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In an unexpected yet brilliantly executed move, the digital landscape witnessed a groundbreaking transformation today. Just ahead of their milestone 10th anniversary, XYZ Registry, the innovative force behind the operation of .xyz, .LOL, .Beauty, and 32 other top-level domains (TLDs), has officially announced its rebranding to LOL Registry. This strategic pivot not only captures the essence of internet culture but also sets a new precedent for domain versatility and engagement.

The decision, sparked by the overwhelming popularity and flexibility of the .LOL domain, underscores a significant shift in online communication trends. Recognizing .LOL’s superior adaptability and its alignment with the ever-evolving digital humor, LOL Registry aims to infuse the internet with an unparalleled level of fun, creativity, and laughter. Embracing our rebrand to LOL Registry, we’re charting a course that not only showcases our innovative spirit but also playfully acknowledges our critics, proving that laughter truly is the best response to skepticism.

Why .LOL?

In the digital era, where engagement is king, .LOL stands out as a beacon of light-heartedness and entertainment. Its universal appeal crosses linguistic and cultural barriers, making it the perfect ambassador for the newly minted LOL Registry. The domain’s inherent versatility allows brands, influencers, and individuals alike to connect with their audiences on a level that traditional TLDs simply cannot match.

The journey to LOL Registry

The transformation from XYZ Registry to LOL Registry was no overnight decision. It was the culmination of years of data analysis, user feedback, and market trends, all pointing towards a single, undeniable truth: the internet loves to laugh. Embracing this, the team embarked on a mission to revolutionize the way we perceive domain names, turning them into vessels of joy and engagement.

As part of the rebranding, LOL Registry has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to introduce a series of innovative features and partnerships designed to maximize the .LOL domain’s potential. From exclusive content collaborations with leading comedic talents to advanced domain customization options that allow for personal expression, the possibilities are endless.

A new era of digital real estate

In today’s digital landscape, a domain name is much more than a web address; it’s a brand’s identity, a creator’s platform, and, in the case of .LOL, a statement of joy. As we transition into the LOL Registry era, we’re not just changing our name; we’re redefining what a domain can be. We’re committed to providing a space where creativity flourishes, engagement is effortless, and laughter is abundant.

Embrace the LOL lifestyle

As we forge ahead under the LOL Registry banner, we invite you to join us in this exciting new chapter. Whether you’re a business looking to stand out, a content creator in search of a memorable brand identity, or simply someone who loves to spread joy, .LOL is your domain.

Today, on April Fools’ Day, we celebrate not just a rebranding but the dawn of a new era in digital communication. LOL Registry is here to remind the world that sometimes, the key to connection is a good laugh.

Remember, in the vast expanse of the internet, .LOL is your home for humor. Welcome to the LOL Registry – where every click is a giggle, and every domain tells a joke.

Let’s not just surf the web; let’s make it laugh. Join us at LOL Registry, and together, let’s redefine the internet, one .LOL at a time.

Happy April Fools’ Day!

(Disclaimer: While this blog post is a playful creation for April Fools’ Day meant to be enjoyed with a sense of humor, rest assured that .LOL domains are very real and available for registration. Dive into the fun and secure your own .LOL domain today. Please laugh responsibly.)

RenAIArt.xyzSquarespace customer – (Italy)

Innovative artists are developing their digital presence on .xyz domains to showcase technology-driven artwork. Artist and designer Makeitrad uses Makeitrad.xyz to showcase AI-driven art. Architect and AI visionary Will Garner uses WillGarner.xyz to highlight his creative process. Artists Harry Yeff (also known as Reeps100), and Trung Bao developed VoiceGems.xyz, a generative art project designed to translate a person’s voice into a gemstone-like sculpture. In this week’s #AIMonday, we’ll introduce you to an artist who captures the evolving dynamics between humanity and technology by harnessing AI to enhance their artistic process: RenAIArt.xyz.

Spotlight on Ren: A fusion of tradition and AI artistry

RenAIArt.xyz is the online hub of Ren, an artist with a background in traditional artistic education who has embraced AI to expand and evolve their artistic style. Ren blends the techniques of old masters with contemporary aesthetics, creating post-humanist artworks that explore the nuanced relationship between humans and AI. Their pieces are characterized by “instinctive brush strokes, layered lighting, and hidden meanings,” aiming to delve into the sociological impacts of human-AI interactions. Ren is a member of MAIF, a collective of AI-assisted artists from all over the world. The collective, whose work you can check out on community platform TheHug.xyz, hosts shows in cities around the world like Los Angeles, CA, and Rome, Italy, and runs an art fund dedicated to collecting pieces from emerging AI creators. 1Ren’s collection Paradise Lost marks a notable blend of anime and AI. Set in a cyberpunk universe, it tells the story of a young inventor in a narrative spanning 20 chapters, exploring themes like the societal impact of AI and our dependency on virtual realities. Through 500 unique digital artworks, Ren utilizes AI to enhance artistic expression, each piece integral to the overarching story. The collection launched in December 2023 on AI-generated art platform BrainDrops, 2showcasing the potential of AI in redefining art and storytelling. 3Additionally, Ren has curated Def Gems, a collection of AI-enhanced artwork, on Joyn.xyz, a collaborative platform aimed at supporting the large-scale co-creation of web3 media.

Exploring RenAIArt.xyz: From art and exhibitions to Paradise Lost

Ren dedicates a section of their website to Paradise Lost, their cyberpunk-based collection exploring the intersection of anime and AI. He shares information about the development of the project, including how the narrative was created with the help of ChatGPT. Harnessing the AI-powered chatbot, they conceptualized scenarios, events, and cliffhangers based on their idea to explore “the fine line between humanity empowered by technology and enslaved by it.” Ren also shares that a big challenge they faced was keeping the characters and the locations consistent while evolving their appearance and behavior throughout the story. They honed their prompting and editing techniques to overcome this obstacle and make the world feel coherent. 

Visitors can explore Ren’s assorted artwork collections, including Glaciers, a series of colorful glacier formations hosted on NFT marketplace Foundation. Check out the Showroom to see a wide range of unminted works available on demand. By selecting the “Get in Touch” CTA, you’ll connect to Ren’s X/Twitter profile, where you can reach out for more information. Ren’s Exhibitions page shares their history of exhibitions, such as 2022 Miami Art Week’’s Royal House of Medici 4and 2023’s Bad Glitches Only Redux, on display in Tokyo and New York City.5

.XYZ: A domain for the intersection of art and technology

Ren’s decision to establish their digital hub on a .xyz domain exemplifies their innovative and forward-thinking approach. They align themself with a modern, universal namespace that resonates with the global and boundaryless nature of the internet and digital art. Ren’s choice of .xyz reflects a commitment to a future where art and technology merge seamlessly. The .xyz domain, popular among tech startups and creative communities, underscores Ren’s dedication to exploring new frontiers in art, especially in the realms of AI and digital expression. It signals to the world that Ren is at the forefront of the digital art revolution, embracing a platform that speaks to a diverse, internet-savvy audience eager to explore the cutting-edge intersection of art and technology. You can learn more about Ren and view more of their work by following the artist on Instagram and X/Twitter, and by visiting RenAIArt.xyz.

1.https://thehug.xyz/collectives/maif
2.https://braindrops.cloud/projects/29
3.https://www.redlion.news/article/the-fusion-of-anime-and-ai-rens-visionary-art-in-paradise-lost
4.https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/12/02/2566611/0/en/Royal-House-of-Medici-Holdings-in-Collaboration-with-M1563-Media-Launch-Web3-Art-Auction-on-the-MetaWorks-Blockchain-at-Miami-Art-Week.html
5.https://foundation.app/world/bad-glitches-only

Arcade.xyzGandi customer – (United States)

Blockchain developers are using .xyz domains to harness the latest technologies and develop innovative solutions. Web3 wallet Taho.xyz is geared towards optimized digital asset management solutions. NFT platform Cohort.xyz aims to refresh the way brands engage with customers. Web3 authenticator Dynamic.xyz is geared towards simplifying access to digital wallets. In this week’s #BlockchainThursday, we’ll introduce you to a web3 application geared towards the financialization of NFTs: Arcade.xyz.

Arcade.xyz: A financial app transforming NFT liquidity

Arcade.xyz is the online home of Arcade, a web3 application that positions itself as a financial “super app” for NFTs and other digital assets.The application is known for facilitating loans backed by NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. In September 2023, Arcade facilitated a $1.1 million loan against a complete collection of Supreme box logo T-shirts from 1994 to 2020, showcasing the increasing integration of real-world assets (RWAs) into the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. This collaboration with 4K, a protocol for tokenizing physical assets, amplifies the evolving landscape where luxury goods can serve as collateral and highlights Arcade’s role in expanding liquidity opportunities for unique assets through blockchain technology.1

The bleeding-edge solutions of Arcade.xyz

The innovative platform plays a crucial role in the financialization of NFTs, representing a significant advancement in how value and ownership are perceived and managed for unique digital assets. Users of Arcade.xyz can engage in several activities through its web interface, including trustless off-chain order matching for loans, which are then settled on-chain in decentralized escrow. This process ensures the cryptographic security of transactions on the Ethereum network, highlighting the platform’s commitment to secure and efficient operations within the NFT lending space.

Unlocking possibilities: Asset Vaults and the new era of digital asset management

A central feature offered by Arcade.xyz is the creation and management of Asset Vaults, which are integral to the platform’s lending and borrowing mechanism. These Vaults help users to deposit a variety of assets, including ETH, and in return, receive an ERC721 token indicating ownership of the Vault. This feature facilitates a range of functions such as securing airdrops for NFT assets stored within a Vault, delegating a hot wallet for asset management, and staking certain assets to gain liquidity. The flexibility and security offered by these Vaults underscore Arcade.xyz’s role in enhancing the liquidity and utility of digital assets. By allowing users to leverage these assets as collateral for loans or to accept collection offers, Arcade.xyz provides a valuable service for both asset holders seeking liquidity and investors looking for yield opportunities in the NFT space.

The visionaries behind Arcade.xyz and the power of .xyz

Gabe Frank and Robert Masiello, co-founders of Arcade.xyz and blockchain solutions company Non-fungible Technologies (NFTech), 2share an innovative approach to financial technology. Their platform enables users to access liquidity by borrowing against their NFTs, avoiding the need to sell their unique digital assets. We had the opportunity to speak with Gabe about their decision to build their platform on .xyz. As he explained,

“.XYZ domains are quickly becoming synonymous with web3 branding and culture.”

You can learn more about the platform by following along on LinkedIn @arcadexyz and Twitter/X @arcade_xyz, joining the Discord, and by visiting Arcade.xyz.

1.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/arcade-facilitates-1-1m-loan-041857276.html
2.https://www.nonfungibletech.com/

MakeItMove.xyzSquarespace customer – (United Kingdom)

The .xyz community is home to many skilled creatives sharing their talents on .xyz domains. Cody Samson shares his VFX work for Beyoncé and Coachella on Shmody.xyz. Copywriter MichaelShea.xyz uses his .xyz to showcase work for brands such as Little Caesars and Smirnoff. Multimedia designer, illustrator, and animator ChrisMaher.xyz highlights his array of creative projects. In this week’s #WebsiteWednesday, we’ll introduce you to a skilled motion designer and artist who establishes his online hub on his own memorable website: MakeItMove.xyz.

MakeItMove.xyz

Discover Stephen Ong, motion designer and artist

MakeItMove.xyz is the online hub of Stephen Ong, a freelance motion designer and artist based in the United Kingdom. He collaborates with studios and brands to create dynamic visual content. Since 2020, Stephen has freelanced with Studio Koto, working on motion design for brand projects for clients including Google, Amazon Music, Discord, and more. Stephen’s short film “The Secret Diary of a High Rise” received press in the architecture-focused publication Archinet, 1and was highlighted as a Cartoon Brew Pick by animation news website Cartoon Brew. 2This distinction underscores the film’s recognition as an “adventurous, innovative, and thought-provoking project among animation works from around the globe.” Stephen’s film animates anthropomorphized buildings in a city, focusing on a high-rise tower block revisiting past relationships. It features vibrant colors and dynamic lighting to evoke the essence of city nightlife, complemented by a first-person narrative and a jazzy soundtrack, mirroring the ambiance of a smokey club during a poetry night. 

MakeItMove.xyz

MakeItMove.xyz: An online hub for creativity

Stephen utilizes MakeItMove.xyz as a central online hub, primarily showcasing his animation work through an accessible reel. This digital showcase not only highlights his diverse range of motion design projects but also serves as a gateway for potential clients and collaborators to understand his creative vision and technical proficiency. In addition to the reel, MakeItMove.xyz includes a direct link to his portfolio, 3which is hosted on presentation software platform Pitch. Stephen’s portfolio further illustrates the breadth and depth of his skills in motion design and animation. Stephen’s portfolio showcases a notable project for SiriusXM, where he was commissioned to design a new set of poses for their mascot, Stella. In 2023, Stephen contributed to developing motion guidelines for the YouTube Shorts rebrand and designed eye-catching Out-of-Home (OOH) banners for London Stadium. 

The evolution to MakeItMove.xyz

Stephen upgraded his domain name from stephenong.co.uk to the more memorable and modern MakeItMove.xyz, which exemplifies a thoughtful approach to branding and online identity. Incorporating the action-driven phrase “make it move” into the domain succinctly captures the essence of his motion design and animation expertise, instantly signaling to visitors the dynamic nature of his work. The switch to a .xyz domain underscores this strategy by tapping into the domain’s modernity and popularity among creative and tech communities. It suggests a forward-thinking and innovative mindset, which aligns perfectly with the cutting-edge quality of Stephen’s projects, making the domain name not just a web address but a statement of his brand and professional ethos. You can learn more by following Stephen on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X/Twitter, and by visiting MakeItMove.xyz

1.https://archinect.com/news/article/150411194/an-animated-high-rise-reminisces-about-its-life-in-the-city-in-the-secret-diary-of-a-high-rise
2.https://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-brew-pick/secret-diary-of-a-high-rise-stephen-ong-236038.html
3.https://pitch.com/v/stephenong-psuyq8/fe3498db-c315-470d-b2f7-81d8f7263bf3

Heim.xyzINWX customer – (Switzerland)

Industry leaders, skilled creatives, and tech-focused organizations are utilizing .xyz and more XYZ Registry domains like .Security and .CEO to explore AI’s potential. Artist and designer Makeitrad.xyz uses his .xyz to showcase AI-driven art. Media and technology mogul MikeJohns.CEO blends AI and human insight on his .CEO domain. Cybersecurity company Skyhawk.Security harnesses AI to tackle cloud breach prevention and threat detection. In this week’s #AIMonday, we’ll introduce you to an influential researcher in the field of AI who highlights his work using a “LastName.xyz” domain: Heim.xyz

Introducing Lennart Heim: Pioneering the path in AI governance

Heim.xyz is the personal website of Lennart Heim, a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Governance of AI (GovAI), 1where he spearheads the Compute Governance initiative. Since its inception in 2018 by Allan Dafoe at the University of Oxford, GovAI has been at the forefront of shaping global AI policy and governance. Transitioning from its origins within Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute to an independent entity in 2021, GovAI, now under the leadership of Ben Garfinkel, continues to influence the international dialogue on AI. Within this distinguished institution, Lennart spearheads the Compute Governance initiative, contributing to understanding and guiding the development of AI technologies for societal benefit. Based in England, his work focuses on the critical role of computing power in advancing AI systems, emphasizing the importance of policy development and security measures in AI governance. Through fostering a worldwide research community, Lennart aims to navigate the complex challenges presented by the evolution of AI technologies, ensuring they are developed responsibly and ethically. 

Bridging policy and technology: Lennart Heim’s global advisory influence

Lennart’s advisory role extends to providing policy and technical guidance to key technology companies and governmental entities, primarily in the UK and the US. He contributes to the discourse on AI through his academic work, which investigates the impacts of AI systems, machine learning trends, and the significance of compute, data, and AI hardware. His engagement in the OECD.AI Expert Group on AI Compute and Climate, 2alongside positions at INFER Pub and Epoch, 3further underline his commitment to AI governance strategies. Lennart’s educational foundation in computer engineering was laid at ETH Zürich and RWTH Aachen, universities renowned for their contributions to science and technology.

The 80,000 Hours Podcast: A discussion on the risks of advanced AI

In a June 2023 episode of The 80,000 Hours Podcast, 4Lennart discusses the emerging field of compute governance as a crucial strategy to mitigate the risks of advanced AI, highlighting the challenge of preventing misuse by various actors. Compute governance is a subfield of AI governance concerned with controlling and governing access to computational resources.  Lennart suggests regulating access to supercomputing resources as a potential framework for AI safety regulations, acknowledging the challenges posed by the rapid advancement of AI training algorithms. The conversation also ventured into the future of AI governance, touching on US-China technology tensions and the possibility of embedding safety mechanisms in chips, offering a nuanced view on controlling AI capabilities.

Heim.xyz: A platform for pioneering AI governance insights

Lennart uses Heim.xyz as a platform to share resources related to his recent paper, “Computing Power and the Governance of AI,” and maintains a blog for further exploration into AI insights. In his March 10, 2024 blog post titled Considerations and Limitations for AI Hardware-Enabled Mechanisms, Lennart dives into the world of AI chip technology. He stresses how crucial it is to think things through when integrating these technologies into AI rules and regulations to avoid any negative outcomes or misuse. Then, in Crucial Considerations for Compute Governance, he untangles the intricate web of managing AI’s brainpower, shining a light on the tricky act of balancing control with the ever-changing role of computing in AI. Lennart lays out a practical guide for those in charge to navigate through the tricky waters of governance, tackling issues like the fast pace of tech advancements, accessing computing power both online and offline, and navigating the global chip market.

The power of a forward-thinking .xyz domain like Heim.xyz

By choosing the Heim.xyz domain for his personal website, Lennart aligns himself with a modern, forward-thinking approach to online identity that transcends traditional norms. The .xyz domain, known for its versatility and appeal to a diverse, global audience, symbolizes a break from convention, reflecting the innovative nature of Lennart’s work in AI governance. We asked Lennart about his decision to build on .xyz.  As he shared,

“I mostly wanted something short that includes my name (in that case my last name), and I was inspired by Google’s parent company using abc.xyz, I thought that was cool.”

Lennart’s choice resonates with the tech-savvy community and positions his platform as a hub for cutting-edge research and discourse. By adopting .xyz, Lennart not only showcases his commitment to the future of technology but also enhances the accessibility and memorability of his site, making it a smart, strategic move for reaching a wider audience interested in the intersections of AI, policy, and governance. You can learn more about Lennart by following him on LinkedIn and X/Twitter, and by visiting Heim.xyz.

1.https://www.governance.ai/team/lennart-heim
2.https://oecd.ai/en/compute
3.https://www.infer-pub.com/
4.https://80000hours.org/podcast/episodes/lennart-heim-compute-governance/