Numbers : new gTLDs are doing good !

The DNIB Quarterly Report Q1 2025

Extracted from the Verisign report : "Total new generic TLD (ngTLD) domain name registrations were 37.8 million at the end of the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 1.0 million domain name registrations, or 2.6%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. ngTLDs increased by 4.5 million domain name registrations, or 13.5%, year over year. The most recent combined renewal percentage estimate for ngTLDs was 34.2%."

Read the full report.

Could Verisign block the next new gTLD round?

I like to read that letter from the co-chairs of the GNSO’s policy development process on new gTLD subsequent procedures: it is positive and asking the right questions to ICANN. One paragraph caught my attention:

"We would also appreciate input on the total number of TLDs that could be delegated without negative impact to root server performance."

Honorable "new gTLD Boss" and ICANN CTO gave answers and I stopped on that section of a paragraph:

"There are also technical limits placed on capacity by the systems that handle root zone provisioning (operated by PTI as JANA Functions Operator and Verisign as Root Zone Maintainer)..."

Actually, I fell from my chair and broke two legs.

Verisign is the registry for ".com" domain name and has shown signs that new gTLDs were impacting its business: the more new domain name extension spread online, wider is the choice and - unless I am wrong - this reduces the choice to register a ".com" domain name.

I didn't know that the technical infrastructure of domain names relied on Verisign too but I believe that this could be used as a technical reason not to push for another round of new gTLDs.

Verisign is confirmed as .WEB Registry

A lot of people are talking about the .WEB new gTLD acquisition by Verisign for an amount of $135,000,000. Stories are covered in our Newsletter. Many new gTLDs have been delegated with some dispatched in different of our new gTLD reports.
We are working on a new website with A LOT of content coming. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this website? Contact us now.

News:

1. The .QUEST new gTLD Sunrise Period starts today;
2. New Ombudsman begins;
3. Give .GAY to the gays, roars exiting ombudsman;
4. ICANN - The .RIO Case study;
5. IANA Insanity - or, how I learned to stop .worrying and .love the .new .internet;
6. Registration volumes:
1. New gTLDs related to CITIES;
2. New gTLDs related to CATERING;
3. New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY.
7. Announcement - JCB Launches New Website;
8. The .WEB auction cover for today:
1. Excellent read - Why Verisign Bought The .WEB Domain Extension And What NOT To Expect";
2. Thoughts About Verisign’s $135 Million Dollar .Web Acquisition & What It Means For Domainers;
3. Article - Verisign Buys .web Domain Rights For US$135 million;
4. Article - Verisign likely $135 million winner of .web gTLD;
5. Article - $135 Million Winning Bid for .WEB Sets a Stunning High Water Mark for Rights to Run a New gTLD.
9. Legal - A new gTLD for the Finance industry;
10. .PHARMACY new gTLD - Illegal Purchases of Controlled Substances Are Made Easier via Rogue Internet Drug Outlets, Reports NABP.
11. Just delegated new gTLDs:
1. The .LILLY new gTLD
   (added to the HEALTH report)
2. .MCKINSEY
3. .AFAMILYCOMPANY
4. .LADBROKES
5. .UCONNECT
   (added to the CARS report)
6. .ABC
7. .HYATT
8. .INTEL
9. .GLADE
10. .PRU
    (not added to the FINANCIAL new gTLD report)
11. .JEEP
    (already added to the CARS report)
12. .SRT
    (added to the CARS report)
13. .VISA
    (added to the FINANCIAL report)
14. .BANAMEX
    (added to the FINANCIAL report)
15. .PRAMERICA
16. .CHRYSLER
    (already added to the CARS report)
17. .DISCOVER
    (already added to the FINANCIAL report)
18. .CITI
    (added to the FINANCIAL report)
19. .AMERICANFAMILY
20. .HONEYWELL

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The era of propaganda (new gTLDs)

I just read the article below from Verisign and...no sign of new gTLDs in the article but I don't blame the author: business is business.

Since Verisign is the owner of the profitable .COM Registry, I understand that kind of promotion but what I misunderstand is the reference to SEO when Google announced that it makes no difference to use a new domain name or a ".com".

There is a reference to the frustrating technical experience with new gTLDs too: come on what are talking about here? Same for the "level of security" paragraph ending in: "It may be more prudent to stick with well-known and trusted domain name extensions until more of the new gTLDs are able to prove themselves as safe and reliable": what? (...) I am fine with auto-promotion and I understand Verisign's willing to do the promotion of ".com" at all costs but is it what I read here or is this propaganda?

My advice

• Buy a new domain name (ie: ending in ".club" - ".gdn" - ".consulting" - ".finance"...) which means something and according to the identity of your online content. New gTLDs offer that possibility, ".com" domains don't.
• Buy a ".com" domain name because there is a risk to have it cybersquatted.
• When your baker says is bread is the best on earth, he's lying ;-)

News

1. Verisign - 7 Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Domain Name Extension;
2. Memo - Mark and Signed Mark Objects Mapping;
3. New gTLD registration volumes:
1. New gTLDs related to FINANCE;
2. New gTLDs related to COLORS;
3. New gTLDs related to COMPANIES;
4. New gTLDs related to the LAW.
4. Hurry-up - New Premium .CLUB Names available June 16th, 2016: http://landrush.club/
5. Article - .STORE Suffix Provides Retailers an Opportunity to Rebrand;
6. Article - One in 10 new gTLDs are shrinking?
7. New gTLD communication - Registry partners with journalists;
8. Number of Registry Agreements Executed: 2 (Contracting Statistics);
9. The .INSURANCE new gTLD Opens for General Availability;
10. Sunrise Registration: ".Motorcycles" Domain Names, Trademark Holders Only;
11. More coming during the day.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

The new gTLD info for Friday, April 15th

There is a lot happening at the moment, and not only in Cuba. Cuba is opening to the word but there is another country in which the embargo ended last January 2016: it is Iran. For the past 30 years, it was not possible to have a debit card and now it becomes possible, I see more registrations coming. Did you know that Iran is a rich country?

1. Iraq's Kurds declare independence with the .KRD new gTLD;
2. Article - The domain extension likely to contribute to a high search ranking;
3. 16.5% of Premium 3 letters ".club" domain names are still available to register;
4. INTA: New gTLD Program and Rights Protection Issues;
5. Report: the latest Verisign report has been issued: there are now 314 million domain names registered with a 5% increase;
6. .BRAND: the .LECLERC new gTLD has launched: Vive la France!
7. Facebook bought a Registrar: new domain names coming in Facebook?
8. Should It Compulsorily Be A .Com Domain Name?
9. More coming during the day; latest update is tonight in the Newsletter.

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

UPDATE: the new gTLD info of the day (Friday)

Porn firm wins .cam after years of objections

The controversial new gTLD .cam has been won at auction by Dutch porn site operator AC Webconnecting, putting an end to over two years of back-and-forth objections.
http://domainincite.com/19723-porn-firm-wins-cam-after-years-of-objections

Verisign IDNs: Landrush details and Premium Domains
Verisign is getting ready to launch its first internationalized domain name, a Japanese transliteration of .com .コム.
http://domainnamewire.com/2015/12/18/verisign-idns-landrush-details-and-premium-domains/

Cheers! Registries and Registrars Doing the Right Thing by Patients
The good news? There are many registrars out there who take action and hold registrants accountable. The behavior of Rebel as discussed in the 2015 Notorious Market List is the exception, not the rule, at least when it comes to registry and registrar action against illegitimate online drug sellers. The majority of registries and registrars are doing the right thing by patients.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20151218_cheers_registries_and_registrars_doing_the_right_thing_by_patients/

.MUSIC new gTLD
Imogen Heap wrote to ICANN
There are no other applicants willing to support and nurture our music community in the way DotMusic are bound to do so, should they win.https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/heap-to-icann-eiu-16dec15-en.pdf

.feedback and .sucks: podcast
Invited to expand on their offerings, Top Level Spectrum CEO Jay Westerdal and Vox Populi CEO John Berard both joined us on the latest episode of the World Trademark Review podcast.
http://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/Blog/detail.aspx?g=7787177a-40c5-4d20-babb-adbddaf7baa2

Domain Name Industry Brief
The third quarter of 2015 closed with a base of approximately 299 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), an increase of 3.1 million domain names, or 1.1 percent over the second quarter of 2015. Registrations have grown by 14.8 million, or 5.2 percent, year over year.1
https://www.verisign.com/en_US/innovation/dnib/index.xhtml

Google confirms: Yes, you can switch to a new .melbourne domain without penalty
In the past, Google has been notoriously tight-lipped about the search performance of new TLDs, stating only that they will “not be treated any differently” than legacy TLDs such as .com and .net. This is despite independent research that has demonstrated some search benefits of new extensions and reports from businesses which have seen an increase in customers because of their new domain name.
http://live.melbourne/media-release/google-confirms-yes-you-can-switch-to-a-new-melbourne-domain-without-penalty/

What is a URL?
Is a URL the same as a domain name? Surprisingly to many, the answer is no. But the terms are used so interchangeably, it’s understandable why people confuse one for the other. But there is a difference.

https://www.verisign.com/en_US/domain-names/online/what-is-a-url/index.xhtml

How I just registered Twitter.sucks for free in just five clicks
This morning, I caused the registration of and was given control of a web site at twitter.sucks.
http://domainincite.com/19706-how-i-just-registered-twitter-sucks-for-free-in-just-five-clicks

Could a new gTLD help you achieve your business goals?
Consider what registrations in generic new gTLDs would make strategic sense, but also brainstorm whether your own .BRAND might be a good idea. It’s a long evaluation process that, to paraphrase Nao Matsukata, starts with one question: Would it solve a problem for you?
http://blog.fairwindspartners.com/gtld-basics/creating-a-strong-domain-name-portfolio

CentralNic’s growing very rapidly
CentralNic CEO, Ben Crawford discusses the company’s involvement in Alphabet’s “.xyz” domain name and how they’re performing compared to the “GoDaddy’s of the world.”
http://cnb.cx/1PcMofE

Going on Holidays?
http://visit.rio/

.XYZ Registry Reports Nearly All 5 Number Domains Sold Out
Daniel Negari, CEO of the .xyz registry has reported to TheDomains.com that there are less than 10,000 five number .xyz domain name combinations left before they are all registered!
http://www.thedomains.com/2015/12/17/xyz-registry-reports-nearly-all-5-number-domains-sold-out/

Domain Management Starter Guide: Strategy, Policies and Procedures
The bad news is domain management pain will aggravate further as the Top Level Domain (TLD) space expands from 22 (.com, .net, .org etc.) to 1,000+ TLDs (.news, .tech, .bank etc.), resulting from ICANN's domain name expansion program.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/domain-management-starter-guide-strategy-policies-andre-forrester

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Sunrise Period for .コム (com) new gTLD starts today

When:

• SUNRISE PERIOD START: Wednesday, 9 December, 2015 - 16:00;
• SUNRISE PERIOD END: Sunday, 31 January, 2016 - 16:00.

What:

• IDN TRANSLATION: xn--tckwe;
• Verisign is a Global Leader in Domain Names & Internet Security.

Where: https://www.nameshield.com/

The Nameshield Group: Registry, Corporate and Retail Registrar

Most recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Largest New gTLDs by Zone Size on Day 60 of Their General Availability Period

Download the complete report from Verisign