Unstoppable Domains[1] has confirmed its intention to apply for .robot in the upcoming ICANN round, expected in April 2026, in collaboration with 0G Foundation[2]. The goal is to create a naming space dedicated to robotics and artificial intelligence, designed to operate both within the “Web2” DNS and the “Web3” blockchain environment.
As for the timeline, the Web3 pre-sale is already open, and the minting on the 0G blockchain[3] is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. On the DNS side, the intention to apply was made public on November 3, 2025. If approved, .robot would join the family of traditional gTLDs while retaining its on-chain functionality, an illustration of the emerging “twinTLD” model. However, it would not be surprising if other applicants also expressed interest in .ROBOT. In the event of a string contention[4], ICANN’s framework provides for the standard procedures (evaluations, objections, and possibly a Community Priority Evaluation for a community-based application), followed (if no agreement is reached) by a last-resort auction conducted by ICANN to resolve competing bids.
For brand owners and portfolio managers, the value is twofold. On one hand, it offers a clear sectoral positioning for players in robotics and AI. On the other, it enables Web2 × Web3 identity continuity, requiring thoughtful strategies that balance defensive registrations, multi-extension blocking mechanisms, and expanded monitoring of on-chain activity.
To put this announcement into context, readers may refer to two recent analyses on the IP Twins blog:
- Next Round Spotlight: Web2-Web3 Domain Bundles – IP Twins ((IP Twins, 29 September 2025)), which anticipated this very type of DNS/blockchain pairing; and
- 2026 in Sight: CryptoTLDs, twinTLDs, and Domain Name Portfolio Strategy – IP Twins (IP Twins, 29 September 2025), which explored the effects of fragmentation, the state of interoperability (ENS/DNS bridges, IPFS gateways), and practical priorities for domain portfolio management.
IP Twins supports brand owners in the strategic planning, application, and management of their personalized extensions. Drawing on its experience from the 2012 new gTLD program and its management of a large volume of dotBrand domain names, IP Twins helps companies transform their extensions into true levers for security, communication, and brand value.
Notes
[1] Operator of blockchain-based domain names and a pioneer in on-chain identity solutions.
[2] Foundation behind “0G,” a decentralized artificial intelligence infrastructure designed to host, train, and execute AI models across a distributed network.
[3] Public network operated by 0G Foundation.
[4] The term “string contention” refers to a situation in the ICANN application process where multiple applicants request the same label (or a confusingly similar one) as a top-level domain. Such competing applications undergo a specific evaluation process, which may ultimately lead to a last-resort auction conducted by ICANN.