Unstoppable Domains is a company that provides blockchain-based domain names — aptly named. The San Francisco-based company started by providing domains ending in .crypto (based on Ethereum) and .zil (based on the Zilliqa blockchain). In 2021, Unstoppable Domains added more domain name choices, including .blockchain, .bitcoin, .dao, .nft and .coin.
These domain names are registered on the blockchain, making them censorship-resistant and permanent. Unlike traditional domain names in which the host can pull them down, blockchain-based domains are yours forever once you acquire them. You only pay a one-time fee for blockchain-based domain names and you don’t ever need to renew it.
Domains from Unstoppable Domains are minted and sold as NFTs. They feature infrastructure that enables people to transact cryptocurrency using a human-readable name — instead of the rather unwieldy alphanumeric string of characters representing public keys.
The platform reported in February 2022 that it issued over two million registered domains, and nearly 150 projects have also added support for NFT domains.
About Unstoppable Domains
The goal of Unstoppable Domains is to ultimately create a more decentralized web.
Unstoppable Domains grants users domain names that can’t be controlled or censored. The domain owner is entirely in charge of the domain, and not even the provider can influence any aspect of the domain. Users pay a one-time fee and do not need to renew the subscription — hence the tagline “domains with superpowers.”
Unstoppable Domains lets crypto wallet holders use their domains to make cryptocurrency transactions. The technology provides simple usernames to replace lengthy and error-prone public addresses that are made of numbers and letters.
Unstoppable Domains blockchain and currency
All the domains offered on Unstoppable Domains are on the Ethereum blockchain and Polygon Network, except .zil which is on Zilliqa.
As of 2022, Unstoppable Domains does not have its own native token, and there is no mention by the development team of one in the pipeline.
Unstoppable Domains accepts core cryptocurrencies for payment: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ethereum.
What types of NFTs are available on Unstoppable Domains
The NFTs on Unstoppable Domains are web extensions, either on the Ethereum blockchain, Polygon Network or Zilliqa.
When you buy a domain on the platform, you own the domain for life — unless you sell it, of course, which you can do on Unstoppable domains or on the secondary market.
The NFT domains on Unstoppable Domains have self-custody, meaning you have total control over your purchased domain. Self-custody NFT domains have these “superpowers”:
- Your domain can’t be seized by any third party
- You can enable decentralized applications or websites
- You can transfer the domain anywhere without permission from a third party
- You can add crypto addresses to the domain
In short, you’re the sole owner of your domain, and the NFT domain is an asset that’s stored in your crypto wallet.
Unstoppable Domains fees
Unstoppable Domains doesn’t charge any renewal fees to keep possession of your domains.
There are gas fees when purchasing domains, and prices can be anywhere from $100 to $15,000 a pop. However, when minting on the Polygon Network, there are no minting fees or gas fees.
How the Unstoppable Domains app works?
Unstoppable Domains does have a mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. The app is free to install, and allows you to mint new domains, manage your assets, view your domain details and more.
The Google Play app store shows a 3.5-star rating, and Apple’s store shows a 2.7-star rating — both pretty mediocre overall ratings.
Many users cite frequent app crashes, NFT claims railing and issues managing domains. The iOS app has considerably more one-star reviews than the Google Play store.
Is Unstoppable Domains legit?
Unstoppable Domains is a legitimate NFT marketplace for buying and selling domains. It launched in 2018, and the general consensus is that it’s a secure site with no evidence of a sitewide hack as of June 2022.
Since domains from Unstoppable Domains are decentralized, they are considered safer than traditional domains. These domains are more protected against privacy breaches or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which is network attack in which a server or network is targeted and overwhelmed with fake traffic.
However, since your NFT domains are stored in your crypto wallet, keeping your assets secure is largely your responsibility. If you lose access to your wallet, your private key is compromised, you could lose your NFT domain forever.
Whenever you’re dealing with cryptocurrency or NFTs, wallet security is a must, regardless of the platform you use to buy those assets.
Bottom line
Unstoppable Domains is attempting to make the concept of blockchain and cryptocurrency more friendly to users. By supporting simple and user-friendly addresses, a decentralized web is the next frontier in blockchain, and companies like Unstoppable Domains are at the forefront of manifesting that reality.
Buying an NFT domain can be useful for businesses or blockchain developers that want to skip yearly renewal fees, and convenient for those that send and receive crypto on a daily basis. But if you’re a casual crypto enthusiast, gamer or simple investor, an NFT domain probably isn’t necessary.
