Hi Annett,

My takeway is that  it would be important for ALAC to keep an eye on the developments of blockchain domains globally for the sole purpose of advocating for and protecting the interests of the Internet end users.

Agree. "Keep an eye on it" is the best ALAC can do ... and if there are real, user-affecting changes that call for advice to the Board or other constituencies then that is wholly appropriate. But not until then.

BTW, I'm not suggesting that there is no place for discussing DNS alternatives, just maintaining that ICANN (and by inference ICANN At-Large) is not the place for it. This is exactly the kind of issue that the IGF needs to be discussing, and perhaps it's also worthy of ISOC and/or its chapters. I note in my review of the applicable Bylaws that ICANN should coordinate with other bodies as recommended by the IETF, so that is also a place where this topic can be raised at the appropriate time.

When the blockchain-registry-wannabes get on the radar of IETF as something worthy of consideration, we can revisit this again in a different light. Until then it's all just vapor and threats.

- Evan