Brave Browser Launches First Blockchain-Based Domain, Empowering Users with Onchain Identity
Brave, the privacy-first web browser, has taken a pioneering step in the evolution of web infrastructure by becoming the first major browser to introduce its own blockchain-based top-level domain (TLD). Through a strategic partnership with Unstoppable Domains, Brave has launched the “.brave” domain, providing users with a decentralized identity system that integrates seamlessly within its ecosystem.
Unlike traditional domain names governed by centralized authorities, .brave domains are minted as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Polygon blockchain. This gives users full ownership and control over their domain names, eliminating the need for renewal fees. In addition to simplifying wallet addresses into human-readable names, the domains support resolution across multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Base, Sonic, and Bitcoin.
The integration allows users not only to streamline crypto transactions but also to build and host decentralized websites via the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), which will be natively accessible within the Brave browser. This approach highlights Brave's broader mission to foster digital autonomy.
“.brave is more than a domain — it’s a user-owned identity layer, native to the Brave ecosystem,” said Brian Bondy, Brave’s CTO and co-founder. “Our mission is to put privacy, ownership, and control back in the hands of users.”
Support for direct resolution of .brave domains will roll out in Brave Browser and Brave Wallet starting with version 1.81, which is currently in Nightly builds and expected to release publicly in August.
Despite holding a modest 1% market share in the competitive browser landscape, Brave continues to grow, with over 85 million monthly active users. The company’s forward-thinking approach positions it at the forefront of Web3 integration.
Looking ahead, Brave and Unstoppable Domains are also exploring registration of .brave as a general top-level domain (gTLD) through the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) by 2026. This move could bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3, enabling broader interoperability for .brave domains across traditional and decentralized networks.