ON THE BALLOT: This AIP Aims To Make .Ape A Top Level Domain And Create A Revenue Stream For The DAO

There is an Ape Improvement Proposal on the ballot this week that wants the DAO to ape into .Ape domains and have .Ape formally recognized as a top level domain alongside internet staples like .com, .net, and .xyz.

AIP-395 titled ‘ .APE - Launching the Real .APE Top-Level Domain on the Internet,’ is brand decision proposal written by ApeCoin DAO Contributor and Web3 naming service company,D3, CEO Fred Hsu.

In AIP-395, Hsu proposes that he and his D3 team apply to have .Ape recognized as a top-level domain by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

“The .APE TLD has the potential to create a lucrative, perpetual source of revenue for ApeCoin DAO, enabling growth of the community through new .APE domains, and cement ApeCoin (and $APE) as a major real-world asset with interoperability and utility at its core,” Hsu wrote. “D3 plans to offer a patent-pending tokenized APE (e.g. SAM APE) as an immediate Web3 identifier for users, while in parallel submitting the ICANN application for the real .APE TLD to enable future interoperability and native resolution seamlessly across Web2 and Web3. ApeCoin DAO will receive 50% of all gross revenues generated from the *APE name tokens and the .APE Top-Level Domain.”

Hsu went on to explain that top level domains cannot be owned by any entity and that these domains are licensed by ICANN as grants to operators, giving them the exclusive right to operate and monetize on that top level domain.

“In order for the ApeCoin DAO to take advantage of the benefits the D3 team offers as an existing ICANN-accredited registry operator, D3 must be the TLD applicant and contracted registry operator with ICANN,” Hsu explained. “This also means that D3 will take on the onerous ongoing registry obligations (e.g. annual audits, compliance, etc) to ensure .APE remains in good standing. D3 acts as essentially the white-glove and full-service operator for .APE. ApeCoin DAO and the Foundation will maintain a vested interest and voice in all TLD operations, including pricing strategy, launch timeline, whitelists and blacklists, and more. Should the Foundation desire to create its own entity and maintain the complex ongoing registry obligations, D3 will be happy to facilitate the transfer for the .APE TLD once approved.”

To secure the .Ape domains for the ApeCoin DAO and to help manage,guide, and grow .Ape, Hsu and the D3 team are asking the community to allocate 3 million $Ape to this proposal. Take a look at Hsu’s buget below:

 

By investing in .Ape, Hsu believes the DAO can expect an Annual Recurring Revenue of 8-10 million USD.

 

“The funding requested for this grant goes directly to supporting the acquisition and launch of the real .APE Top-Level Domain on the Internet,” Hsu wrote. “ D3’s success and its compensation is tied directly to the revenue shared jointly with ApeCoin DAO from registrations and renewals. We’re requesting an upfront commitment by ApeCoin DAO to enable us to plan large scale, wide global activation of the name token sale while concurrently initiating the ICANN application process with our staff and legal which requires more than 12 months of preparation (500+ page application), and initiate IRL activations which often require deposits. Any remaining excess funds will be directed towards revenue-generating activities including performance-based marketing and sales.”

 

The window to vote on AIP-395 is currently open and ApeCoin DAO Contributors have until Wednesday, April 3rd, to cast their coins and vote on this proposal.

$Ape’s can read Hsu’s full proposal here: https://forum.apecoin.com/t/aip-395-ape-launching-the-real-ape-top-level-domain-on-the-internet/21474

 

The Bored Ape Gazette is working to find out more about AIP-395 and how having a .Ape domain will impact $Ape holders. Stay tuned for updates!