Unstoppable Domains, one of the leading providers of Web3 domains, announced it will launch a messaging service for domain owners at the end of 2023. The messaging service will include those who minted their domain to a wallet address, be completely encrypted, and have several safety features, including the ability to block certain users.
Sandy Carter, Unstoppable Domains’ COO and Head of Business Development, said in a statement that the messaging service will allow apps, games, and metaverses to build more vibrant and cohesive communities across the decentralized Web3 landscape. In addition, she added that the company is “thrilled” to help its partners connect with their communities.
In a blog post on the Unstoppable Domains website, the company lists four major features of the new messaging service: the ability to message domain holders, connection with your community, privacy, and safety features. With the messaging service, users will be able to “freely exchange ideas, collaborate on projects,” and form relationships with other domain holders.
Over the past two months, Unstoppable Domains has rolled out new features designed to help Web3 members build concrete digital identities. Two of its partnerships include Opera, the web browser, and Polygon, the L2 Ethereum scaling solution. Unstoppable Domains’ Web3 messaging service will run on Polygon.
When asked about why the company chose Polygon for its messaging service, a representative cited Unstoppable Domains’ extensive partnership with the company behind the blockchain. They added that Polygon has a large ecosystem, with dApps, games, Web2 companies, and an engaged community of blockchain enthusiasts.
“Messaging will allow [the blockchain enthusiasts] to communicate with subgroups within that broad community, so that Polygon dApps and others can stay up-to-date on the information they care most about,” the representative told Rarity Sniper in an email.
Sandy Carter, COO and Head of Business Development at Unstoppable Domains, added that Unstoppable Messaging will let people “send encrypted messages to other domain owners, target messages to specific badge holders, stay up to date on your favorite projects, and more. A home run for us would be for Unstoppable Messaging to be a central platform that allows people to connect with the brands they care about and to strengthen their communities in Web3.”
Web3 Domain Names Surge in 2022 and 2023
While 2022 saw a general slump in the non-fungible token market, Web3 domain names retained their popularity and profitability. Sales for Unstoppable Domains domain extensions and Ethereum Name Service domains continued, surprising even some experienced on-lookers. Here are three stories we covered in 2022 and 2023 involving Web3 domains and the companies that sell them.
First, two months ago, Unstoppable Domains partnered with Ready Player Me to allow users to create digital identities that are interoperable across metaverses. Through the partnership, users can now create avatars and take them across the over 6,000 different virtual worlds in the Ready Player Me ecosystem.
Next, seven months ago, Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domain names rose to the top spot on NFT marketplace OpenSea. Over a 24-hour period at that time, ENS trading volume jumped 105%, outpacing even blue-chip collections like the Bored Ape Yacht Club. One jaw-dropping statistic: One month prior to that story, ENS accounted for 99% of the domain trading volume on that marketplace.
Lastly, eight months ago, Unstoppable Domains announced it had raised $65 million in Series A funding at a $1 billion valuation. Participants in the round included Pantera Capital, Mayfield, Alchemy Ventures, and Gaingels. At the time, Unstoppable Domains had 2.5 million registered domains and more than $80 million in sales.
Unstoppable Domains’ new messaging service will likely appeal to some domain owners who want to form relationships in the Web3 community. Here at Rarity Sniper, we’ll pay close attention for any further developments in the story.