Brave, the privacy-focused browser, has introduced the “.brave” domain, becoming the first browser to offer its own blockchain-based top-level domain.
Developed in partnership with Unstoppable Domains, this new digital identity tool aims to replace complicated cryptocurrency addresses with easy-to-remember names, streamlining how users interact with Web3 applications.
Users can mint .brave domains as NFTs on the Polygon blockchain, securing ownership without the hassle of renewal fees.
These domains work across multiple blockchain networks, including Sonic, Solana, Ethereum, Base, and Bitcoin, allowing a seamless experience regardless of the underlying chain.
More notably, .brave domains enable hosting of decentralised websites on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), accessible directly within the Brave browser, eliminating reliance on traditional hosting services.
Brian Bondy, Brave’s CTO and co-founder, explains,
“Our mission is to put privacy, ownership, and control back in the hands of users. .brave is more than a domain—it’s a user-owned identity layer, native to the Brave ecosystem.”
Starting with version 1.81, currently in Nightly builds and expected to release by 5 August 2025, .brave domains will resolve natively within the Brave Browser and Brave Wallet.
This direct resolution removes the need for browser extensions or third-party DNS systems, which often complicate access to blockchain domains on conventional browsers.
Despite blockchain domains struggling to gain traction on mainstream browsers due to their operation outside ICANN’s regulated DNS, Brave and Unstoppable Domains are aiming to change that.
The two companies are actively exploring ICANN registration for .brave as a generic top-level domain (gTLD), which would enable it to function smoothly across both traditional Web2 and decentralised Web3 environments as early as 2026.
The .brave domain is designed to simplify cryptocurrency payments by replacing lengthy wallet addresses with human-readable names.
Users can claim their personalised .brave names through Unstoppable Domains and use them within Brave Wallet for easier transactions.
Additionally, users can build verifiable onchain identities through the platform UD.me, showcasing digital assets and public credentials to the wider Brave community.
The domain also integrates with Unstoppable’s ecosystem, which offers features like secure messaging, domain trading on the Unstoppable Marketplace, and effortless access to decentralised applications, games, and metaverses via Login with Unstoppable.
Sandy Carter, COO of Unstoppable Domains, stated,
“This is a bold leap toward an open internet. .brave puts digital identity in the hands of everyday users, not platforms,”
While Brave holds around a 1% share of the browser market, with over 85 million monthly active users, it remains a smaller player compared to giants like Google Chrome and Safari.
Still, its focus on privacy and blockchain integration sets it apart.
As part of the .brave rollout, Unstoppable Domains will join Brave’s Rewards 3.0 Partner Program, which expands the use of Brave’s Basic Attention Token (BAT).
With more than 99% of BAT’s 1.5 billion supply already in circulation, the token ranks as the 14th most held on Ethereum and is accepted by 1.5 million verified creators globally.
If successful in obtaining ICANN accreditation, the .brave domain would become one of the few blockchain-based domains recognised on the wider internet, bridging the gap between traditional and decentralised web systems.
This move could significantly boost user control over digital identity, allowing .brave domains to operate seamlessly in everyday internet browsing and Web3 spaces alike.
This development is part of Brave and Unstoppable Domains’ shared vision to expand ownership and privacy in the digital world, giving users a more straightforward way to manage their online presence without sacrificing security or control.
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