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As blockchain innovations continue to reshape various sectors, the domain industry remains sluggish, hesitant to adopt tokenization despite clear advantages. With billions-worth of digital real estate languishing in illiquidity, the industry risks losing both market share and value to more agile, blockchain-native naming systems. The shift toward tokenized assets could unlock unprecedented liquidity and unlock untapped potential within the domain economy, paving the way for a new era of digital ownership and financial innovation.

• The domain industry is lagging behind in adopting blockchain-based tokenization, risking massive value loss.
• Tokenization has transformed other asset classes like Treasuries and real estate, but domains remain largely illiquid.
• Web3 naming systems such as ENS are gaining advantages through native blockchain integration and liquidity solutions.
• Early adoption of domain tokenization provides strategic market leadership and platform dominance.
• Industry stakeholders must embrace tokenization to avoid obsolescence and capitalize on rapid market shifts.

Opinion by: Fred Hsu, co-founder and CEO at D3

A small business owner sits on a premium domain like organic. They spend months trying to find a buyer at their asking price but remain unsuccessful. Meanwhile, across the globe, someone can purchase a fractional ownership stake in a Manhattan apartment through tokenized real estate within minutes.

This stark contrast highlights a significant gap in our digital economy. As the RWA (Real World Asset) tokenization market heads toward a potential $400 trillion opportunity, the domain industry remains rooted in Web2, hampered by illiquidity despite managing over 360 million registered domains and a $10 billion premium segment.

The reluctance of the domain sector to adopt tokenization threatens to erode billions in untapped value, ceding dominance to emerging blockchain-based naming systems like ENS (Ethereum Name Service). While assets like stocks, real estate, and carbon credits have embraced blockchain liquidity, domains risk becoming obsolete as digital assets, buried in outdated trading mechanisms.

The tokenization gap in digital assets

Tokenization has revolutionized how valuable assets are traded worldwide. For instance, tokenized treasuries now surpass $7 billion, offering instant liquidity and efficient trading for government securities. Fractional ownership platforms enable everyday investors to access assets like Manhattan skyscrapers or patent portfolios that were once limited to institutional players.

Smart contracts remove intermediaries such as brokers and escrow services, reducing settlement times from weeks to minutes. This shift allows global markets to operate around the clock, fundamentally changing asset liquidity. Yet, the domain industry remains largely offline from these advancements, sticking to legacy systems that hinder digital asset trading and liquidity.

The outdated domain trading model

Selling a domain today resembles the pre-dot-com era, with transactions taking three to six months and brokers charging hefty commissions of 15%-30%. These high fees, coupled with geographic and capital barriers, exclude many potential buyers. For entrepreneurs in regions with limited access to traditional payment systems, acquiring or developing premium domains becomes even more challenging.

Consequently, less than 1% of registered domains trade annually, leading to significant economic inefficiency in a market valued in the hundreds of billions. Domains, inherently digital assets, should be more liquid than their physical counterparts-yet they trade less efficiently than real estate or securities.

The growing innovation penalty

This liquidity shortfall constrains more than just transactions; it stifles innovation. Premium domains hold enormous value that could finance startups or support DeFi collateralization but remain inaccessible due to outdated infrastructure. For example, Voice sold for $30 million in 2019 after months of negotiations, leaving potential fractional bids and smaller investors sidelined.

Web3 naming systems like ENS are gaining traction because they inherently utilize blockchain integration, providing native liquidity solutions. This technological edge puts traditional domain registrars under pressure, emphasizing the benefits of early tokenization adoption.

Building the future of domain infrastructure

Tokenizing domains involves converting assets into tradable NFTs while maintaining ICANN compliance and enabling fractional ownership. Cross-chain liquidity allows seamless trading across networks such as Ethereum and Solana . Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), with governance tokens, could collectively own and manage high-value domains, transforming ownership and governance models.

Regulatory frameworks already recognize domains as established digital property, making the transition to tokenization more straightforward than other RWAs. Early movers will benefit from network effects and platform dominance, attracting premium domain owners seeking liquidity upgrades.

The market is already shifting

Signs of disruption are already visible as blockchain-native naming systems gain adoption. Despite some technical limitations, they effectively address liquidity issues, making them more attractive to investors seeking fractional ownership and integrated DeFi functions. Traditional platforms face mounting pressure to innovate or risk losing market share to these emerging blockchain solutions.

The path forward

Tokenizing domain assets represents an evolutionary leap enabled by existing infrastructure and proven demand in other asset classes. Early adopters will establish a lasting market advantage, while resistance may lead to obsolescence. Without embracing this change, the domain industry risks becoming a relic, disconnected from the digital financial ecosystem it helped build.

The industry has built the foundational addressing system of the internet. Now, it must align with the ongoing financial evolution powered by blockchain technology to stay relevant in the digital economy.

Opinion by: Fred Hsu, co-founder and CEO at D3.

This article is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal or investment advice. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of any organizations affiliated with the publication.

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