The ApeCoin community has unanimously agreed to pursue the registration of ".APE" as a new top-level domain (TLD) with ICANN, the global authority on IP addresses and domain names. This initiative, part of ICANN's plan to introduce new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) by 2026, is led by the ApeCoin Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) in collaboration with Web3 domain experts D3. The goal is to establish the .APE TLD as a real-world asset (RWA).
With overwhelming support from the ApeCoin community, the proposal garnered 91.68% of votes in favor, with 8.32% against. Fred Hsu, co-founder and CEO of D3, outlined plans to create interoperable DNS domain names suitable for Web1, Web2, and Web3 platforms. D3 will spearhead the application process to ICANN, a task expected to take about a year.
Alongside registering the .APE TLD, D3 aims to offer Ape-linked name tokens as direct Web3 identifiers. Hsu envisions D3 connecting over 5 billion Web2 users to the Web3 domain, revolutionizing traditional domain ownership. He anticipates substantial revenue potential for the .APE domain, emphasizing its role as digital real estate and a recurring revenue source.
Under the agreement, revenue generated from Ape name tokens and the .APE TLD will be evenly split between ApeCoin DAO and D3. It's important to note that while individuals cannot "own" a TLD, ICANN grants exclusive operating and monetization rights to each top-level domain through renewable contracts every ten years. The initiative requires a total investment of 3 million ApeCoin, with D3 responsible for ongoing technical and operational management of the .APE namespace.
Recent developments in the domain industry, such as partnerships between GoDaddy and blockchain-based platforms like Ethereum Name Service (ENS), aim to integrate Web3 domains with existing DNS top-level domains. These collaborations seek to streamline domain management and promote interoperability between Web2 and Web3 ecosystems, marking significant progress in the convergence of domain names and blockchain technology.
