The official website of the ICANN has published a document entitled "Challenges with Alternative Name Systems" signed by the ICANN CTO Alain Duran. This is a fairly brief overview of the blockchain-based domain name systems that exist today, such as Namecoin, Ethereum Naming Service, Unstoppable Domains, and Handshake. All of them are alternatives to the DNS system. Initially, these systems were created for the convenience of cryptocurrency transactions, but are increasingly being considered by some experts as an opportunity to create an absolutely independent Internet that is not controlled by any regulators. Unlike ordinary domains, blockchain domains are the inalienable property of their owner, and sites created on such domains (this is already possible) cannot be blocked by anyone except their administrator.
ICANN has a negative attitude towards blockchain domains. And the new review mainly repeats the theses that have already been repeatedly heard earlier. According to ICANN, the emergence of alternative domain name systems will make the Internet more anarchic than free. It is fraught with "domain name matches, unexpected errors, and user confusion." Speaking of new arguments, the Domain Incite draws attention to the fact that the review by Alain Duran emphasizes the lack of coordination of blockchain domain systems not only with the DNS system, but also among themselves. “Today, at least four blockchain systems compete with each other,” the document says. As a result, "when developing applications, you have to initially choose which of the systems will be used." The consequence, according to Alain Durand, will be the development of completely isolated ecosystems and further fragmentation of the global network.
