Unstoppable Domains is a crypto domain registrar where users can create non-censorable websites stored in the owner’s crypto wallet.
Unstoppable domains work much like your traditional domain, hosting a website to sell a product, inform an audience, or anything else you want to use it for. However, they also let users generate a universal username, log in to the decentralized web, and work as a crypto wallet, storing cryptocurrency sent by visitors and buyers.
Each domain is built on blockchains such as Ethereum, Polygon Zilliqa, and several others, with a range of domain extensions such as .crypto and .zil.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Unstoppable Domains, including, what Unstoppable Domains are, how they work, the pros and cons of Unstoppable Domains, and how you can buy and sell one in 2022, domain safety, and future of Unstoppable Domains.
About Unstoppable Domains
Unstoppable Domains is a domain registrar that sells decentralized domains (also known as crypto domains) that offer several advantages over traditional web 2.0 alternatives.
Instead of using traditional domain technology (DNS), Unstoppable Domains uses blockchain technology and is known as a crypto name service (CNS). Here are a few of the benefits.
Firstly, Unstoppable Domains lets users own the domains they purchase. Traditionally, domain registrars such as GoDaddy and Namecheap would rent domain names to users for a monthly or yearly fee; however, they would still have full ownership. With Unstoppable Domains, a single upfront payment is made, and full ownership is transferred to the buyer.
This has several additional benefits. The buyer now has full ownership of the domain, and their content can’t be censored. Historically, domain providers and search engines such as Google would have the power to remove your site should you post anything not following their terms and conditions.
As an Unstoppable Domains domain owner, you have complete independent control of the domain, meaning you can use it however you want instead of conforming to search engines.
When registering, you’ll have a choice of various extensions, including .crypto, .zil, .wallet, and .nft, allowing you to choose the extension based on your project. For example, if you’ve set up a DAO (decentralized autonomous organization), you can select *Project name*.dao. Once registered, your data will be on a public blockchain instead of stored on a private database owned by a DNS provider.
After registering, you can edit, transfer or link your domain to any crypto service you want, and Unstoppable Domains will never interfere.
Using your domain, you can also access websites on Opera and Brave browsers with an automatic DNS change in Chrome or through the Unstoppable extension available on Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Who Are Unstoppable Domains For?
Now, you may be asking yourself, should I buy an Unstoppable Domain? And the answer is it depends (though we definitely will be!)
There are a few reasons an Unstoppable domain may be for you.
Firstly, if you want to own your domain instead of renting it from a domain provider, not only does this work out cheaper (the average Unstoppable Domain sells for around $20), but it also gives you full peace of mind that the domain is yours and nobody can take that from you.
Secondly, if you use crypto and want access to the decentralized web. Web 3.0 is becoming a popular option amongst internet users who want to trade cryptocurrency and keep their data away from large corporations. An Unstoppable Domain will double down as your crypto wallet and give you access to web 3.0 without needing extensions.
Thirdly, if you just want to make a good investment. Since 2021 crypto domains have significantly grown in popularity, with over 1.4 million “.eth” domains registered. Although this is a significantly smaller number than the 359.8 million registered domain names, crypto domains are becoming more popular and selling for the highest prices since the crypto domain price peak in 2017.
If you’re a business owner on the fence about whether or not to buy, then taking action may not be a bad idea. As crypto domains continue to grow in popularity, their overall prices will increase too. Buying now could mean you bag a bargain and allow for easy crypto transactions in the future.
Instead of needing to send a complex code, your Unstoppable domain can act as your wallet, accepting over 280 crypto-related assets with the sender only needing your domain name. Your domain can then route the payment to your crypto wallets.
How Much are Unstoppable Domains?
Your domain’s total cost depends on the estimated value of the domain and the gas fees at the time of your transaction. Once these have been paid, you’ll never have to pay a renewal fee.
Domains themselves can range from $20 to over $1000.For example, choosing a popular word will likely increase the cost, and .crypto domains tend to cost more than .wallet or .dao options. The shorter the domain name, the more expensive it will be.
Unstoppable Domains have also released premium domains that can cost upwards of $10,000.
The second factor is the gas fees (transaction fee), as domains are stored on the Ethereum blockchain. Once purchased, you’ll need to claim your domain on the blockchain, which will vary in cost based on the Ether (ETH) price and the network congestion at the time. This typically costs around $50 though it will vary with market fluctuations.
Should You Replace Your Domain With An Unstoppable Domain?
Although crypto domains are growing in popularity, it’s important not to get ahead of yourself. There’s being early to the party, and then there’s being a little too early. Instead, it may be a good time to keep your traditional domain running and buy an Unstoppable domain for future use.
As each domain uses different technology, you won’t be able to update them simultaneously (though if there are any blockchain builders reading this, this could be a huge opportunity!) As a result, trying to manage both could be pretty time-consuming.
Nonetheless, as web 3.0 continues to grow, the importance of owning a crypto domain will also increase, especially if web 3.0 becomes the new norm.
Who Founded Unstoppable Domains
Unstoppable Domains is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2018 by Matthew Gould and Bogdan Gusiev. Initially designed as a link between web 2.0 and web 3.0, it shifted entirely into web 3.0.
Before starting Unstoppable Domains, Matthew (CEO) was a serial entrepreneur, building the first consumer rating system on Bitcoin, and Verified News, an Ethereum app that validates how truthful news stories are on the blockchain. Matthew formally worked at YC startup, Talkable and helped the company grow from just 5 to over 50 employees. Another one of his companies, Browseth, was recently awarded a grant from the Ethereum Foundation to build a front-end library for Ethereum development. Matthew is also a mentor with the ENS foundation, which helps to build the protocol layer for blockchain-based domains built on Ethereum.
Bogdan (CTO) came from a software background and worked from a junior developer to CTO in only 11 years. He works as an open-source developer and Kiev Ruby community member.
Pros and Cons of Unstoppable Domains
The concept of a crypto domain may seem a little overwhelming initially, and it helps to understand the benefits and detractions of this novel technology.
Pros
You Have Full Ownership
Unlike your .com alternatives, which are subject to legal jurisdiction and removal, your Unstoppable domain will be registered on a public blockchain, and you will have full ownership. This means you’re not at risk of being censored.
Single Purchase
Tired of unexpected renewal fees? Unstoppable Domains claims to remove them entirely. With a single, one-time purchase, the domain will be yours forever without needing to pay renewal fees. This is because domains work like an NFT, which will be stored in your wallet as proof of ownership.
Customization
Being the complete owner of the domain means you can do with it as you please. You can choose any design, theme, or content you want. Alternatively, you can choose to transfer it for a profit, which is significantly harder to do with a traditional domain.
Works As A Crypto Wallet
If you run a business that accepts cryptocurrency (or plan to), then your Unstoppable Domain will also work as a crypto wallet for you to accept payments. As of July 2022, over 280 types of cryptocurrency are supported.
Support for dApps
Unstoppable Domain websites natively support decentralized apps, which means they can be implemented and used without needing any extensions.
High Security
Blockchain technology is well known for its high level of security. Due to the nature of your site, cyber-attacks on your domain are almost impossible, giving you peace of mind that your site is safe from hackers.
Cons
Risk Of Not Becoming Mainstream
Crypto domains are still a relatively new concept, with the average internet user not knowing anything about them. As a result, there’s no way to know whether or not the mainstream market will adopt unstoppable Domains.
Not Fully Supported On Browsers
As of July 2022, Unstoppable Domains is somewhat limited regarding browser support. Domains are accepted on web browsers such as Brave and Opera, however, browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge require DNS modifications to access them. Unstoppable Domains have designed a free browser extension to solve this, though this is still a minor inconvenience.
Web Hosting Isn’t Practical
The process is a little complex if you want to host your standard website on your Unstoppable domain. You’ll need a decentralized peer-to-peer infrastructure for hosting, such as IPFS.
Public Perception
Although Unstoppable domains are more or less the same as traditional domains, many people still believe the site is only for crypto services. This goes back to our first con, as it delays the mainstream adoption rate.
How To Buy An Unstoppable Domain
Buying an unstoppable domain is pretty simple and works the same way as minting an NFT. If this sounds complex, don’t worry. It’s much easier than it sounds.
To get started, follow these steps or check out our guide on How To Buy A Crypto Domain for a more detailed overview.
- Head over to https://unstoppabledomains.com/.
- Sign in or create your account.
- Use the search bar at the top to search for the domain you want to buy.
- Add the domain to your cart and checkout.
- You can pay with Credit Card, PayPal, and Crypto.
- You’ll be sent an email to verify your identity.
- Once verified, you can claim your domain by choosing a wallet address.
- Claim this with your wallet, and you’ll now own your domain.
After claiming your domain, you can link your cryptocurrency addresses. For example, if you link your Ethereum address, people can send ETH to your Unstoppable domain instead of the numeric Ethereum address.
How To Sell Your Unstoppable Domain
So you’ve bought a crypto domain but decided you want to sell. There are two ways to do this; through the Unstoppable Domains website or through external markets such as OpenSea.
On Unstoppable Domains, head over to Manage for your minted domain, select Contact, and add your email address.
Then click on Sell Domain and save the changes.
This will display a “For sale by owner” tag next to your domain on the site, allowing users to email you to inquire.
Another way to sell your domain is through a third-party market such as Opensea or Mintable. To do this, follow our guide on how to sell your crypto domain in 7 easy steps.
Are Unstoppable Domains Safe?
Unstoppable domains are extremely safe and arguably safer than their traditional alternatives. Once you claim the domain, it’s registered under your address on the blockchain. This means nobody can hack your domain unless they hack the blockchain (which is virtually impossible).
In addition, no third party has the power to remove or censor your domain, meaning it’s never at risk of being down due to censorship.
To avoid scams, purchase your domain directly on the Unstoppable Domains website or through the official page for Unstoppable Domains on sites such as Opensea.
Final Thoughts Unstoppable Domains and the Future Of Domain Registrars
Unstoppable Domains uses the blockchain to bring the full power of domain ownership to the people for the first time since the internet was created.
Although still a relatively new concept, ownership and the value of crypto domains are on the rise. As more people look into crypto domains, crypto domain registrars such as Unstoppable Domains and ENS (Ethereum Name Service) remain at the forefront of Web 3.0 domain development, creating a friendlier way for people to own and trade crypto.
However, the platform remains somewhat misunderstood by the public. With many people believing it’s solely for crypto-related projects, mainstream adoption has slowed. So should you buy an Unstoppable Domain?
As cryptocurrency and crypto domains continue to influence society, the value of crypto domains will likely skyrocket as more domains are taken. Though it’s impossible to predict the future of cryptocurrency, it’s difficult to ignore the emergence of crypto domains and the ways blockchain technology can impact how we use the internet.
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