The Internet has been evolving in waves. First came Web1: static pages and limited interaction. Then, Web2 transformed the experience into today’s dynamic, user-driven web. Now, the next wave is taking shape: Web3, built on decentralization, transparency, and individual ownership.

Web3 introduces new ways of managing identity, assets, and presence online—using blockchain to keep records secure, verifiable, and independent of any single company. At its core, it’s about giving individuals direct control of their digital footprint, without relying on centralized platforms.

This is where .locker enters the picture. Built to connect today’s DNS system with emerging blockchain technology, .locker provides a straightforward entry point into decentralized identity while remaining fully functional within Web2. The registry is operated by Orange Domains, a joint venture between Trust Machines, Hiro Systems, and Tucows. 

For resellers, .locker offers a new way to meet growing interest in Web3 by providing customers a simple, secure identity—whether they’re just getting started or already building their presence—all while keeping their familiar Web2 tools and positioning you as their trusted partner.

From Web2 to Web3: evolution, not replacement

Web2 introduced the interactive, user-generated web: blogs, social media, video platforms, and apps. It also led to the rise of large platforms that became the primary hubs for content, communication, and monetization—centralizing much of the data and infrastructure that make the modern Internet run.

Web3 reframes that model. Instead of data being hosted and controlled by large companies or platforms, it uses peer-to-peer networks. This means information and transactions are shared directly between users, without the need to go through a central server. Every action is confirmed by the network as a whole and recorded on the blockchain, which keeps everything secure and transparent. This method—called consensus—ensures the network agrees on the validity of transactions, without relying on a single organization to maintain the record.

It doesn’t discard the innovations of Web2—it builds on them. Social interaction, publishing, and commerce remain central, but they are structured so that identities, assets, and data travel with the individual rather than being locked into a single platform.

Helping customers understand this shift is key to preparing them for what’s ahead. While many are still learning about decentralized technologies, interest is growing—and resellers are well-positioned to meet that demand.

Key Web3 principles include:

  • Decentralization: Infrastructure is distributed, not owned by a single entity.
  • Ownership: Users—not platforms—hold their assets and identities.
  • Interoperability: A single digital identity can move seamlessly across apps and services.
  • Transparency: Public, verifiable ledgers ensure accountability and trust.

At the center of this is the Web3 wallet—often described as an ID, keychain, and vault all in one. Unlike traditional logins that rely on usernames and passwords managed by centralized services, a Web3 wallet is the mechanism that powers your digital identity: it holds the cryptographic keys that let users prove who they are, authorize transactions, and access decentralized tools. It’s one of the most important tools for navigating decentralized systems.

Understanding the Web3 wallet

A Web3 wallet plays several crucial roles in how individuals interact with the Web3 ecosystem:

  • It acts as a decentralized ID, enabling users to log in to apps and services without needing a central provider
  • It functions as a private key manager, holding the cryptographic credentials needed to sign and authorize transactions.
  • It serves as a secure vault, storing digital assets like Bitcoin, NFTs, and tokens.

Because Web3 identities are wallet-based, users aren’t tied to a single platform or provider—they carry both their identity and assets with them across ecosystems.

For customers just starting to explore Web3, this can feel like a big leap, but domains like .locker simplify the experience. By linking a .locker domain to a Bitcoin wallet, they can create a human-readable identity and begin using decentralized tools without needing to understand every technical layer.

Blockchain as the foundation

The blockchain is Web3’s critical infrastructure: a decentralized, tamper-resistant ledger. Instead of relying on a single server or company to maintain records, blockchain distributes identical copies of data across thousands of independent nodes. Each new entry is bundled into a “block,” cryptographically linked to the one before it, forming a continuous chain of verified records. 

This design makes the system both transparent and secure: anyone can view the ledger, but data, once written, cannot be changed without network-wide agreement. Combined with the fact that it runs across thousands of nodes, this makes it inherently resistant to outages, hacks, and insider manipulation.

Why Bitcoin?

Among blockchains, Bitcoin remains the most time-tested and resilient. With over a decade of uninterrupted operation, its transparency and immutability make it the gold standard for anchoring digital identity.

A .locker identity, tied to the Bitcoin blockchain, benefits from that security and permanence. Every interaction is verifiable, timestamped, and independent of any single authority—ensuring that ownership truly resides with the registrant.

For resellers, the integration of Bitcoin-backed infrastructure gives customers a trusted foundation to begin building their decentralized presence—with the stability and longevity of the world’s most secure blockchain behind it.

.locker: bridging Web2 and Web3

The .locker TLD is the first ICANN-delegated gTLD designed to operate across both traditional DNS and the Bitcoin Naming System (BNS), creating a bridge between Web2 and Web3.

It enables resellers to offer a domain that supports both familiar online use cases—like websites and email—and next-generation functionality tied to decentralized identity.

Key advantages:

  • Web2-ready: Use .locker domains for standard websites or branded email addresses, just like any other TLD.
  • Web3-enabled: Connect to a Bitcoin wallet to activate decentralized identity and access dApps.
  • Human-readable identity: Replace complex wallet addresses with a simple, brandable domain.
  • Bitcoin-backed: Every .locker identity is secured by the resilience of the Bitcoin blockchain.

Each .locker identity is minted on the Bitcoin blockchain using BNS, ensuring it’s unique, secure, and verifiable. It acts as a digital vault: one namespace that supports both the familiar Web2 presence and a future-ready Web3 identity. So, whether your customers are just starting to explore decentralized tools or already active in blockchain ecosystems, .locker provides a secure, flexible identity they can grow into.

Right now, they get $5 in Bitcoin with their .locker

To help drive adoption and lower the barrier to entry, every new .locker registered between August 1st and December 31, 2025, comes with $5 in Bitcoin, delivered directly to the registrant’s connected wallet.

This incentive not only introduces users to decentralized identity but also gives them a hands-on experience with a Bitcoin-enabled wallet, helping them understand how blockchain-backed tools work in practice.

How your clients can claim their $5 Bitcoin reward:

  • Register a .locker domain – the client’s preferred email address must be entered as the registrant email.
  • Check their inbox for .locker email – the registrant email address will receive an email from .locker with instructions on how to mint their domain.
  • Set up wallet – clients follow the guide in the .locker email to create or connect a Bitcoin-enabled wallet.
  • They’re good to go – once their .locker domain is registered and Web3 identity minted, the $5 Bitcoin reward will be sent within 7 days.

Service providers can use this offer to engage tech-curious customers who are looking for an easy, low-risk way to step into Web3—with both a domain and real Bitcoin to get started.

Domains that are deleted within the 5-day grace period following registration are not eligible for a reward.

Why this matters for resellers and service providers

As the domain industry continues to intersect with blockchain technologies, TLDs like .locker represent an important evolution. They combine the established utility of domains with the emerging demand for decentralized identity solutions.

Offering .locker allows resellers to meet growing interest in blockchain without requiring customers to leave behind the Web2 tools they know and trust. It’s designed to make getting started with Web3 easy and low-risk—letting customers explore at their own pace while keeping their identity secure and supported by a trusted partner.

The .locker promotion is live now, with Bitcoin rewards included for every new domain registration through the end of 2025.