Proto.xyz – MarkMonitor customer – (United States)
Bitcoin developers use .xyz domains to build projects and establish their online presence. Bitcoin project Citrea.xyz applies zero-knowledge technology to expand crypto capabilities. Web3 platform Omega.xyz aims to pioneer Bitcoin DeFi with cross-chain yield generation solutions. Modular blockchain network Hemi.xyz seeks to unite Bitcoin and Ethereum networks in a scalable supernetwork. In this week’s #BlockchainThursday, we’ll introduce you to a project focused on decentralizing bitcoin mining through hardware and open-source software: Proto.xyz.
Proto.xyz is the online home of Proto, a division of Block.xyz that builds tools aimed at making bitcoin mining accessible and sustainable for anyone, regardless of size or location. As highlighted on the website, Proto frames its work as part of Block’s financial ecosystem and describes its mission as decentralizing bitcoin mining to strengthen the network. Block also supports Spiral.xyz, formerly Square Crypto, an initiative focused on funding and building open-source bitcoin projects. On August 15, 2025 it was reported that Proto introduced two new offerings – Proto Rig and Proto Fleet – as part of this effort.1
Proto presents hardware and software products designed for durability, adaptability, and efficiency. Proto Rig is a modular mining machine designed for repairability and long-term operation. Proto Fleet is free and open-source management software for monitoring and coordinating mining activity. According to Proto.xyz, the company describes itself as a team of hardware experts with “tens of millions of units sold since 2009” and highlights its world-class ASIC and system design team. Within the blockchain ecosystem, these offerings contribute to the decentralization of mining infrastructure, a key component of bitcoin’s broader role in web3 networks.
Proto is part of Block, founded by Jack Dorsey, and benefits from Block’s resources and position within the financial and technology sectors. Leadership includes individuals with experience in mining, hardware, and business development. As shared on LinkedIn, Jesse Smith-Gillespie joined Proto in August 2025 as Enterprise Account Director, following nearly two years at MARA, a digital finance and bitcoin mining company, in roles spanning customer success and business development. He also continues as Principal at The Walker Grey Group. This mix of leadership backgrounds illustrates how Proto is building its team from a range of blockchain and technology-focused organizations.
Proto uses Proto.xyz as the official website for its mining initiative. The .xyz domain extension is widely adopted across the blockchain industry by projects seeking short, flexible, and globally recognizable domains. Block, Proto’s parent company, also maintains its online presence at Block.xyz. In choosing Proto.xyz, the initiative aligns itself with other blockchain pioneers who have turned to .xyz to represent their presence online within the growing web3 ecosystem. You can learn more by following the initiative on X/Twitter and LinkedIn, and by visiting Proto.xyz.
1.https://coincentral.com/jack-dorsey-block-unveils-proto-rig-and-proto-fleet-for-bitcoin-mining/DaltonGriebel.xyz – Hover customer – (United States)
The .xyz community is home to skilled creatives showcasing their work on .xyz domains. Copywriter and freelance writer Alex Watt uses AlexWatt.xyz to share his work for MTV and The New Yorker. Meta product designer Josh Nelson uses JNDesign.xyz to highlight his career experiences. Art Director Marko Medic uses MarkoMedic.xyz to showcase work for brands such as Glossier and La Croix. In this week’s #WebsiteWednesday, we’ll introduce you to a CMF designer who shares his creative work using a “FirstNameLastName.xyz” domain: DaltonGriebel.xyz.
DaltonGriebel.xyz is the personal website of Dalton Griebel, a Massachusetts-based CMF (Color, Material, Finish) and graphic designer with a background that bridges retail, business administration, and visual design. According to his website and LinkedIn profile, his early experience on the retail floor sparked a lasting interest in how design can connect with people emotionally and practically. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design, Dalton discovered CMF design and went on to study at Pensole Lewis College in 2023. He now serves as the global CMF lead for Shark’s cordless vacuum category at SharkNinja, where he guides end-to-end design strategy across teams in the U.S. and China.
Chevrolet Lynx concept footwear via DaltonGriebel.xyz
Visitors to DaltonGriebel.xyz can explore a range of design projects that reflect Dalton’s multidisciplinary approach. One highlighted project is Chevrolet Lynx, a concept footwear collaboration with designer Steven Burstyn. Together, they reimagined how Chevrolet could extend its brand into lifestyle products. Dalton contributed trend research and CMF strategy, aligning the sneaker’s design with the aesthetic and spirit of the 2024 Chevy Equinox EV. The project emerged from a sponsored masterclass hosted by General Motors and Pensole Lewis College in Detroit, Michigan. Dalton also shares creative explorations outside traditional product design on a page titled Etc, which includes graphic design, printmaking, and other visual experiments. In one featured project titled Shibori, Dalton created a CMYK silkscreen print inspired by traditional tie dye techniques. He designed a seamless, repeating pattern that transformed the uniqueness of hand-dyed textiles into a large-scale manufactured format. By rotating the process colors across multiple print runs, he produced a tiled gradient of symmetrical indigo patterns, showcasing his interest in both material texture and visual storytelling.
The website also includes a dedicated contact section titled Let’s Work, which provides a form for direct inquiries as well as links to Dalton’s email address, Instagram profile, and LinkedIn page. This setup offers multiple ways for collaborators or potential partners to reach out and learn more about Dalton’s evolving creative practice.
Using a FirstNameLastName.xyz domain like DaltonGriebel.xyz can help make it easier for Dalton and his work to be found online. Anyone who Googles “dalton griebel” will see DaltonGriebel.xyz at the top of the search results page (as of August 19, 2025). A domain name that directly matches his full name increases the likelihood of appearing in relevant search results, which can help audiences and collaborators find the right Dalton Griebel when they’re searching online. In a digital landscape where personal branding plays a growing role, a domain like DaltonGriebel.xyz serves as a simple and memorable way to establish a professional presence and share creative output. You can learn more by following Dalton on LinkedIn and
Instagram, and by visiting DaltonGriebel.xyz.
AILayer.xyz – Namecheap customer- (Hong Kong)
Innovators combining AI with blockchain technology use .xyz domains to build the next generation of decentralized networks and tools. Oracle network Switchboard.xyz powers decentralized applications with customizable data solutions. AI platform GizaTech.xyz is focused on helping foster accessibility in the field of artificial intelligence. Innovation platform EdgeIntelligence.xyz pioneers the future of AI and web3 with decentralized, open-source solutions. In this week’s #AIMonday, we’ll introduce you to an AI-powered Bitcoin Layer-2 network designed to improve blockchain connectivity and support multi-chain applications: AILayer.xyz.
AILayer.xyz is the online home of AILayer, an AI-powered Bitcoin Layer-2 network. A Layer-2 network is a secondary blockchain built on top of Bitcoin that can process transactions more efficiently while staying connected to Bitcoin’s main network (Layer-1). AILayer is designed to address challenges such as fragmented blockchain networks and complex liquidity management. It can transfer Bitcoin assets and digital records called inscriptions between Bitcoin Layer-1 and Layer-2. These transfers use light nodes (lightweight blockchain nodes that verify transactions without storing the entire blockchain) for security checks, and the assets are mapped in a format similar to ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum. AILayer also uses the Tendermint consensus mechanism, a system for network participants to agree on transactions, to maintain security and integrity. In August 2025, AILayer announced a partnership with 0XTrikon, a chain abstraction layer aimed at improving communication between different blockchains. The integration connects AILayer’s Bitcoin Layer-2 network with 0XTrikon’s zero-knowledge proof-based infrastructure. This setup is designed to enable multi-chain asset trading and decentralized application access without manual bridging.1
According to its documentation, AILayer incorporates artificial intelligence into its blockchain operations through its AI Protocol Controller. This is a set of smart contracts (self-executing programs on a blockchain) that manage tasks such as registering and removing participants, assigning rewards, and scoring performance for provers and miners (users who validate transactions or provide computational resources). The AI Protocol Controller also manages subnets, which are independent sections of the network designed to support different types of AI models. This structure is intended to accommodate a variety of AI-driven applications and processes within the Bitcoin Layer-2 ecosystem.
As noted on LinkedIn, Russell Lau co-founded AILayer and serves as Head of Product. Russell’s background includes nearly five years as a Senior Software Engineer at Microsoft before co-founding AILayer in August 2023. His work at AILayer focuses on integrating AI capabilities with blockchain operations to improve interoperability and scalability within the network.
The choice of AILayer.xyz reflects the company’s position at the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain innovation. .XYZ is widely adopted by developers, researchers, and builders working on advanced technologies across multiple industries. Using AILayer.xyz as its online hub places the company within a global community leveraging .xyz domains to share protocols, infrastructure, and forward-looking projects with a broad audience. You can learn more by following the network on X/Twitter @AILayerXYZ and LinkedIn @ailayerxyz, and by visiting AILayer.xyz.
1.https://www.cointrust.com/market-news/ailayer-and-0xtrikon-join-forces-to-tackle-web3-fragmentationUbyx.xyz – Namecheap customer – (United Kingdom)
Blockchain infrastructure innovators use .xyz domains to develop next-generation financial and data solutions. Layer-2 blockchain Atlas.xyz aims to deliver low-cost, reliable solutions for verifiable finance. Decentralized storage platform Walrus.xyz offers scalable data recovery and verification tools. Crypto startup GTE.xyz builds decentralized exchange infrastructure on MegaETH for onchain trading. In this week’s #BlockchainThursday, we’ll introduce you to a stablecoin clearing platform designed to connect issuers and financial institutions for par-value redemption: Ubyx.xyz.
Ubyx.xyz is the online home of Ubyx, a clearing system that aims to help anyone deposit stablecoins from many issuers and multiple currencies into existing bank and fintech accounts and receive full value. The platform is described as transforming stablecoins from crypto assets into digital cash equivalents by supporting redemption through regulated financial channels while maintaining decentralization and peer-to-peer transactions on multiple blockchains. Ubyx says this approach addresses the “many-to-many network problem” and supports what it calls the “Stablecoin Epoch.” In June 2025, Ubyx raised $10M in seed funding led by Galaxy Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Founders Fund, VanEck, Paxos, and others.1
According to Ubyx’s website and whitepaper, the platform is designed to connect stablecoin issuers and receiving institutions through a rules-based clearing system that supports multi-issuer, multi-blockchain, and multi-currency participation. People and businesses can receive stablecoins from many issuers into hosted wallets provided by their existing financial institution, which offers redemption at face value. This process is achieved by enabling the collection of the full amount from multiple issuers and currencies within a mutualized acceptance network. All participants agree to the Ubyx Rulebook, which outlines operational standards, compliance requirements, and settlement processes. At launch, Ubyx intends to support blockchains including Aptos, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Canton, Concordium, Hedera, Polygon, Solana, Starknet, Stellar, Sui, XDC, XRPL, and ZKsync, and lists partnerships with stablecoin issuer Paxos, blockchain company Ripple, and infrastructure providers such as BitGo, Copper, Chainalysis, and Fireblocks.
Ubyx is founded by CEO Tony McLaughlin. Per his LinkedIn profile, Tony founded Ubyx in March 2025 after more than 20 years at Citi. His roles at Citi included Emerging Payments and Business Development (2016–2025), Cash Management Head Asia Pacific (2013–2016), and Global Transactions Services Head UK (2004–2013). He also worked as a Senior Solutions Integrator at ABN AMRO Bank from 2001 to 2004.
By using Ubyx.xyz, the company has chosen a short, memorable domain extension that is widely adopted across blockchain and fintech projects. .XYZ aligns with the company’s aim to develop a cross-network platform for stablecoins, making it a fitting choice for a venture focused on connecting diverse participants in the digital payments ecosystem. As a generic domain extension with no predefined meaning, .xyz offers flexibility for organizations working across industries and technologies. You can learn more by following the company on LinkedIn and X/Twitter @ubyx_, and by visiting Ubyx.xyz.
1.https://cointelegraph.com/news/ubyx-raises-10m-to-standardize-stablecoin-redemption-and-drive-mass-adoptionTYB.xyz – Gandi customer – (United States)
Innovative founders use .xyz domains to build platforms that connect brands, creators, and communities. Retail tech company EON.xyz collaborates with luxury brands like Coach and Chloé for transparent and sustainable commerce. Social commerce platform Crowdmuse.xyz helps creators and brands collaborate on exclusive product drops. Film platform GetGreenlit.xyz aims to streamline packaging, financing, and management for creators and producers. In this week’s #WebsiteWednesday, we’ll introduce you to a loyalty platform designed to connect communities with commerce: TYB.xyz.
TYB.xyz is the online home of Try Your Best (TYB), a platform that combines community engagement with rewards-based loyalty programs for consumer brands. According to the company’s LinkedIn overview, TYB is designed to help brands connect with, engage, and reward fans for taking valuable actions. Brands can use TYB to integrate community interaction directly into their commerce strategy. As reported by Fortune, TYB has 38 employees and works with 200 brands and 2 million users, most of whom are Gen Z women. In June 2025, Fortune reported that TYB raised $11M in Series A funding, co-led by Offline Ventures and Strobe Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Castle Island Ventures, and Unusual Ventures. This brought its total funding to $23.5M.1
According to public materials and the Fortune report, TYB offers brands a range of community engagement tools. These include gamified challenges, collectibles, and blockchain-enabled loyalty profiles that can be used across multiple brands. Brands in categories such as beauty, fashion, and lifestyle use the platform, including beauty brands Glossier, Rare Beauty, OUAI, and Saie, beverage company Poppi, fashion retailer Urban Outfitters, and activewear brand Set Active. TYB reports that its customers can experience higher purchase frequency, increased lifetime value, and monthly engagement rates exceeding 40 percent. The company is also developing “affinity webs” that can apply a user’s loyalty to one brand within the network to another.
The website shares that Brands can use the platform to integrate loyalty, rewards, and community engagement within a single channel. For example, haircare brand OUAI used TYB to connect its loyalty and rewards programs with its broader community initiatives. Laural Simeon, Senior Director of DTC at OUAI, described the experience as “that ‘A-ha’ moment,” adding that the platform felt “like a whole new social platform where we can engage in our own type of way and also control the narrative.”
Entrepreneur Ty Haney founded TYB in 2021. As showcased on her LinkedIn profile, Ty is also the founder of active lifestyle brand Outdoor Voices, launched in 2014, and co-founder of Joggy, a wellness brand offering plant-based energy products. She describes Outdoor Voices as being built on the idea that “Doing Things”—moving your body and having fun with friends—outlasts a win when it comes to inspiring sustainable active lives. Joggy, founded in 2021, is described as offering “healthy energy” with the goal of maximizing happiness through movement. In the Fortune interview, Ty noted that her approach to fundraising for TYB reflects lessons from her earlier ventures, including being more selective about investors, aligning fundraising amounts with business needs, and minimizing equity dilution.2
Choosing TYB.xyz provides the platform with a short, memorable web address that aligns with its concise brand name. .XYZ is used across a range of industries and can offer a flexible, modern option for companies aiming to connect with diverse online audiences. TYB’s choice to pair its acronym with .xyz results in a domain name that is easy to recall and directly tied to its brand identity. You can learn more by following the platform on X/Twitter @TYBXYZ, Instagram @tyb.xyz, and LinkedIn, and by visiting TYB.xyz.
1.https://fortune.com/2025/06/11/ty-haney-tyb-try-your-best-series-a-loyalty-consumer/ 2.https://fortune.com/2025/06/11/ty-haney-tyb-try-your-best-series-a-loyalty-consumer/
