Verisign, a significant domain name registry that manages the ‘.com’ and ‘.net’ domains has acquired a patent that applies blockchain technology to domain names. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted patent number 10,721,060 to Verisign on July 21.

Addresses instead of numbers

Titled Domain name blockchain user addresses, the new patent outlines some significant advantages and technical benefits incorporated with registrants using their DNS (domain name system) domain names in a blockchain network. It can offer the ability to utilize domain names bought in the traditional DNS environment in a blockchain environment. Verisign revealed that by utilizing this technology, the registry allows users to transform traditional domains into a “blockchain user address” and communicate with other participants on the network.

The technology enables users to apply domains as “their blockchain presence,“If a registrant owns example.com, they may wish to use it as their blockchain user address. This enables a human-friendly way to interact with other blockchain participants by using domain names as addresses instead of numbers […] it permits blockchain participants to utilize their web presence, e.g., example.com, as their blockchain presence.”

More tools for secure two-factor ID

The patented techniques involve the management of public and private keys via a DNS registry on the blockchain network and operating applications for the so-called “proof of registrar” records. The system allows a blockchain network to obtain and record the data about the domain name and its connection with an existing blockchain user address for the registrant.

It can also allow secure two-factor identification by “consulting the blockchain for a given blockchain network.” This will unfasten additional tools to validate user identity,“For instance, if a given address on a blockchain has an attached phone number or email address, those could be consulted on the chain as a source to send a message to confirm proof of address ownership.”

The domain name industry is not new to the crypto and blockchain technology to date. Companies such as Unstoppable Domains and MyEtherWallet have collaborated to allow the crypto community to buy ‘.crypto’ domains that provide decentralized domains. In March 2020, popular browser Opera became the first major browser to integrate the ‘.crypto’ domain extension.