Opera users can now visit alt-root .crypto domain names from their browser.
Unstoppable Domains, a blockchain-based domain name system alternative, announced today that the Opera browser for Android will support its .crypto domain name.
.Crypto is an alternate-root domain name, meaning it’s not part of the domain name system that most people use. Users need to use a supported browser or browser plugin in order for the domains to resolve to a website.
Opera’s Android app is the first browser to support the domain names. The app already has a built-in crypto wallet, so it’s a natural fit for the domain. The app has been downloaded over 3 million times from the Google Play store.
Unstoppable Domains’ top level domains can also be accessed in Chrome if the user installs an extension.
Like most alt-root domain names, the biggest struggle to adoption is that the domains don’t work universally. While Unstoppable Domains faces this challenge, it has a unique advantage selling point compared to the alt-root challengers of decades ago: blockchain. Its domain names work with some cryptocurrency wallets in addition to functioning as website addresses, and it pitches its domains as immune from censorship.
Eventually, we should see a .crypto domain name on the “real” DNS. I suspect multiple parties will apply for the domain name in the next round of top level domain expansion. This will create a conflict with Unstoppable Domains’ .crypto domain.
Unstoppable Domains has 200,000 paid domain registrations across its top level domains, which include .zil and .crypto.
Someone needs to make an app that routes crypto addresses from any domain name. Attach your wallet address to your domain name so you just have to tell someone your domain name instead of a wallet address for payment.