In its latest update the Opera web browser introduced native support for blockchain domain names on the Ethereum blockchain. The browser now supports websites using the .crypto domain names from Unstoppable Domains and the .eth ones from Ethereum Name Service. After Unstoppable Domains' own browser, Opera is now the first major web browser to support the decentralized web.
The decentralized web is still in its early days. Currently browser-support is the first step, while search engines should be part of the next wave of the decentralized web adoption. According to Unstoppable Domains co-founder Brad Kam it will take a while before Google will embrace the technology, but he emphasized that smaller search engines are already showing interest.
"We are still in the early days, comparable with the web in the mid 1990's. We're just starting to see the tools work such that people can build their own website. Also, we're seeing some early companies launch their own decentralized websites"
Brad Kam, co-founder of Unstoppable Domains
This is not the dark web
The decentralized web is not some hidden society for illegal activity. It's open and public for anyone to see and use. Kam thinks that decentralized apps will be among the first to use the decentralized web, because that way they will no longer rely on centralized servers. Other fields that could benefit from this Web 3.0 are media that suffer from censorship, 'like cryptocurrency related content on YouTube'.
In its potential the decentralized web can completely replace the current web. This distributed infrastructure has less downtime, can be faster, and comes with lower risks for DDOS attacks. "This would be great for humanity if this happens. It would mean that anyone can publish and transact online without worrying about whether the technology tools they use agree with what they produce", according to Brad Kam.
Kam predicts that the decentralized web will offer millions of websites within the next five years. This can be build using easy tools, and found using widespread browser and search-engine support. And what about the next two decades? "The traditional web will be gone or relegated to a small corner of the internet. Everything it can do, the decentralized web can do better. And the decentralized web can also do a whole bunch more", Kam concluded.
What are blockchain domain names?
Blockchain-powered web domain services have been taking the market by storm with their blockchain domains .eth and .crypto. Investors and crypto enthusiasts invested millions of dollars in Ethereum Name Service and their .eth web addresses and the .crypto addresses from Unstoppable Domains.
Intermediaries don’t register blockchain-based domains, instead users have direct control. That means consumer save their yourdomain.eth or yourdomain.crypto in a private crypto wallet. This also means that only users themselves are capable of transferring ownership.
The result of this is that intermediaries or law enforcement can’t claim ownership over a domain name. This also means that governments can’t order web hosting companies to take down your content. Unless a centralized server is storing the content of course.
Play to Earn is running its website entirely on blockchain technology. File hosting is happening on IPFS, while the blockchain domain name is playtoearn.crypto. For example playtoearn.crypto refers to the Play to Earn website, but people can also send bitcoin, litecoin, or ethereum to the address. This website can only be viewed using the Unstoppable Domains browser, Opera or the recently launched Unstoppable Domains extension for Google Chrome and Brave.
Posted from my blog: https://www.nederob.nl/2020/03/30/opera-supports-blockchain-domain-names-natively/