The Cardano Foundation is moving fast to make .ada an official internet domain and has moved to the next stage of the ICANN application process.
ICANN published the list of applications moving forward on October 7, confirming that Cardano’s .ada application is included.
If approved, .ada would create a direct link between Cardano’s blockchain ecosystem and the traditional internet. The Foundation said the application follows a Cardano community vote that received about 75% support, after which it moved forward with the application for the wider Cardano ecosystem.
.ada to Become a Real Internet Domain
Importantly, .ada would not just be another blockchain naming service. Upon approval, it would become an official internet domain, similar to .com, .org, and .xyz. Cardano’s application is part of ICANN’s first major round of new internet domains since 2012.
The 2026 application round includes other Web3 domains such as .sol, .ethereum, .btc and .bitcoin, as well as applications from companies like OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic. For Cardano holders, getting .ada gives the ecosystem a direct place in the traditional internet’s domain system.
Cardano Sees New Uses for .ada
Notably, the Cardano Foundation said an approved .ada domain creates new opportunities for users and developers. One possible use is simpler wallet addresses. Instead of using long, complicated blockchain addresses, users will use easy-to-read names.
The Foundation also mentioned linking .ada domains with digital identity tools such as Veridian. Another possibility is tokenizing domains, which allows people to manage internet domain names using blockchain technology. Overall, the goal is to connect the traditional internet (Web2) with Cardano’s blockchain-based Web3 ecosystem.
Our .ada application is advancing to the next phase of the @ICANN Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Program.
If approved, the .ada domain would bring Cardano into the global internet address system, same as .com or .org.
The application follows a Governance Action passed with… pic.twitter.com/9rqUZCYhnO
— Cardano Foundation (@Cardano_CF) October 8, 2026
The .ada Application Not Yet Approved
While the .ada application has moved forward in the ICANN process, it has not been approved yet. ICANN will now review the application, including Cardano’s technical, financial, and operational ability to run the domain.
Cardano still has several steps to complete before .ada can become an active internet domain. ICANN expects new domains from this application round to launch between 2028 and 2030, depending on how each application progresses.
The Cardano Foundation has also opened registration for community members, developers, and businesses who want updates or are interested in getting a .ada domain.
Overall, this is a major step for Cardano. A proposal supported by the community is now going through the official process to become part of the internet’s global domain system.
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