If you’re a business owner, especially one who keeps an eye on technology trends, you’ve probably started seeing a lot more ads lately about Web3 domains — names like yourbusiness.eth, yourbrand.crypto, and others.

Like a lot of people, I wasn’t exactly sure how these Web3 domains fit into the bigger picture of how the Internet works today. I’ve worked with traditional domains (.com, .org, etc.) for years through my business, MacTech Solutions, but this seemed like a whole different world.

So I decided to dig in deeper.

To help organize my thoughts (and honestly, to save some time), I worked with ChatGPT — prompting it with my questions, guiding the conversation based on what I already knew, and asking it to help me put together a clearer picture.

This article is the result of that collaboration.

How Domain Names Work Today

Today’s domain system — the websites you type into your browser — is managed by a group called ICANN. They make sure that when you go to example.com, everyone in the world gets sent to the same place. It’s a centralized system, but one that’s kept the Internet stable for decades.

Domain registrars like GoDaddy and Namecheap operate under ICANN’s rules.

There are legal protections, standardized dispute processes, and most importantly — global trust that makes the internet work smoothly.

What Web3 Domains Are Trying to Do

Web3 domains are a newer concept — domains you mint onto a blockchain like Ethereum or Polygon. The big promises are:

• You own your domain yourself (just like you own crypto).
• Your domain is censorship-resistant.
• It becomes a single identity you can use across apps, games, and financial platforms.

It’s a powerful idea:

“Take real ownership of your digital identity.”

 

What I Learned (Both Good and Cautionary)

The deeper I went, the more I realized there’s a lot business owners should understand before getting involved:

• Web3 domains live outside the traditional Internet system.
  • Without special browsers or extensions, .eth or .crypto domains won’t even load.
• They’re not protected by ICANN’s processes.
  • If someone grabs your brand name in Web3, there’s no easy legal process to get it back.
• There’s no global coordination yet.
  • Two different systems could sell the same domain name — leading to real confusion.
• Minting your domain isn’t a silver bullet either.
  • Even after you mint your Web3 domain, you’re locking it into a specific blockchain.
  • If that blockchain falls out of favor later, your domain could become stuck or obsolete.
• Security and stability are still maturing.
  • Unlike ICANN’s long-established framework, Web3 governance is still evolving — and sometimes chaotic.

 

Why I Took the Time to Understand This

Honestly?

I kept seeing the ads.

As someone who runs a business that’s heavily tied into technology, I felt I owed it to myself — and to the customers I serve — to understand whether Web3 domains were just hype, or something truly transformative.

I didn’t want to blindly dismiss it, but I also didn’t want to assume it’s “the future” just because it’s new.

 

My Takeaway

• Web3 domains have enormous potential — but they are still experimental and risky.

• The traditional ICANN-based domain system isn’t going away anytime soon.

• The future of the Internet probably needs some mix of decentralization and coordination — not just a free-for-all.

If you’re a business owner, whether you’re in tech or not, my advice is:

Stay aware. Stay informed. But move cautiously.

 

Final Thought

Thanks again to ChatGPT for helping me organize and shape these thoughts into something readable. And thanks to all of you who read it — I’m always happy to swap ideas if you want to chat about where tech is heading.

 

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About the Author

Terry McAdams is the owner of MacTech Solutions, an Apple Authorized Reseller and Service Provider based in Wichita Falls, Texas. Terry and his team help businesses and individuals navigate technology confidently in a fast-changing digital world.