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Use a browser with Web3 domain resolution enabled, then enter the complete name—including .bitcoin or .wallet—in the address bar. Brave’s maintained Web3 Top Level Domains documentation, edited January 26, 2026, lists both suffixes as supported Unstoppable Domains TLDs. On desktop, open brave://settings/web3; on Android, use Settings > Shields and privacy; on iOS, use Settings > Web3. Set Unstoppable Domains resolution to Ask or Enabled, then browse to the domain.
A registered blockchain name is not automatically a working website. The owner must publish either conventional DNS records or a distributed-web record such as an IPFS content identifier. If no record exists, or your resolver does not support the suffix, the lookup will fail even when the name is registered.
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What you need before opening a blockchain domain
There are three separate requirements:
- A resolver that understands the Web3 suffix. Conventional browser DNS normally knows Internet extensions such as
.comand.org, not every blockchain-backed namespace. - Web3 resolution enabled in that browser. Support is a browser and resolver feature, not a universal property of the suffix.
- Website records configured by the domain owner. The name must point to an HTTP destination or distributed content.
For this topic, Brave is the documented route: its maintained Web3 TLD list explicitly includes .bitcoin and .wallet. Brave also notes that it may decline to support other Web3 TLDs because of security, namespace-conflict, or related concerns. Therefore, do not assume that an unfamiliar suffix will work merely because it looks like a blockchain domain.
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You do not need a special hardware wallet, a cryptocurrency payment, or a separate physical device merely to visit a name. Access depends on browser software, the resolver setting, and records attached to the name. A wallet may be relevant to ownership or payment features, but it is not what makes a page load.
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Open .bitcoin or .wallet with Brave
Desktop instructions
- Install and open the current desktop version of Brave.
- Enter
brave://settings/web3in the address bar and press Enter. - Find the setting for Unstoppable Domains resolution.
- Choose one of the available states: Ask, Disabled, or Enabled.
- Select Ask if you want Brave to prompt when you visit a supported Web3 domain. Select Enabled if you want the browser to resolve supported names without asking each time.
- Open a new tab and type the full domain, for example
example.bitcoinorexample.wallet. Do not omit the suffix and do not search for the name if you intend to test direct resolution.
The setting controls whether Brave attempts a blockchain-backed lookup. It does not create records for a domain, repair an incorrectly configured name, or guarantee that a particular site is online.
Android instructions
- Open Brave on your Android phone or tablet.
- Open the browser menu and select Settings.
- Open Shields and privacy.
- Locate the Web3 or Unstoppable Domains resolution control.
- Set it to Ask or Enabled, depending on whether you want per-site prompts or automatic resolution.
- Return to the address bar and enter the complete
.bitcoinor.walletname.
Menu placement can vary slightly by Brave release and screen size. If the control is not visible, update Brave and search the Settings page for “Web3” or “Unstoppable.”
iPhone and iPad instructions
- Open Brave for iOS.
- Open Settings from the browser menu.
- Select Web3.
- Enable Unstoppable Domains resolution, or leave it on the prompt-based option if that is what your version displays.
- Enter the full blockchain domain in the address bar.
Brave’s documentation identifies the iOS path as Settings > Web3. The exact wording of the toggle can change with an app update, but the function is the same: permit the browser to resolve supported Web3 TLDs.
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Ask is a cautious default. Brave waits until you visit a supported name and then asks whether to use the Web3 resolver. It lets you approve individual lookups and is useful if you rarely visit blockchain domains. Enabled is more convenient for regular use because supported names are resolved without a prompt. Disabled prevents this resolution path, so a failed test while it is selected does not show that the domain itself is broken.
Changing the setting does not change ownership, renew a registration, or publish content. It only changes how this installation of Brave handles names in supported namespaces. If a work, school, or mobile-management policy controls browser settings, an administrator may prevent you from changing the option.
What happens when you enter the name
A Web3 lookup is not simply a normal DNS request with a different spelling. Brave describes its Web3 TLD method as querying blockchain-backed records through an RPC service. In Brave’s stated design, the browser sends the request through a Brave-operated anonymous proxy before contacting the RPC provider. Brave says this prevents that provider from linking your IP address to the requested domain. That is the browser maker’s description of its architecture, not an independent privacy audit.
After the resolver finds the domain’s records, the browser must decide how to retrieve the destination:
- DNS and HTTP route: a DNS record points the name to an address or host, and the browser requests the site using familiar DNS and HTTP mechanisms.
- Distributed-web route: a record contains a content identifier, such as an IPFS hash. The browser or an associated gateway retrieves the content addressed by that identifier.
- Redirect route: a record can specify a conventional URL to which the visitor is sent.
The domain name is therefore a pointer, not the website itself. Owning or registering a name without publishing a destination produces no usable page. Resolution and hosting are separate jobs: the resolver finds the record, while a web server, IPFS node, or gateway supplies the actual files.
Which records make a blockchain domain load?
Unstoppable’s browser documentation describes several record types. They are key-value data associated with the name; they are not automatically validated at the smart-contract level. A typo, stale value, or unsupported protocol can make a correctly registered domain appear broken.
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| Record or field | Purpose | What the visitor experiences |
|---|---|---|
dns.A |
Maps the name to an IPv4 address. | The browser can reach a conventional web server through DNS and HTTP. |
dns.CNAME |
Points the name to another host name. | The browser follows the normal DNS aliasing path. |
browser.redirect_url |
Specifies a destination URL. | The browser is redirected to the configured web address. |
dweb.ipfs.hash |
Stores an IPFS content identifier. | Content is retrieved through IPFS-capable software or a gateway. |
browser.preferred_protocols |
Indicates which retrieval protocols the browser should prefer. | The resolver chooses an available method according to the published preference. |
| Cryptocurrency address records | Associate payment addresses with the name. | They can support payments but do not, by themselves, publish a website. |
Do not confuse a wallet-address record with a web-hosting record. A name can be useful for receiving a cryptocurrency payment and still have no page to display.
How to tell what kind of destination a name uses
If a site owner gives you a conventional server address, the name is using the DNS/HTTP route. If the owner supplies an IPFS content identifier, retrieval depends on IPFS support or a gateway. A redirect may take you to an entirely different conventional host, so the address bar can change after the initial lookup. These are different failure points: a valid blockchain record can still lead to an offline server, an unavailable IPFS object, or a malformed URL.
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Direct browser resolution versus a gateway
There are two practical ways to turn a blockchain name into something a conventional browser can open. Direct Web3 resolution keeps the lookup in a browser that understands the namespace. A gateway translates the request into mechanisms that ordinary DNS and HTTP clients already understand.
| Approach | Setup | Resolution path | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brave Web3 resolution | Enable the setting in Brave. | Brave queries blockchain-backed records through its configured RPC path. | Requires a compatible browser and depends on the TLDs that browser chooses to support. |
| Third-party gateway | Use a gateway address or service that exposes the name through DNS/HTTP. | The gateway resolves the blockchain record and serves or proxies the destination. | Easier for ordinary browsers, but the gateway operator becomes an intermediary and reduces decentralization. |
| Self-hosted gateway | Operate and maintain your own resolver and gateway. | Your infrastructure translates the Web3 record into a browser-accessible response. | Retains more control but adds significant deployment, monitoring, and maintenance work. |
A gateway is useful when a visitor cannot configure a Web3-capable browser. It does not make an empty domain valid: the underlying name still needs a usable DNS, redirect, or distributed-content record. A third-party gateway is convenient precisely because it takes on work that would otherwise be performed by the visitor or site owner. That convenience comes with reliance on the gateway’s availability, policy, and handling of requests.
Self-hosting is not a shortcut for casual visitors. The operator must keep the resolver and gateway running, maintain protocol compatibility, and make sure content remains reachable. It can reduce reliance on one outside intermediary, but it shifts responsibility for uptime, updates, monitoring, and security to the operator.
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1. Confirm the suffix and browser support
Check that the name ends exactly in .bitcoin or .wallet and that your selected browser currently lists the suffix as supported. A spelling error, a different Web3 TLD, or a browser that has removed support will prevent resolution before the site’s own records are considered.
2. Check the Web3 setting
Reopen the relevant Brave path and verify that Unstoppable Domains resolution is not set to Disabled. If it is set to Ask, reload the name and accept the prompt for that visit. Private browsing, managed-device policies, or extensions can also prevent a prompt from appearing.
3. Test whether the owner published a website record
A registration alone is insufficient. The owner must configure at least one of the web-oriented records, such as dns.A, dns.CNAME, browser.redirect_url, or dweb.ipfs.hash. If only a cryptocurrency address is present, there may be nothing for the browser to display.
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4. Identify the retrieval protocol
If the record points to an IPFS hash or another distributed-content identifier, a normal HTTP request may not be enough. The browser needs IPFS-capable retrieval or a gateway that can fetch the content. A page that works through one gateway but not another may be exposing a gateway-compatibility issue rather than a problem with the name itself.
5. Look for stale or malformed values
Because the records are key-value data and are not validated at smart-contract level, an owner can publish a value that is outdated, misspelled, points to an unavailable server, or uses a protocol the browser does not support. The domain may resolve while the destination still returns an error.
6. Compare direct and gateway results
If direct Brave resolution fails, try the documented gateway supplied by the site owner, if one exists. If the gateway works while direct resolution does not, the issue may be browser support, the RPC path, or protocol handling. If both fail, inspect the published record and destination. Do not treat a gateway result as proof that the underlying record is correct; a gateway may cache content or apply its own interpretation.
7. Avoid random resolver changes
Do not “fix” a failed lookup by installing an unverified extension or replacing your DNS provider with an arbitrary server. A resolver needs to be trustworthy, support the required namespace, and explain how it handles requests. Use the documented browser setting or a gateway whose operator and privacy terms you understand.
Security and privacy checks before trusting a site
- Verify the spelling carefully. Blockchain names can look similar to conventional domains, and a mistaken character can lead to a different owner.
- Check the connection and destination. A Web3 name can redirect to an ordinary website; inspect the final host and HTTPS state before entering credentials.
- Treat wallet prompts separately from page loading. A domain’s payment records do not prove that a page or wallet request is legitimate.
- Expect resolver dependence. A browser, RPC provider, gateway, or distributed-content node can each affect availability.
- Keep software current. Web3 namespace support and security behavior can change between browser releases.
Brave’s anonymous-proxy description addresses the RPC provider’s visibility of your IP address. It does not make the destination site trustworthy, prevent phishing, or hide every network request made after the page loads. A page retrieved through a gateway is also subject to that gateway’s policies and infrastructure.
When a gateway is the better choice
Choose a gateway when your audience uses browsers without native Web3 resolution, when you need a familiar HTTP URL, or when distributed content must be fetched without asking every visitor to install specialized software. This is often the simplest publishing path for a site owner serving a mixed audience.
Choose direct browser resolution when visitors can use a supported browser and you want fewer translation layers. The visitor then relies on the browser’s resolver and RPC design rather than a separate gateway operator.
Self-hosting is appropriate only when you can operate the required infrastructure and accept the maintenance burden. It gives you control over the translation layer, but it does not remove the need to keep records accurate, serve content reliably, and handle protocol compatibility.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Publisher checklist: making a name usable
- Confirm that the name is registered and that the intended suffix is supported by the browsers you plan to target.
- Choose the destination model: a conventional server, a redirect, or distributed content such as IPFS.
- Publish the matching record, such as
dns.A,dns.CNAME,browser.redirect_url, ordweb.ipfs.hash. - If more than one retrieval method is available, set
browser.preferred_protocolsconsistently with the content you actually serve. - Test the complete name in Brave with Web3 resolution enabled.
- Test any gateway separately, because gateway behavior and direct browser behavior can differ.
- Review records after changing hosts, redirects, or content identifiers; a registered name does not automatically track those changes.
Keep payment address records conceptually separate from web records. A wallet address can help someone pay you, while a DNS or distributed-content record is what gives a browser something to retrieve.
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What the browser can and cannot guarantee
Brave’s documentation establishes support for .bitcoin and .wallet, plus configuration paths for desktop, Android, and iOS. It does not establish that every name in either namespace currently has a live website, that every browser supports these suffixes, or that every gateway will retrieve the same content.
The practical sequence is therefore: enable a documented resolver, enter the complete name, determine which record and protocol it uses, and troubleshoot the record or gateway when the page does not appear. That sequence separates browser configuration problems from domain-owner configuration problems and avoids treating a registration as proof of a functioning site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a .bitcoin or .wallet name open in Chrome, Safari, or Firefox automatically?
Not necessarily. Web3 TLD resolution is resolver-specific. The documented support for these two suffixes is in Brave’s Web3 settings; an ordinary browser using conventional DNS may not resolve them.
Does registering a blockchain domain create a website?
No. The owner must configure a web-oriented record, such as dns.A, dns.CNAME, browser.redirect_url, or dweb.ipfs.hash. A cryptocurrency address record alone supports payments, not page loading.
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Choose Ask for per-domain prompts and Enabled for automatic resolution of supported names. Disabled prevents Brave’s Web3 resolution path.
Why does the domain resolve but show an error?
The published value may be stale, misspelled, point to an unavailable server, use an unsupported protocol, or reference distributed content that your browser or gateway cannot retrieve.
Is an IPFS record the same as a normal website address?
No. An IPFS content identifier addresses distributed content. Retrieval requires IPFS-capable software or a gateway that fetches the content and presents it through familiar browser mechanisms.
Is using a gateway more decentralized?
A third-party gateway adds an intermediary and therefore reduces decentralization compared with direct resolution. Self-hosting gives more control but requires substantially more setup and maintenance.
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Does Brave’s proxy claim guarantee privacy?
No. Brave says its anonymous proxy prevents the RPC provider from linking your IP address to the requested domain. That is Brave’s description of its design, not an independent audit, and it does not make the destination site trustworthy.
Do I need a crypto wallet or special hardware to visit these domains?
No special hardware is required to browse. A wallet may be involved in ownership or payment features, but browser access depends on a supported resolver and usable domain records.
The Bottom Line
To open a .bitcoin or .wallet address, use a browser with Web3 resolution enabled—Brave documents the setting on desktop, Android, and iOS—then enter the full name in the address bar. If it fails, check support and the resolver setting first, then verify that the owner published a DNS, redirect, or distributed-content record. A gateway can make access easier for ordinary browsers, but it introduces an intermediary and cannot repair an empty or malformed domain.
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