Reclaiming Our Digital Selves

.self: A New Top-Level Domain for Self-Hosting

HCCF

June 2026

The internet was meant to be decentralized.
Now, a handful of platforms control our digital identities.

The Problem with Today's Web

Why Self-Hosting Remains Hard

01

Technical Complexity Setting up servers, DNS, and security requires specialized knowledge
02

Trust Barriers Users don't know if a self-hosted site is legitimate or safe
03

Discovery Problems No easy way to find and verify self-hosted services
04

Domain Costs Traditional domains don't signal self-hosting values

04

Introducing .self

A TLD built for the self-hosting community

What is .self?

A new top-level domain designed specifically for self-hosted services and personal infrastructure. Unlike traditional domains, .self signals that a site is maintained by its owner, not a third-party platform.

Your domain. Your rules. Your digital self.

Core Features of .self

verified_user

Built-in Verification

Clear signals that a site is genuinely self-hosted

privacy_tip

Privacy by Design

Encourages data ownership and local-first approaches

hub

Community Standards

Shared norms for the self-hosting ecosystem

lock

Security Focus

Requirements that protect both owners and visitors

Getting Your .self Domain

1

Apply

Demonstrate your self-hosting commitment

→

2

Verify

Prove you control your infrastructure

→

3

Configure

Set up DNS and security requirements

→

4

Launch

Join the growing .self community

Reclaim Your Digital Self

Join thousands already building on .self

https://hccf.onmy.cloud