A discussion about integrating existing web3 namespaces with new top level domains.
This year’s batch of new top level domains (TLDs) includes several that have clear ties to web3, such as .crypto and .nft. At the same time, for many years web3 projects have operated alternative root “domains” on blockchain-based naming systems that mirror or resemble those TLDs. That overlap raises important practical and policy questions: when an alt-root, blockchain-based namespace wants to align with a corresponding ICANN-managed TLD, how should that integration work? And within ICANN’s rules, how can registry operators add web3 functionality while preserving the stability and security of the Domain Name System?
Those questions were the focus of a technical study group convened by ICANN earlier this year. The group examined real-world scenarios and technical mechanisms for bringing these two naming worlds into compatibility without undermining the global DNS. Their work explored interoperability models, collision risks, and governance approaches for allowing web3-style name resolution and metadata while respecting DNS protocol requirements.
On today’s episode of the Domain Name Wire podcast, one of the study group members explains the group’s findings and the practical implications for registries, registrars, and web3 projects. Don Ruiz, general manager of Orange Domains, joined the discussion. Orange Domains operates the .locker TLD, a string that originated in ICANN’s 2012 expansion, and the company has been working on web3 integrations that illustrate the real challenges and opportunities in this space.
The group considered scenarios such as a blockchain registry that has long issued names under an alt-root label matching a newly delegated TLD, and whether or how the blockchain-based records could be reconciled with the DNS. Technical options include running parallel systems that map blockchain identifiers to DNS records, defining canonical authorities for particular name spaces, and using DNSSEC and signed metadata to ensure authenticity. Equally important are policy and contractual questions: how do registries and registrars coordinate transfers, prevent name collisions, and protect consumer expectations?
ICANN’s study highlighted the need for clear operational safeguards. Any integration must avoid creating conflicting name resolutions across the internet, must respect delegated authority in the DNS root, and should provide transparent mechanisms for dispute resolution when the same label exists in both systems. The study group emphasized that web3 innovators and legacy DNS operators can find practical, interoperable approaches—but only with careful technical design and sound governance agreements.
From a business perspective, many stakeholders are watching to see how newly delegated TLDs with web3-oriented strings will enter the root zone and what kind of demand will follow. Some companies that have already used blockchain-based naming see opportunity to migrate or interoperate with ICANN-sanctioned TLDs; others will likely continue to operate in alternate roots and niche ecosystems. How these transitions happen will shape brand protection strategies, secondary markets, and the broader evolution of naming on the internet.
Beyond the technical study, the episode touches on several other industry developments, including trademark enforcement concerns, new TLD activations, the role of identity platforms like Known, and questions about consolidation in the registrar and registry market. These topics reflect how naming, identity, and intellectual property issues intersect as both DNS and web3 naming systems evolve.
Listen to the full discussion for a deeper dive into the study group’s recommendations and the practical steps registries and web3 operators can take to align systems safely. The podcast episode includes interviews with practitioners and covers real examples that illustrate both the complexity and the potential for constructive integration.
Sponsor: Spaceship
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:05 — 27.3MB)
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Subscribe via Apple Podcasts to listen to the Domain Name Wire podcast on your iPhone, or click play above to begin listening. Previous episodes and archives provide additional context on naming policy, registry operations, and web3 integrations.