From 8c34d810af95fae0ef846f54370a8c88bfab7123 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "netop://ウィビ" <paul@webb.page>
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:24:49 -0700
Subject: initial commit

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+Document: WM-052                                                 P. Webb
+Category: Handshake                                           2021.08.05
+
+                     Four years to prove ourselves
+
+Abstract
+
+   What an incredible opportunity
+
+Body
+
+   The ICA (Internet Commerce Association) recently hosted a free
+   webinar where they discussed the second round of gTLD applications
+   via ICANN. For reference, the year is 2021 at this time of writing.
+   The first and last round of gTLD applications happened in the anagram
+   for this year: 2012; nearly a **decade** ago. As noted by one of the
+   panel experts (Jeff Neuman, Jothan Frakes, Phil Buckingham, and
+   Christa Taylor were in attendance), the world was MUCH different
+   then. A notable example of such change was the mention of .crypto.
+   Apparently, it was considered but seeing as how the crypto space was
+   still in its infancy, ICANN brushed it off. Depending on who you
+   speak to today, crypto is EVERYWHERE; much to the chagrin of one of
+   my security buddies. "Crypto" as shorthand used to mean
+   "cryptography" but now it's been co-opted by cryptocurrency.
+
+   The panelists think there will be even more interest in the next
+   batch of applications, especially if ICANN reduces the cost of
+   admission. Some suggstions they discussed:
+
+   - knocking off $70,000…of the $185,000 entry price
+   - application fee floor
+   - eventual refunds from failed bids
+
+   These are decent changes but ICANN is plagued by bueracracy and the
+   snail-like pace that typically commands. An oft-repeated refrain was,
+   "Yes, they (ICANN) can move faster and implement what the community
+   wants…but WILL they?" According to someone in the chat:
+
+   > ICANN doesn't have significant numbers of registrars in underserved
+   > regions. They keep putting obstacles in the way for registrars in
+   > those regions.
+
+   And, another notable quote:
+
+   > ICANN working with community (members) requires a change
+   > in philosophy.
+
+   ICANN's current way of making decisions is obviously long and drawn
+   out and away from the public eye, until they've decided something.
+
+   As I was listening to the discussion, I couldn't help but feel that
+   Handshake handled a lot of the problems the panelists discussed.
+   Namely (hah), rolling applications and not letting other applicants
+   aware of which names you intend to bid on. When Handshake was
+   revealed to the public, a handful of names were released over the
+   course of several weeks. Also, the way you bid on names is via a
+   Vickrey-style auction. In short, Vickrey-style auctions are anonymous
+   and the amounts bid can be a mixture of a true bid and a blind bid.
+   In short, it aims to make auctions feel more fair.
+
+   The conservative estimate for the launch of the secound round of gTLD
+   applications is 2025. Four years from now. 13 years since the last
+   round. To me, this sounds a bit nutty. Insane even.
+
+   The panelists suggested that anyone looking to get their own TLD via
+   ICANN should keep their expectations in check and be realistic. It
+   takes a war chest of funds to keep going back and forth with ICANN to
+   approve your application. With that also comes an immense time
+   commitment. They expect any name to take between 4-5 years to
+   develop, but gave .music as an example that took nearly 10 years
+   to finalize.
+
+   I see opportunity here.
+
+   If you're an HNS maximalist/shill like myself, pro ENS, or a
+   combination of the two, we have four years to kick ass and develop
+   our ecosystems. Crypto took a decade to get big, we can *easily* do
+   it in half the time. We are in a unique position to not only discover
+   brilliant use cases unheard of on the legacy ‘Net, but to also bring
+   these experiences to the masses and gain that sweet traction.
+
+   Four years to show and prove. Let's get it. 🕸
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