Key Takeaways
- Unstoppable Domains and Kintsugi Global plan to register for the first DNS-enabled Web3 domains focused on anime and manga through an application with ICANN.
- Unstoppable Domains and Kintsugi Global Seek to Transform Digital Identity in the Anime and Manga Communities with .anime and .manga Domains
- Kintsugi, recently selected for Japan’s $1 billion DigiDen initiative, becomes the first anime and manga platform to establish a Web3-centric, DNS-enabled domain in anticipation of next year’s ICANN gTLD initiative
Unstoppable Domains and Kintsugi Global, a prominent Japanese Web3 service provider, plans to register for the first DNS-enabled Web3 domains focused on anime and manga through an application with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The proposed domains, “.anime” and “.manga,” aim to create a unique digital landscape that both honors and elevates these vibrant cultural exports.
The collaboration between the San Francisco-based Unstoppable Domains and Tokyo’s Kintsugi Global reflects a significant step forward in integrating Web3 domains into the legacy Domain Name System (DNS).
By targeting legacy Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs), they seek to position these new domains alongside well-established ones like .com and .net, marking a critical development in digital branding strategies.
Last year, the two companies unveiled the animedomains.com digital marketplace, which focused on these specialized Web3 domains. The timing of their ICANN submission coincides with ICANN’s forthcoming six-year registration window, anticipated to commence next year.
Kintsugi Global, in conjunction with its support for Japan’s Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation (DigiDen), announced plans to launch a new platform for anime and manga creators. This platform is designed to leverage blockchain technology for content distribution, ensuring creators retain control over their intellectual property. This initiative will also enhance fan engagement through Web3 communities and digital collectibles, aligning with the broader goals of the .anime and .manga domains.
“Our pursuit of the .anime and .manga Web3 domains through this ICANN application represents Kintsugi’s commitment to empowering creators, cultivating global fan communities, and uniting the worldwide anime and manga cultures under distinctive digital identities they can proudly claim,” Kintsugi’s CEO Ron Scovil, said in a statement.
If ICANN approves their application, these domains will not only join the ranks of established top-level domains but will also pioneer a new model for community-centric digital identities.
Sandy Carter, COO of Unstoppable Domains, highlighted the potential impact, saying, “These domains will provide invaluable digital real estate, enhancing the branding potential of creators and fan engagement.”
This application is part of a broader strategy by Unstoppable Domains to bridge the gap between Web3 domains and their Web2 equivalents, or “twins.” By integrating into the established DNS, Unstoppable aims to provide a seamless transition for businesses and individuals eager to engage with the decentralized web, thereby broadening the appeal and accessibility of Web3 technologies.
Update: Unstoppable Domains and Kintsugi Global have not submitted the application, as earlier mentioned. They have planned to submit the application. Updated on 20 June 2024, 9:30 pm UTC.
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