Zurich, Switzerland – July 23, 2025 – Freename just closed a $6.5 million Series A, drawing new attention from web3 founders and savvy VCs. As a provider of decentralized domain services, Freename is changing how people protect and manage their digital identity. This is big news for anyone invested in web3’s future, where online names and identities must be secure, flexible and controlled by their rightful owners.

Cryptonatives and investors want to know what sets Freename apart from traditional web2 registrars. Is the market for blockchain domain names growing fast enough to support mainstream adoption? Can Freename’s tech keep pace with the demands of large digital communities? These questions drive deeper into what this funding round could mean for founders shaping the next chapter of the internet.

Who Is Freename and Why Is This Funding Big News?

Freename isn't just another domain provider. This Swiss-based company is shaping how web3 founders, crypto builders, and VCs view internet naming and digital identity. Its recent $6.5 million Series A raise spotlights the growing demand for blockchain domains that are secure, customizable, and flexible. But what does Freename actually do, and why does this investment matter to the future of web3?

Freename's Unique Approach to Domains

Traditional web2 domains, like those ending in .com or .org, are leased through central authorities and offer limited flexibility. Freename changes this by bridging the gap between the web2 domain system and the world of smart contracts and NFTs. Here’s how Freename’s tech and vision stand out:

  • Multi-chain, cross-platform support: Users can create blockchain domains on networks like Polygon, Solana, Base, and BNB Chain. This solves a pain point for those managing identities across multiple ecosystems.
  • Human-readable, programmable identities: Domains become more than simple website addresses. You can use them as wallet identifiers, NFT handles, and digital passports for apps or smart contracts.
  • Collisions and compatibility: Freename tackles technical challenges such as name collision (two users trying to register identical domains on different chains) while making sure these new domains work with popular browsers like Chrome and Safari.
  • Custom Top-Level Domains (TLDs): Unlike web2, where owning a TLD is nearly impossible, Freename lets users mint their own TLDs and profit from second-level domain sales built on top.

Have you ever wondered if your digital identity is truly yours? With Freename, instead of just renting a domain, you actually own it on the blockchain.

Why Does Freename’s $6.5M Funding Matter?

This Series A isn’t just a big payday—it’s a signal that the market for blockchain-powered domains and digital identity is heating up. The raise was led by Entrée Capital, joined by Polymorphic Capital and early believers like Sparkle Ventures and Blockchain Founders Fund. Notably, backing also came from web3 industry leaders, including Mike Lobanov (Target Global) and Aaron Schnarch (ex-Coinbase Custody CEO).

Here’s why the funding stands out in web3:

  • Growing Total Addressable Market: Experts estimate web3 domains could be worth over $140 billion as mainstream adoption grows.
  • Tech innovation: The funding accelerates Freename’s work on multi-chain domain resolution, making life easier for anyone juggling multiple blockchain identities.
  • Unifying web2 and web3 identities: The capital supports deeper integration so users (and app developers) don’t have to choose between traditional DNS and web3’s dynamic identity systems.
  • Building for the future: The new investment will bring more tools for founders to create and customize domains, while giving web3 users real control over their digital footprints.

Ask yourself: Are users ready to move on from the limits of web2 domains? What will it take for mainstream businesses and creators to embrace blockchain-based identity and naming? Freename’s strategic funding signals that answers are on the way.

What Does This Mean for Founders and VCs?

If you’re building in crypto or web3, the ease of managing secure identities for your users matters more than ever. Freename’s approach lets you offer human-friendly domains tied directly to wallets, NFTs, or dApps, with a focus on true digital ownership.

Here are some reasons founders and investors should care:

  • Security and permanence: Blockchain domains can’t just be taken down or seized.
  • Broader addressability: Users can interact across chains and applications with a single name.
  • Revenue opportunities: Custom TLDs offer a fresh layer for domain monetization and branding.

The news around Freename is drawing serious attention because it addresses one of the toughest web3 infrastructure problems: unified, secure digital identity that anyone can own. Are you ready for a future where your online name is truly yours—and can live anywhere on the internet you decide?

How Blockchain Is Shaping Online Identity and Domain Ownership

Blockchain technology is quickly changing what it means to own your online name and control your digital identity. In the past, your identity online was tied to usernames, emails, or domains managed by big companies. Blockchain flips that idea, giving individuals the final say over their digital presence and assets. Let’s look at how these changes matter for those building, investing, or participating in the next wave of internet innovation.

True Ownership of Digital Identity

With blockchain, users can own their digital identity in a new and authentic way. Instead of a profile that can be shut down or changed by a third party, identities stored on blockchain are permanent and portable.

Key benefits include:

  • Full control: The owner, not a platform, manages their identifier and information.
  • No lock-in: Move your name, identity, or wallet between platforms without being tied down.
  • Public proof: Anyone can verify ownership or authenticity using the blockchain’s record.

If you’ve ever been locked out of an account or lost access to a business-critical domain, you know the risk when a provider holds the keys. Blockchain gives those keys right back to the individual.

Redefining Domain Ownership

Traditional domains, from .com to .org, live in centralized registries and are often leased, not owned. Blockchain domains, however, tell a different story.

Here’s what stands out:

  • Permanent registration: Pay once and keep your domain forever—no yearly renewal fees.
  • Censorship resistance: Only you can update, transfer, or sell your domain, and nobody can take it away.
  • Multi-purpose utility: These domains work as website addresses, crypto wallet handles, and usernames across decentralized apps.

Web3 founders may ask, how secure are blockchain domains from hacks or regulatory takedowns? The answer: as secure as the underlying blockchain. In most cases, this protection far exceeds what legacy systems provide.

Simplifying Identity Across Chains

Managing identities across several blockchains is a common headache. But blockchain-based naming services make cross-chain identity not just possible, but practical.

Benefits include:

  • Unified presence: Use one name to represent yourself on many chains.
  • Easy integration: Developers can connect a blockchain ID to various dApps, wallets, and ecosystems.
  • Interoperable identity: Your reputation, assets, and credentials travel with you, not stuck on one chain.

Founders and VCs often ask if these domains are compatible with web2 tools or browsers. Increasingly, yes—they’re being adopted in Chrome, Safari, and messaging apps as bridges between web2 and web3 grow stronger.

Empowering Users and Founders

A user’s name is their brand. Blockchain-based domains offer tools for creators, founders, and investors to own, build, and monetize on their terms.

Here’s what’s possible:

  1. Brand safety: No risk of losing domains to squatters or sudden shutdowns.
  2. Community building: Issuing custom top-level domains lets you shape ecosystems for your users or fans.
  3. Innovative business models: Domains can generate revenue streams through resale, licensing, or ecosystem access.

If you wonder whether big brands or government agencies are ready for this shift, consider this: many are already experimenting, and early adopters stand to gain the most as web3 identities mature.

Blockchain technology is allowing ownership to move from rented, fragile, and centralized to something strong, portable, and owned in the truest sense. As the new internet era gains ground, self-owned domains and portable identity are quickly becoming not just trends, but expectations.

Inside Freename’s $6.5 Million Series A: Investors, Use of Funds, and Strategic Goals

Freename’s $6.5 million Series A is attracting attention across the blockchain world, but what are the driving forces behind this raise? To see why founders and investors are excited, it helps to look at who’s backing Freename, how the funds will be used, and the new goals this capital will help the team reach. This section breaks down these essential details so you can evaluate how Freename’s trajectory may affect your own position in web3.

Who Are the Investors Behind the Round?

Backing in this round came from an impressive roster of venture capital firms and crypto industry experts. Entrée Capital led the round, with participation from Polymorphic Capital, Sparkle Ventures, and Blockchain Founders Fund. Several notable individuals also joined, including Mike Lobanov (Target Global) and Aaron Schnarch (ex-Coinbase Custody CEO).

These investors didn’t jump in blindly. They recognized the high growth potential in the web3 domain space and Freename’s success at simplifying blockchain-based identity. Their resumes show a sharp eye for innovation, especially in infrastructure projects that could disrupt traditional digital identity.

Are these investors aiming for quick wins or supporting long-term, sustainable products? Their track records suggest they’re betting on Freename’s technology not just as a trend, but as a building block for mainstream adoption.

How Will Freename Use the $6.5 Million?

Freename plans to grow its team and double down on research and development with the new funding. The focus is clear: build a future-proof digital identity system that works across traditional web and blockchain networks.

You might wonder how this budget is getting split. Here’s how Freename signals its priorities:

  • Product development: Expand cross-chain domain support, improving how domains interact with more blockchains.
  • User experience: Launch easy-to-use tools and dashboards for both everyday users and developers.
  • Ecosystem partnerships: Integrate web3 domains into major browsers and wallets, closing the gap with web2.
  • Community and education: Grow awareness through tutorials, hackathons, and targeted educational content.
  • Security and compliance: Invest in audits and technical safeguards to keep users and domains secure even as regulatory scrutiny increases.

Each dollar spent here aims to solve pressing questions: Can domain ownership really cross the web2-web3 divide? What does seamless integration look like for both crypto veterans and newcomers?

What Strategic Goals Are on the Horizon?

Looking ahead, Freename’s strategy centers on making blockchain-based digital identity the everyday standard, not just something for niche crypto natives. The team set clear objectives for the near term and beyond.

Let’s break down the most urgent goals:

  1. Multi-chain interoperability: Strengthen domain compatibility across popular blockchains, making it easier for users to manage one digital identity in multiple ecosystems.
  2. Browser and app integration: Work directly with browser providers and web platforms to ensure Freename domains can be used like traditional addresses, improving real-world usability.
  3. Custom TLD expansion: Allow more creators and brands to launch their own top-level domains, unlocking new ways to monetize and form community-driven ecosystems.
  4. User-centric privacy and control: Give users the power to not only own but also manage their data, identity, and domain settings with full transparency.

How quickly will Freename bring these goals to life? The path depends on technical milestones, regulatory shifts, and user adoption rates. As the company works toward these marks, the impact of this funding round could reach far beyond domain names, reshaping how everyone—from individual users to Fortune 500s—views online identity.

How Will Freename’s Growth Impact Crypto and Web3 Founders?

As Freename pushes forward after a major Series A boost, the company is set to change how crypto and web3 builders secure, present, and grow their brands. Startups in the space have learned that project branding and identity are often as important as the technology itself. But with blockchain domains and new identity models, boundaries between branding and airtight security are starting to blur. Let’s see what these changes will mean for early adopters and those still weighing their options.

What Are the Implications for Web3 Project Branding and Security?

Blockchain founders face a unique challenge: creating a brand that stands out while protecting it from both theft and obsolescence. Freename makes it possible to do both, using web3-native domains that weren’t possible in the web2 era.

Here’s how Freename’s growth brings immediate impact:

  • Brand Consistency Across Chains: Projects can own the same domain, identity, and branding on multiple networks. No more losing users because your name varies depending on which blockchain they’re using.
  • Direct Ownership for Founders: Instead of renting a web address, you control the domain on-chain. This makes loss or takeover virtually impossible as long as you manage your private keys with care.
  • Resistance to Censorship and Squatting: With a blockchain domain, third parties can’t take down your project’s web presence or sit on brand-specific names hoping to extract a fee.

Are you worried about the risk of phishing and copycat domains? New identity models let projects tie domains to verified wallets. This way, users can check an address or site’s authenticity before connecting wallets or sending funds.

Actionable Insights for Founders:

  • Choose a unique domain TLD that matches your community or token focus. This boosts brand recall.
  • Set up identity verification tools linked to your domain, letting users know they’re interacting with the real deal.
  • Invest in security practices for private key management, as losing your key means losing ownership.
  • Use your blockchain domain as your primary login or wallet address in dApps, making your project’s presence consistent and easy to find.
  • Educate your user base on the importance of interacting only with your official domain and identity.

If you’re planning to launch a DAO, NFT collection, or DeFi protocol, think about how your project’s domain will look in search results, wallets, and browser tabs. A trusted, recognizable name sets the foundation for steady growth, user confidence, and long-term survival.

Can these domains replace all web2 URLs for crypto projects? Not overnight, but hybrid adoption is gaining ground. In time, a blockchain-first approach to branding and security may become the new normal. If you’re building for the future, this is a shift you can’t afford to ignore.

Looking Ahead: The New Internet Era and What Comes Next

The Series A funding for Freename isn’t just a headline about dollars raised, it signals a transformation in how we think about digital presence. The internet is changing fast, moving from company-controlled spaces to a structure where users gain true ownership and control. But what does this “new internet era” mean for those creating web3 projects, funding innovation, or trying to protect their brands? Let’s unpack the biggest shifts on the horizon.

The Paradigm Shift: From Centralized to User-Owned

For decades, owning a piece of the internet came down to renting assets like social media handles, domain names, and email addresses from a service provider. In this new era, builders and brands can move from being renters to actual owners. Blockchains and decentralized naming systems like Freename give people the keys to their digital house.

  • No more intermediaries: Instead of submitting to the rules of a platform, users decide what happens with their online names, content, and data.
  • Stronger identity rights: You own your project’s name, no matter where you build, launch, or move. This ownership lasts for as long as the blockchain itself does.
  • True portability: Imagine taking your domain, reputation, and identity to any app, wallet, or ecosystem without starting over.

How does this affect investors and founders? You have the freedom to think bigger, launching new brands and communities that aren’t boxed in by corporate policies or renewal fees.

What Will Drive Mass Adoption in the New Era?

Many founders ask, “What will convince mainstream users and major brands to switch?” Several factors will fuel wider adoption, pushing blockchain identity from niche to necessary:

  • Simple user experience: For most users, complex wallet setups or blockchain interactions are a barrier. Easy onboarding, browser plugins, and one-click identity management will drive growth.
  • Major integrations: As more browsers, payment systems, and apps support blockchain domains, resistance will fall. Precedents like ENS and Unstoppable Domains already show growing traction.
  • Security upgrades: Strong, user-owned security is a key selling point. No one wants to lose their digital brand to a security breach, and blockchain domains increase peace of mind.

What happens when a major e-commerce or entertainment brand jumps in? Look for a snowball effect as competitors follow suit to avoid missing out.

Why Flexibility and Control Now Matter

Web3 has shown how quickly markets can move, and how unpredictable the environment can be. Founders and VCs no longer want to be tied down by rigid systems or slow approval processes.

  • Projects can experiment with new forms of user engagement, monetization, and branding that old-school DNS could never support.
  • Communities gain tools for self-governance by issuing branded TLDs, letting key participants vote, contribute and share rewards.
  • Startups cut costs by ending the cycle of domain renewals, legal battles over names, and “middleman” fees.

Curious about how regulations could affect all this? Governments are starting to adapt, but decentralized identity puts power back in your hands without waiting on policy changes.

Imagining the Web’s Next Decade

The next decade will belong to those who own and shape their digital identity. Early adoption of blockchain domains and self-owned identity could separate breakout brands from those left behind. Founders and VCs who understand these shifts, and who build for true ownership and flexibility, will drive the biggest gains in both user trust and long-term value.

Ask yourself: Will you be a bystander, or will your project help define new internet norms? The answers you build into your protocols, products, and investments will influence how digital identity is controlled for generations to come.

Conclusion

Freename’s $6.5 million Series A stands as a clear signal that blockchain domains and digital identity are moving beyond early adoption. Founders and VCs now have a chance to shape the standards of online ownership and trust, not just respond to them. The real test will be in how quickly Freename can turn technical gains into practical tools for startups and established players alike. Is your project ready for a future where names, brands, and identity are truly owned and portable? Following Freename’s progress could offer answers and opportunities for those aiming to stay ahead in web3. Thanks for reading—where do you see digital identity going next?

Media Contact: mattia@freename.com