The U.S.-based nonprofit Human-Centered Computing Foundation (HCCF) has secured eligibility for ICANN's Applicant Support Program (ASP) and launched a bid for the new top-level domain ".self." Positioned as a public good, the core promise is one free subdomain for every individual.
HCCF argues in its initiative statement that while the internet is the most powerful communication tool ever built, its underlying infrastructure has been used by tech companies to "extract user data and exploit attention." The foundation aims to build an alternative network architecture that returns control to individuals.
ICANN ASP: A Fast Track for Applicants
The Applicant Support Program is designed to help resource-limited organizations participate in the new gTLD program. Qualifying applicants receive 75% to 85% fee reductions on evaluation costs, free professional volunteer services, and bidding credits in domain name auction processes.
HCCF is currently within the application window for ICANN's "2026 Round 2" of the new gTLD program, which opened on April 30, 2026 and closes on August 12, 2026.
One Subdomain Per Person: Free but No Speculation Allowed
The .self plan includes four core features: one subdomain per person, shared services, open-source client software, and open governance. HCCF explicitly bans parking, squatting, and reselling of subdomains to ensure they serve individuals rather than become commodities.
For users without public IP addresses, HCCF will offer VPN tunnels to host externally accessible services, plus trusted mail servers for personal digital communication. A full suite of open-source tools—including email and VPN clients, TLS certificate generation, dynamic DNS management, and a local DNS resolver with caching—will be provided for technically capable users to self-host.
Eligibility Is Not the Domain: Multiple Hurdles Remain
Obtaining ASP eligibility does not guarantee the .self domain. Approved applicants must still submit a formal gTLD application by the deadline and pass technical reviews, policy compliance checks, and potential auction processes. HCCF faces several more gates before operating .self.
The plan has sparked debate in developer communities. Questions about long-term viability have emerged, especially around the "one free subdomain per person" promise—how to sustain infrastructure without commercial revenue remains unclear. HCCF currently relies on donations, community involvement, and feedback, but a scalable financial model has yet to emerge.
Echoes of Crypto Values
HCCF's pursuit of data autonomy and full ownership of digital identity aligns closely with crypto's core ideals: self-sovereign identity, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), and other on-chain identity protocols. The difference lies in the path: .self works within the traditional ICANN and DNS framework, aiming to reform the existing internet infrastructure rather than building a parallel blockchain-based system. This approach may face less resistance but remains tied to ICANN's evaluation timelines and standards.
Whether .self clears all evaluations and launches remains uncertain. But the direction it represents—an internet that serves people rather than exploiting them—holds clear relevance in today's digital landscape.