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TLD policy

XYZ revs up with 139 top level domain name applications

XYZ.com LLC, the company behind .xyz, filed 139 new top-level domain applications in the 2026 round, making it the third-largest applicant. The scale shows how one registry group is trying to build a broad namespace position from the ground up.

Domain Name Wire

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TLD policy

Surprise? Intercap registry is one of biggest new TLD applicants

Intercap Registry, a small registry operator, has filed 71 new top-level domain applications in ICANN's 2026 round, placing it among the largest applicants. The scale of the move signals a shift in the new gTLD landscape.

Domain Name Wire

Brand protection

.Org registry applies for eight top level domain names

Public Interest Registry, the nonprofit behind .org, has applied for eight new top-level domains in ICANN's 2026 application round. The applications point to a growing portfolio of charity-oriented TLDs and new registration options for domain holders.

Domain Name Wire

Registrars

Squarespace gets into the domain registry business

Squarespace, one of the largest registrars, has applied for 15 new top-level domains, putting it in direct competition with GoDaddy for most of them. The move shows registrars moving into registry ownership, which could shape what new domains become available.

Domain Name Wire

Brand protection

Most contested top level domains: .agent, .lab(s), .bit

ICANN has released the full list of new top-level domain applications, and the most contested strings show where applicants expect future demand. For domain holders, the list is an early signal of new supply and new competition.

Domain Name Wire

Security

Chinese new TLD applicant appears to have been fake

A company that claimed to apply for 323 new top-level domains in ICANN’s 2026 round appears to have been fabricated. The incident shows why applicants should rely on official application lists, not promotional websites.

Domain Name Wire

TLD policy

Amazon dials back top level domain ambitions in 2026 round

Amazon applied for eight dot-brand top-level domains in ICANN's 2026 application round, a much smaller program than its 76 applications in 2012. The applications are for closed registries, so they will not create new space for public registration.

Domain Name Wire

Brand protection

Meta applies for .SuperIntelligence, 17 other top level domains

ICANN has published Meta's applications for 18 top-level domains, including .SuperIntelligence and .agent. The list shows how large technology companies are using the current application round to secure brand strings and shape AI-related namespaces.

Domain Name Wire

Registrars

GoDaddy applies for 77 top level domains

GoDaddy has applied for 77 new top-level domains, a major expansion by the world’s largest registrar. Most of the applications face contention, which means the outcome will be shaped by ICANN’s 2026 round and could affect the value and availability of new domain names.

Domain Name Wire

Brand protection

WordPress maker Automattic applies for 16 top level domains including .matt

Automattic, the company behind WordPress, has applied for 16 new top-level domains, including its founder’s first name and several generic words. The applications show how large web companies are using ICANN’s next round to lock down brand and naming space.

Domain Name Wire

Brand protection

Donald Trump applies for .trump top level domain name

A U.S. president has applied for a .trump top-level domain. The application shows how the first new gTLD round since 2012 is being used by brand owners, and it raises questions about how a politically sensitive dot-brand namespace would be controlled.

Domain Name Wire

Brand protection

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, applies for 15 top level domain names

OpenAI has applied for 15 top-level domains, including five dot-brands and several generic strings. The applications show how AI companies are treating the domain namespace as part of their product strategy.

Domain Name Wire