poll Will Blockchains replace DNS?

[Internet.Domains]

Will new technologies, such as blockchains, replace the current Domain Name System (DNS)?

There is a current project called "Handshake" (HNS) that is proposing to use it's blockchain to replace the current root servers and root zone files. This system would completely bypass current registries, such as Verisign, and completely bypass ICANN. The idea is to create a decentralized authority bypassing ICANN's centralized and abusive powers.

The proposal goes on to say that domains will be auctioned and effectively anyone can end up running their own decentralized registry via blockchain.

Also of interest is that within the protocol the dots, such as "." will not be needed. As HNS described, someone could bid for "BruceLee" and the browser would recognize this by entering "BruceLee/".

This proposal seems to be getting some momentum with some big names in the technology and VC sphere being early adopters.

More from those proposing "Handshake."

"How do Handshake domains work?


Handshake domains work just like the centralized ICANN domain system, with a few key exceptions. In the world of domains, stuff like “com” “net” and “org” are referred to as Generic Top Level Domains or TLDs. In addition to those ones, there are new TLDs like .pizza or .business, and Country Code TLDs like .io (Indian Ocean) or .ly (Libya). ICANN decides, through a complicated auction and voting process, what top level domains will be approved, and then individual domain registrars who own those TLDs get to sell access to the subdomains on top of them.

On Handshake, *anyone* can register a new TLD, without having to ask for anyone elses permission! So in the beginning on Handshake there is likely to be a rush to register TLDs that will be in demand for people who want to put subdomains on top of them. For example, if you registered “lee” on Handshake, then say Bruce Lee could come and buy bruce.lee from you! So that will probably be where most people direct their attention initially.

However, because anyone can register a tld, another option is to simply USE tlds as your domain. So for example, bruce lee can just register “brucelee” and use it, sans any subdomains. This is pretty awesome, but its also a new pattern for users, and they will have to get used to it. Browsers will also have to choose to adopt allowing bare TLDs instead of assuming they are search terms (currently if you type brucelee into a browser, it won’t do a DNS lookup but will just google brucelee for you). That said, if you enter "brucelee/" your browser will correctly recognize that as a domain. We believe that browsers will offer optional support for this pretty quickly (Brave is already [evaluating](https://twitter.com/BrendanEich/status/1036389193864208384)), and perhaps some will make it the default soon, but in the beginning domains that follow the “thing.domain” pattern will be most in demand because they will simply “work” with existing browsers, as long as users point their DNS at a handshake-supporting server, or if the large DNS servers begin to support Handshake domains."

Handshake white paper:
https://namebase.io/handshake-whitepaper/

 

[Internet.Domains]

I wonder how “name” without a (.) would stand up to name.com? I’d say it’s no contest. At the end of the day we’re dealing with the internet and companies need to be found.

Consumers would obviously need to be aware, but potentially we could see:

"Name/" vs. "Name.com"

"Name/" would be completely owned and controlled by the owner with a private key. "Name.com" is leased with pages of ToS.

A blockchain decentralized internet could bring great opportunity to early domain investors.

 

[Keith]

A blockchain decentralized internet could bring great opportunity to early domain investors.

Handshake isn’t the internet though. They are one company of many companies attempting to utilize blockchain tech. In the online world they are a drop of water in the ocean.

There is zero chance they can undo what’s taken decades to establish. Not to mention changing the minds of billions of people and the trillions of dollars poured into the ecosystem. The millions handshake might raise to operate in totality is less than some .com CEOs get as yearly bonuses.

 

[BaileyUK]

it's Six of One And half-a-dozen of the other. And I think most of us can read between the lines...

Lets face it. you can pretty much bolt-on anything in your own network - Global amendments ?? Unlikely in the foreseeable future

 

[Internet.Domains]

Handshake isn’t the internet though. They are one company of many companies attempting to utilize blockchain tech. In the online world they are a drop of water in the ocean.

There is zero chance they can undo what’s taken decades to establish. Not to mention changing the minds of billions of people and the trillions of dollars poured into the ecosystem. The millions handshake might raise to operate in totality is less than some .com CEOs get as yearly bonuses.

I understand it's a long stretch, but it is not reinventing the wheel. HNS would use some familiar architecture to implement their protocol. Browsers would have to accept the protocol and ultimately the public.

Of course when DNS became mainstream we still didn't have, or know what @ or # is. Now you can't find a millennial who doesn't know what @ or # is.

Name.com
@Name
#NAME
Name/

Maybe Name/ will not be that far fetched.

 

[Rob Monster]

I'm underwhelmed with you not addressing actual points brought up here and the other thread, instead going on with conspiracy speak. I read what you said about the Christian guy breaking the law and catching the arrow. You thought it was some government PSYOP. I mean really. Also, you use these threads as promotion for your products.

To "JB":

First of all, you should be happy about my efforts to support Unstoppable domains as it will sustain .COM domains for a long time to come as more individuals can pay retail to own them. I am encouraging our retail clients to buy Forever .COM and they are doing it.

If you do choose to offensively engage me on a thread, you can be assured that I reserve the right to respond. Why? Because you are not actually my audience. You just drive up page views and turn threads into trending threads. You see how that works?

To All:

Domains and DNS are under siege. Domains are free speech. Those who don't want free speech aim to centralize everything so that the takedown process is efficient with no opportunity for repeal or public rebuttal. Decentralization of domains is a natural immune response to tyranny. Fact.

For anyone under the illusion that the Southern Poverty Law Center is a credible organization, you can be assured that it is not, and has not been for some time. They are fully onboard with censorship and doing away with constitutional rights. Prager U did a good job explaining it in this 5 minute video.

Too many people have sampled freedom on the Internet. There is no going back. Either it remains free, or the Netizens will invent around it. As CEO of an ICANN-accredited registrar, I am betting on the continuation of the existing namespace model and am actively reinforcing it as much as I can.

 

[Internet.Domains]

I am betting on the continuation of the existing namespace model and am actively reinforcing it as much as I can.

Completely understood. I believe, and one can tell by the poll, most agree with you on that point.

 

[JB Lions]

To "JB":

First of all, you should be happy about my efforts to support Unstoppable domains as it will sustain .COM domains for a long time to come as more individuals can pay retail to own them. I am encouraging our retail clients to buy Forever .COM and they are doing it.

If you do choose to offensively engage me on a thread, you can be assured that I reserve the right to respond. Why? Because you are not actually my audience. You just drive up page views and turn threads into trending threads. You see how that works.

I know I'm not your audience, it's cheaper just to have them on auto-renew. Think we went over the math in the other thread, it seemed most thought it was ridiculous - https://www.namepros.com/threads/would-you-like-to-own-a-domain-name-forever.1106617/

Just like we went over the Escrow math. You hopped in that thread, then we looked at the math and you never came back to reply, you can now - https://www.namepros.com/threads/ep...s-fees-knowledge-thread.1112364/#post-7016980

Prager U is a known joke btw. Get some paid off by fossil fuel company scientists to deny climate change type of nonsense.

 

[BaileyUK]

Well I'm going to say you are attempting to reinvent the wheel, and a very young wheel.

give it another 30 to 40 years and you'll not only have something in maturity that could seek redress but with the ability to make seamless amendments..The DNS is no where near enough to maturity to think its up for playing around with - blimey look how long https took us

 

[Internet.Domains]

Well I'm going to say you are attempting to reinvent the wheel, and a very young wheel.

give it another 30 to 40 years and you'll not only have something in maturity that could seek redress but with the ability to make seamless amendments..The DNS is no where near enough to maturity to think its up for playing around with - blimey look how long https took us

Just for the record, I am not affiliated or part of any project pertaining. I am not selling it. I see pros and cons and think its worthy of discussion and something to keep an eye on as a domain investor.

 

[BaileyUK]

I accept your neutrality in discussion, then your also aware that half-the-world lives on what the other half is playing catch-up on. The internet system is there for development, I personally feel there are far better priorities and benefits to work with what we have, than to take it into a further 'naming/concept/security futures for the time being...And I think the market knows that.

The vulnerable isn't the net, just the bloody individual

 

[Rob Monster]

I know I'm not your audience, it's cheaper just to have them on auto-renew. Think we went over the math in the other thread, it seemed most thought it was ridiculous - https://www.namepros.com/threads/would-you-like-to-own-a-domain-name-forever.1106617/

Just like we went over the Escrow math. You hopped in that thread, then we looked at the math and you never came back to reply, you can now - https://www.namepros.com/threads/ep...s-fees-knowledge-thread.1112364/#post-7016980

Prager U is a known joke btw. Get some paid off by fossil fuel company scientists to deny climate change type of nonsense.

You are off topic but to clarify:

1. On Forever (and soon Unstoppable) domains, the economics make sense for people who value their time, don't want to lose a strategic domains, and are not managing 100,000 domains.

2. On escrow, our rates are great. In fact, on Monday you will see an announcement about that one. We have a fast-growing escrow product -- already our #2 business and very synergistic.

As for SPLC, maybe you would prefer the Washington Post:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...ab7d60-756d-11e8-9780-b1dd6a09b549_story.html

The SPLC just paid Maajid $3.3 million. Of course this is all theater and funny money but you will find plenty of damning evidence about the SPLC.

And now the RICO and class-actions are coming:

https://cis.org/Press-Release/CIS-RICO-Lawsuit-SPLC

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/201...center-could-be-hit-with-60-lawsuit-landslide

 

[Internet.Domains]

I accept your neutrality in discussion, then your also aware that half-the-world lives on what the other half is playing catch-up on. The internet system is there for development, I personally feel there are far better priorities and benefits to work with what we have, than to take it into a further 'naming/concept/security futures for the time being...And I think the market knows that

While I agree to an extent, I feel the market is loving all things "decentralized" in this era. Will it stick? Time will tell.

 

[BaileyUK]

Nope your thinking about Politicians Not the same thing

 

[Internet.Domains]

Nope your thinking about Politicians Not the same thing

No, I was thinking and speaking of economics and business trends.

 

[BaileyUK]

We only get outside the bed the way our politics drive us. Sorry i took it off topic.

There will be change, as always - some are just too early to the start gate imho

 

[lock]

I am going to bank on it with ServerChain. The fact is they will run out of ip addresses.

 

[Yusupbabay]

what benefits will the domain investor get if the HNS system is implemented?

 

[lock]

what benefits will the domain investor get if the HNS system is implemented?

The fact that the ip range will have too many numbers dots and combinations they need a system that can use to assign addresses to. Won't be any benefits other than not running out of numbers

 

[Yusupbabay]

The fact that the ip range will have too many numbers dots and combinations they need a system that can use to assign addresses to. Won't be any benefits other than not running out of numbers

after the ip address runs out, there will be an increase in the price of the domain.

 

[Internet.Domains]

what benefits will the domain investor get if the HNS system is implemented?

If HNS is implemented there will be an auction. More specifically they would implement a blind second-price auction, also known as a Vickrey Auction.

The largest benefit would be complete ownership of the domain. The domain owner would be the registry, no renewals and ToS.