Unstoppable Domains scraps ICANN plans after web3 domain sales fall short

Unstoppable Domains has abandoned plans to seek ICANN recognition for several of its original web3 domain extensions and has begun refunding customers who bought names after the company committed to pursuing the 2026 application round. Summary Unstoppable Domains did not submit ICANN applications for several original web3 extensions and has begun refunding affected customers. Founder Matthew Gould said ICANN compliance, application and bidding costs were higher than the sales the company expected from the domains. The reversal comes six months after Unstoppable committed to applying for extensions including .crypto, .wallet, .NFT, .Bitcoin and .DAO. Existing web3 domains will remain onchain assets for crypto transactions, while Unstoppable continues supporting ICANN applications for other partners. Unstoppable Domains founder Matthew Gould said on Aug. 26 that the company did not submit applications for its web3 top-level domains after concluding that ICANN compliance, application and potential bidding costs would exceed the sales it expected from the extensions. The decision reverses a commitment made only six months earlier. On Feb. 17, Unstoppable said it intended to apply for I...