Brave unveils .brave onchain domain service for 85M+ users

Brave browser has launched its first blockchain-based domain name services in collaboration with Unstoppable Domain. The .brave domain services will be available to all its over 80 million users around the world.

Brave aims to give users more control over their online identity, simplifying Web3 activities like sending crypto or visiting decentralized websites. All .brave domain names are native to the Polygon network, yet they’re accessible via Ethereum, Bitcoin, Solana, Base, Sonic, and others.

A domain name serves as a web address, simplifying the process by providing a memorable alternative to the numerical sequence known as an IP address.

A decentralized domain name, like .brave, operates differently. As a blockchain-based domain, it is more resistant to censorship and takedowns. The first decentralized domain name service, the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), launched in May 2017.

Unstoppable Domains was one of the first companies to sell decentralized domain names such as .crypto, .wallet, and now .brave. These domains are owned by buyers forever with no renewal fees.

The Brave browser is a privacy-focused web browser built on Chromium, the same base as Chrome, but designed to protect users from surveillance. It also includes built-in crypto tools like the Brave Wallet and Brave Rewards, allowing users to earn tokens (BAT) for viewing ads.

Brian Bondy, Brave’s co-founder and CTO, stated that the company aims to return control, privacy, and ownership to users. He noted that .brave is a new kind of identity that users truly own, not just a web address.

Sandy Carter, the COO of Unstoppable Domains, mentioned that this launch contributes to making the internet more open by empowering users rather than big platforms.

Brave announced that the Brave browser and wallet will fully support the newly unveiled domains starting with version 1.81, which will be fully active by August 5, 2025.

Additionally, users can create a digital profile using UD.me, where they can display their digital assets, connected wallets, and credentials.

In a blog post, Unstoppable stated that

“As part of the rollout, Unstoppable Domains will join Brave’s Rewards 3.0 Partner Program, further expanding the reach of the Basic Attention Token (BAT). With over 99% of BAT’s 1.5 billion supply in circulation, BAT now ranks as the 14th most held token on Ethereum and is accepted by 1.5 million verified creators worldwide.”

In the near future, Brave announced that it is collaborating with Unstoppable to secure ICANN approval for the .brave domain. ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, manages domain names and IP addresses online. If approved, the .brave domain will function across both traditional websites (Web2) and decentralized ones (Web3).