multi-chain architecture allows users to manage their domain's underlying NFT on the chain most suitable for their needs, whether for frequent updates or long-term storage in a cold wallet. The resolution of these names to addresses or content is handled by decentralized resolvers that operate independently of the traditional DNS system.

Each domain supports a rich set of crypto records beyond simple payments. Owners can associate multiple blockchain addresses for different currencies (BTC, ETH, SOL, etc.), set a decentralized website hash for IPFS or Arweave storage, attach email and social media profiles, and even store arbitrary text records. This transforms the domain into a portable Web3 identity or business card. For example, a single yourname.crypto can receive payments on multiple blockchains and host a censorship-resistant website, all controlled from a single crypto wallet like MetaMask.

The ecosystem is defined by its top-level domains (TLDs), each with distinct branding and community. Core TLDs include .crypto (the original, general-purpose domain), .nft (focused on digital collectibles and creator identities), .blockchain, .wallet, .dao, and .x. These suffixes are not just for show; they signal the domain's intended use case within the digital economy. Ownership is verified on-chain, and because the domain is an NFT, it can be freely traded, sold, or transferred on secondary markets like OpenSea, with the underlying records and resolutions transferring seamlessly to the new owner.

From a technical perspective, resolving an Unstoppable Domain requires a compatible wallet or browser extension that integrates with the protocol's decentralized resolvers. When a user enters a *.crypto address to send funds, their wallet queries the blockchain (via these resolvers) to fetch the associated wallet address record. For website resolution, browsers with native support (like Opera or via extensions) fetch the IPFS hash and serve the content directly from the decentralized storage network, making the site resistant to takedowns by any central authority.