Unstoppable Domains withdraws 14 Web3 TLD applications from ICANN

Unstoppable Domains has announced it will not proceed with ICANN applications for 14 top-level domains (TLDs), including .crypto, .bitcoin, and .nft. The company cited high costs and regulatory hurdles as primary reasons for the decision. Each ICANN gTLD application carries an evaluation fee of approximately $227,000, meaning the company would have faced over $2 million in base fees alone for its nine proprietary TLDs.

Beyond direct fees, the company noted that ICANN’s integration requirements would necessitate registering all existing Web3 names within the traditional DNS system and requiring the disclosure of registrant information. Unstoppable Domains stated it would not pass these operational costs or privacy requirements on to its 4 million existing holders. CEO Matthew Gould characterized the Web3 domain market as a niche sector, suggesting that the 2021 crypto bubble had led to an overestimation of demand.

While withdrawing from many major extensions, the company is still moving forward with five specific TLD applications: .agi, .robot, .gram, .hub, and .xmr.

To mitigate impact, Unstoppable Domains has established a refund policy for certain users. Customers who purchased specific domains after designated dates in 2024 and 2025 are eligible for refunds. The refund request window is scheduled from August 25, 2026, to September 25, 2026, with processing expected within 28 days.