Bluesky partners with Namecheap to launch new paid domain service for decentralized social network

The recently popular decentralized social network Bluesky, has partnered with popular domain registrar Namecheap to launch a new paid domain service. The introduction of this service is part of the platform's plans to explore alternative monetization avenues, moving away from relying on advertisements and fulfilling its mission of creating an ad-free environment for users while making identity verification easier, a significantly different strategy compared to its closest competitor, X.

The new domain service allows Bluesky users to set up custom domain names directly within the platform, eliminating the need for a separate process with a domain registrar. Domain names play a crucial role in Bluesky's decentralized system as they authenticate a user's identity without relying on a centralized verification system. In Bluesky's integrated service, users have the freedom to manage their domain settings, configure email forwarding, and redirect their domain to their Bluesky profile or any desired URL. Additionally, Bluesky allows users to transfer their domain away from the platform if they choose to leave or switch to another domain registrar.

While currently in private beta, Bluesky plans to introduce more paid services in the future to enhance the user experience and provide a seamless platform, without including ads. Interested individuals must join a waitlist to access Bluesky's features, including the newly launched domain service. Let's not forget that just yesterday, Threads, the new highly anticipated alternative to Twitter, was officially launched by the tech giant Meta. They have promised future support for ActivityPub, so it should be interesting to see how platforms like Bluesky evolve to compite with the new players in the market.