HCCF applies for new top-level domain ".self": promoting one free subdomain per person, returning online identity to the public.

A U.S. nonprofit organization, the "Human-Centered Computing Foundation (HCCF)," has officially obtained eligibility for the ICANN Applicant Support Program, launching an initiative to secure the new top-level domain ".self"; the domain is positioned as a public good, with a core promise of providing one free subdomain per person.
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Table of Contents

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• What is the ICANN ASP?
• The Positioning of .self: A Public Good, Not a Commodity
  • I. One Subdomain per Person
  • II. Shared Services
  • III. Open-Source Software Client
  • IV. Open Governance
• Qualification Does Not Equal the Domain
• Resonance with the Crypto Community

The Human-Centered Computing Foundation (HCCF) is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to building infrastructure, standards, and communities for a "more humane digital world." In a recent advocacy statement, the foundation noted that while the internet is the most powerful communication tool in history, its underlying infrastructure has long been used by tech companies to "extract user data and exploit user attention," and that HCCF's goal is to create an alternative internet architecture.

HCCF announced it has officially obtained eligibility for the ICANN Applicant Support Program (ASP) and launched an initiative to secure a new top-level domain called ".self."

What is the ICANN ASP?

The ICANN Applicant Support Program is designed to assist organizations with limited resources in participating in the New gTLD Program. Applicants who qualify for ASP can receive free volunteer professional services and enjoy a 75% to 85% reduction in evaluation fees; they may also receive bid credits in domain name auctions.

HCCF is currently within the application period for the ICANN New gTLD Program "2026 Round (Round 2)." This round opened for applications on April 30, 2026, with a deadline of August 12, 2026.

The Positioning of .self: A Public Good, Not a Commodity

In its advocacy PDF, HCCF positions .self as a "public good," emphasizing that it is designed and implemented based on "human-centered" principles, allowing anyone to "fully own their own data."

The .self plan includes four core functions:

I. One Subdomain per Person

Everyone can receive one free subdomain. HCCF states that this mechanism will explicitly prohibit domain parking, squatting, and reselling, ensuring that subdomains truly serve individuals rather than becoming commodities.

II. Shared Services

For users without public IP addresses, HCCF plans to provide VPN tunnels so these users can host externally accessible services; it will also provide a trusted mail server as infrastructure for personal digital communication.

III. Open-Source Software Client

.self will provide a full set of open-source tools, including client programs for email and VPN services, TLS certificate generation, dynamic DNS management, and a local DNS resolver with caching mechanisms, enabling technically capable users to fully self-host and manage.

IV. Open Governance

HCCF states that all features, rules, and restrictions will be guided by community input rather than unilaterally decided by the foundation, maintaining a decentralized spirit.

Qualification Does Not Equal the Domain

However, it is important to note that obtaining ASP eligibility does not mean HCCF has secured the .self top-level domain. According to ICANN rules, qualified supported applicants must still submit a formal gTLD application before the deadline and undergo full evaluation based on the 2026 Round Applicant Guidebook standards, including technical review, policy compliance, and possible auction processes. Simply put, HCCF currently has "application subsidy eligibility," and there are still several hurdles before actually operating .self.

Additionally, the .self plan has sparked discussion among developer communities, with questions raised about its long-term feasibility and sustainable operating model—in particular, how the commitment of "one free subdomain per person" can support ongoing infrastructure maintenance without commercial revenue remains an open question.

HCCF is currently calling for external support through donations, joining the community, and providing feedback, but the financial model for scaling remains unclear. Community discussions reflect a typical mix of expectation and doubt: the concept is admirable, but the sustainability of execution remains to be verified.

Resonance with the Crypto Community

From a broader perspective, HCCF's pursuit of "data autonomy" and "full personal ownership of digital identity" strongly echoes core issues long advocated by the crypto community. Whether through self-sovereign identity, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), or various on-chain identity protocols, the fundamental demand is to allow individuals to "hold" their own identity without relying on intermediaries.

The difference lies in the chosen path: .self operates within the traditional ICANN and DNS system, attempting to drive reform under the existing internet infrastructure framework, rather than bypassing the system to build an on-chain alternative. This means its implementation may face relatively less resistance, but it is also subject to ICANN's evaluation standards and timeline.

Whether .self can pass evaluation, successfully obtain the top-level domain, and become operational remains uncertain. However, the direction it represents—returning the internet to serving people rather than exploiting them—clearly warrants discussion in the current online environment.

Tags: HCCFICANNdigital identityself-hostedtop-level domain