Securing Generic Top-Level Domains for the Cardano Ecosystem
On-chain changes
Informational action. No on-chain effect; the vote signals opinion only.
Abstract
The Cardano Foundation is seeking community support to apply for the registration of the .ada and .cardano gTLDs with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) during the next application window in Q1 2026. This initiative will only use the Foundation’s own financial resources and aims to secure a competitive digital presence for Cardano, unlock innovations and strategically position Cardano as a digital infrastructure.
Motivation & rationale
The upcoming gTLD application window in Q1 2026 provides a critical and unique opportunity to register .ada and .cardano as new gTLDs for the benefit of the Cardano ecosystem. This step is essential for increasing Cardano’s visibility and strengthening its digital presence. Beyond that, being able to buy .ada and .cardano domains (such as such as .org or .xyz) will allow the Cardano ecosystem to leverage them for innovations as well as bridge the Web2 to Web3 divide.
The Cardano Foundation is committed to managing the gTLDs for the collective benefit of the Cardano ecosystem. To ensure that the .ada and .cardano gTLDs will be operated in the interest of the ecosystem and the community, the Cardano Foundation will regularly publish figures about the gTLDs’ operation.
Furthermore, the Cardano Foundation plans to establish a dedicated Community Advisory Group to guide the development of the gTLDs.
Thanks to the Cardano ecosystem governance mechanisms, we have the unique opportunity to assess community sentiment and support for this initiative. For this purpose, and to simultaneously show community endorsement in the context of the gTLDs application, the Cardano Foundation is submitting this Info Action.
Rationale highlights
Why some of the largest DReps voted for and against, in their own words.
Summary Yoroi DRep votes YES to support this Info action by Cardano Foundation to secure the .ada and .cardano top-level domains (gTLDs). Rationale Yoroi appreciates the Cardano Foundation’s initiative in taking proactive steps to protect and strengthen...
Summary
Yoroi DRep votes YES to support this Info action by Cardano Foundation to secure the .ada and .cardano top-level domains (gTLDs).Rationale
Yoroi appreciates the Cardano Foundation’s initiative in taking proactive steps to protect and strengthen Cardano’s digital identity. This proposal represents a practical and forward-looking move that benefits the entire ecosystem.Protecting Cardano’s Digital Identity:
Securing the .ada and .cardano domains ensures that Cardano’s name and brand are protected from misuse or external control, reinforcing trust and long-term credibility across the ecosystem.Ecosystem Benefit:
Cardano Foundation’s decision to fund this initiative using its own resources demonstrates accountability and stewardship. This approach safeguards community resources while still delivering an ecosystem-wide benefit.Conclusion
Yoroi DRep votes YES with confidence and appreciation for this responsible, community-minded initiative. The action protects Cardano’s brand, strengthens its digital footprint, and sets a positive precedent for proactive, transparent governance decisions that serve the ecosystem’s long-term interests.The acquisition of .ada and .cardano is in the best interests of the Cardano ecosystem, and will be funded by the Cardano Foundation itself. There is no merit to voting NO or Abstain....
The acquisition of .ada and .cardano is in the best interests of the Cardano ecosystem, and will be funded by the Cardano Foundation itself. There is no merit to voting NO or Abstain.
.adaおよび.cardanoの取得は、Cardanoエコシステムの利益と一致します。また、この資金はCF自身により拠出されます。NOやAbstainに投票するメリットは見当たりません。
I am voting No on the “Top‑Level Domains for Cardano Ecosystem” Governance Action. I acknowledge the potential benefit of Cardano having its own domain namespace, and I agree that the Cardano Foundation could be a suitable organization to manage such a...
I am voting No on the “Top‑Level Domains for Cardano Ecosystem” Governance Action. I acknowledge the potential benefit of Cardano having its own domain namespace, and I agree that the Cardano Foundation could be a suitable organization to manage such a system. However, this initiative does not represent a strategically significant, emerging, or essential investment at this stage that justifies allocating a dynamic budget of this scale. Currently, Cardano’s ecosystem is falling behind Ethereum and Solana in terms of user growth and activity. The likely use of such TLDs would be limited to a small portion of the existing community, making the impact minimal. Moreover, community members may face unnecessary costs — for example, pressure to switch or register new domains despite already operating functional websites. Additionally, if TLDs are introduced without strong governance or identity verification, high-profile community names may be preemptively registered by third parties. This could lead to impersonation or scam risks, especially if original creators are unable to secure their own domain identities. At a time when core infrastructure and user-facing utility still require funding and development, it is more prudent to direct resources to fundamental needs rather than optional branding initiatives. That said, I recognize the need to protect critical namespace assets such as “.ada” or “.cardano” from misuse or squatting. However, such defensive measures could be considered separately and more efficiently, without requiring full deployment of a high-budget TLD management system at this time. --[Japanese translation follows]-- 「カルダノエコシステムにおけるトップレベルドメイン導入」ガバナンスアクションに対して、私は「反対票（No）」を投じます。カルダノが独自のドメイン空間を持つことには一定の利点があり、Cardano Foundationがその運用組織として適任である可能性も認めます。しかし、現時点ではこのような取り組みに多額のダイナミック予算を投入する意義は乏しく、戦略的・緊急的・本質的な投資とは言えません。現在、カルダノはEthereumやSolanaに比べてユーザー数や開発活性で大きな差をつけられており、こうしたTLDの利用者はごく一部の既存コミュニティに限られる可能性があります。また、既存のウェブサイトを持つメンバーにとっては、ドメインを切り替える必要が生じるなど不要なコストが発生しうる点も問題です。さらに、十分なガバナンスや本人確認の仕組みがないまま導入された場合、影響力のある名前を第三者が先取りする事態も想定されます。これは、元の創設者が取得できなかった際に詐欺的な悪用リスクを引き起こす可能性も含んでいます。エコシステムの成長に必要なコアインフラやユーザーユーティリティへの投資が依然として求められている中で、このようなブランディング的な施策に資金を割くのは、優先順位として適切ではないと考えます。なお、「.ada」や「.cardano」など重要な名称空間の保護は必要であるという認識はあります。ただし、こうした防衛的施策は、現段階で高額なTLD管理体制を全面的に展開することなく、より効率的に別途検討される余地があると考えます。
While this is potentially useful and we appreciate the fact that CF is consulting DRep even if they are not required to. However Cardano ecosystem is in dire need to support developer ecosystem, RWA and DeFi so CF should spend every single resource working...
While this is potentially useful and we appreciate the fact that CF is consulting DRep even if they are not required to.
However Cardano ecosystem is in dire need to support developer ecosystem, RWA and DeFi so CF should spend every single resource working on those to save Cardano from dying a slow death.