Ethereum’s ENS Unveils .box Web Domain, Empowering Blockchain-Powered Browsing

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is set to revolutionize web browsing by introducing the .box web domain name in September. This groundbreaking move will bring blockchain technology to browsers, providing users with a unique and decentralized browsing experience.

Ethereum Name Service (ENS): Revolutionizing Web Domain Names

The announcement was made by Nick Johnson, the founder and lead developer of ENS, in an enthusiastic tweet. He enthusiastically announced the groundbreaking news that my.box .box would become the pioneer Blockchain native DNS-routable TLD powered by Ethereum Name Service. 

So excited that this is now public: https://t.co/e3EWElUrPn

.box will be the first Blockchain native DNS-routable TLD, and it's enabled via ENS! All registrations and transfers will be onchain, and the owner of the NFT will own both the DNS and ENS names.

— nick.eth (@nicksdjohnson) June 7, 2023

Johnson clarified that all registrations and transfers would occur on-chain, granting NFT owners full ownership of DNS and ENS names.

As the news spread, questions arose within the community regarding potential challenges and limitations. One user asked Johnson about the possibility of the FBI demanding control over the .box DNS resolver and redirecting it to their standard takedown page.

Johnson responded candidly, stating, “I don’t think the FBI has ever tried to seize a whole TLD before. It seems unlikely!” He added that the specific plans of the my.box team in such a scenario remain unknown. However, Johnson emphasized that if someone seizes a name, they would also lose the associated NFT.

Another user inquired about the censorship resistance of .box on ENS, comparing it to the .eth domain. Johnson clarified that unlike .eth, which operates under a decentralized model, .box would be subject to regulations imposed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

He explained that ICANN requires adherence to an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP). These policies enable the seizure of names if deemed necessary.

Despite these limitations, Johnson expressed his delight in having .box as the pioneer of blockchain-native DNS-routable top-level domains (TLDs) enabled by ENS. He highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3, bringing decentralized use cases to a broader audience.

Johnson’s statement emphasized the commitment to making decentralized naming a simple and widely adopted standard through the ENS platform.

Introducing the .box web domain signifies a significant step toward integrating blockchain technology into everyday web browsing. By leveraging the power of Ethereum Name Service, users will have greater control over their online presence while expanding the reach of decentralized applications.

However, experts anticipate that this innovation will pave the way for future advancements in the integration of blockchain. It will also contribute to the ongoing evolution of the internet as we know it.

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