D3 provides preferential access to new domain names through Solana and Hyperliquid vaults

D3 launches Frontier program: Obtaining priority registration rights for new top-level domains by pledging assets

D3 announced the launch of the "Frontier" program, which allows users to deposit eligible assets into Solana and Hyperliquid liquidity pools to earn points. These points can be used to qualify for priority registration of new Internet domain names.

According to D3, users can use Frontier points to participate in domain name reservations provided by designated domain name registries. In terms of technical support, Loopscale supports Solana pools, while Hyperion DeFi and Upshift support Hyperliquid pools.

At the same time, ICANN (Internet Authority for Assigned Names and Numbers) confirmed that in its new round of top-level domain extension applications in 2026, 1,616 applications have met the conditions for continued advancement. Each registry will set its own specific timetable and eligibility requirements before the domain name is made available to the public.

Core mechanism of the Frontier Project

D3, as a core contributor to the Doma Protocol, officially announced the Frontier Project at South Korea Blockchain Week on September 28. Under the program, members are required to deposit eligible assets with supporting escrow providers to earn Frontier points and use these points to establish priority over domain names provided by participating registries.

D3 emphasizes that this priority is not equivalent to domain name ownership. It only means that the holder has access before the "general registration stage"(i.e., the stage when the registry opens domain name registrations to the public). Each registry controls its own schedule and eligibility requirements, and proposed new extensions must go through ICANN's approval process.

How to apply cryptographic managed pools

The Frontier project initially included two managed pools. According to D3, the Solana pool is supported by Loopscale, and the Hyperliquid pool is jointly supported by Hyperion DeFi and Upshift. The company said it plans to add managed pools on other chains in the coming months.

Participants earn points by making deposits with supporting providers, and then use these points to gain priority for domain names under the participating extension. This arrangement establishes a system based on encryption points that functions before the traditional domain name registration process: the power to determine when eligible domain names can be registered rests with the registry, not the escrow pool.

D3 describes Frontier as a way for asset holders to participate without having to establish a prior relationship with a registry or domain name broker. It issued a statement stating that before ICANN's "Announcement Day", when details of applications that pass administrative review will be announced, more than 20 applicants and registries have committed to joining the project.

Solana 和 Hyperliquid 的连接是 D3 多年来构建的域名业务的一部分。Doma Protocol 旨在将传统的互联网域名表示在区块链上，以便在链上应用中使用。2025 年 1 月，D3 在 Paradigm 领投、Coinbase Ventures 参与的 A 轮融资中筹集了 2500 万美元，用于开发 Doma。

Hyperion DeFi 的参与使此次启动与美国公开市场建立了直接联系。该公司在纳斯达克上市，股票代码为 HYPD，并与 Upshift 一起支持 Frontier 的 Hyperliquid 池。Hyperion CEO Hyunsu Jung 表示，随着 ICANN 新一轮评估的进行，该安排将使 Hyperliquid 社区能够接触到该项目。

Solana 基金会韩国负责人 Scott Lee 在发布声明中指出了 Solana 上域名名称的潜在用途。D3 列出了可能的扩展名，包括 .agent、.wallet、.sol 和 .robot，而 Jung 则提到了 .hype。然而，ICANN 表示，其“公布日”发布的文件将是关于谁申请了哪些扩展名的完整核实记录。

ICANN 2026 轮次进展

ICANN 于 9 月 22 日确认，有 1,616 份申请已满足付款要求并进入下一阶段。申请人在 8 月 12 日截止前提交了 1,663 份请求。组织将在“公布日”发布已通过行政审查的申请公开部分，其中包括多个申请人可能正在争夺的拟议扩展名。

此类申请涉及运营顶级域名的权利，例如网址中最后一个点之后的部分。而 Frontier 成员寻求的是由参与 D3 计划的注册局运营的扩展名下的单个名称。在新扩展进入标准域名系统之前，需要经过 ICANN 的审查、任何异议以及解决竞争性申请的程序。

据 ICANN 称，上一轮 ICANN 申请发生在 2012 年，导致了超过 1,200 个新扩展名的诞生。D3 首席执行官兼联合创始人 Fred Hsu 将新一轮描述为将加密货币用户带入既定域名市场的机会：

“Frontier 是加密货币进入这个域名超级周期的起点。”

其他项目的不同策略

其他与加密货币相关的命名项目针对同一轮 ICANN 申请采取了不同的方法。今年 8 月，crypto.news 报道 Unstoppable Domains 撤回了对其九个自有 Web3 扩展名（包括 .crypto 和 .wallet）的申请。创始人 Matthew Gould 表示，预期的申请、合规性和可能的拍卖成本高于公司预计能收回的销售收入。Unstoppable 表示，将退还那些购买与其早期 ICANN 计划相关联的客户资金。

The difference between pure blockchain names and ICANN approved domain names is critical for ordinary web use. Unstoppable said that although the affected extensions will not receive standard browser resolution through the applications it abandons, its existing on-chain names will continue to work in supported wallets and apps. In contrast, D3 's Frontier plan focuses on the priority of domain names provided by participating registries if their extensions pass through the ICANN process.

Telegram has also applied for.gram in the 2026 round. Founder Pavel Durov said approval would allow users to register their names under the extension and create a Telegram hosted website. Before.gram can operate as a regular Internet domain name, it must be approved by ICANN.

The Registry will set registration terms

For Frontier members, earning points is only the first step. D3 said members must use these points for domain names in participating registries to establish priority, and each registry determines when to open registrations and who is eligible to participate. The release note places the priority period before general registration and links both phases to ICANN's processes.

ICANN said a "publication day" will show the publicly visible portions of applications that pass administrative review and identify extensions sought by multiple applicants. After publication, the application may face community feedback, objections, evaluation and procedures to resolve competition requests before a successful registry can operate its extension.