Unstoppable Domains drops ICANN plans, offers refunds

Unstoppable Domains has dropped plans to seek ICANN recognition for its own Web3 domain extensions after finding that compliance, application, and auction costs would exceed the sales it expected to recover. Summary Unstoppable Domains did not apply for its Web3 extensions during ICANN’s 2026 round. Customers who bought affected blockchain domains will receive refunds, according to founder Matthew Gould. ICANN received more than 1,600 primary applications during its 15-week submission period. The company remains involved as a service provider for applications including Telegram’s proposed .gram domain. Unstoppable Domains says ICANN costs became too high Unstoppable Domains said it did not submit ICANN applications for nine of its Web3 extensions, including .crypto, .wallet and .blockchain, before the 2026 application round closed. The decision ends its plan to add conventional DNS support to the affected blockchain-based domains. According to the company’s founder, Matthew Gould, the expected cost of compliance, preparing each application, and competing in possible auctions exceeded the amount Unstoppable believed it could recover through domain sales. ICANN may place applicants i...