Andrew Allemann

Andrew Allemann

@allemann.org

I do domain names stuff. Seattle area.

279 followers 15 following1.1K posts

Andrew Allemann

The big battle for .agent Google, OpenAI, and Meta are among the companies fighting to control the .agent domain. Many predicted that .agent would be very popular in the 2026 new top level domain expansion round.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/27/the-big-battle-for-agent/

domainnamewire.comThe big battle for .agentGoogle, OpenAI, and Meta are among the companies fighting to control the .agent domain. Many predicted that .agent would be very popular in the 2026 new top level domain expansion round. They were right. With 13 applicants, it is the most contested string. It also includes heavyweights like Google, Meta, Alibaba, and OpenAI. It will be interesting to see whether any smaller companies withdraw their applications or move to a replacement string.

Andrew Allemann

Dot-brands have a spotty track record. Why are companies applying again? A new wave of applicants is betting on dot-brands despite limited adoption. Today, ICANN posted another termination notice from a dot-brand owner seeking to cancel a TLD… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/26/dot-brands-2026/

domainnamewire.comDot-brands have a spotty track record. Why are companies applying again?A new wave of applicants is betting on dot-brands despite limited adoption. Today, ICANN posted another termination notice from a dot-brand owner seeking to cancel a TLD it acquired in the 2012 expansion round. Nippon Life Insurance Company said it no longer wants to operate .nissay. (Its domain name is nissay.co.jp.) That brings the total number of canceled dot-brands to about 150.

Andrew Allemann

7,500 hand registrations, one year later Josh Reason shares an update on his hand registration experiment. The numbers don't lie: people are hand registering more domains now than ever before.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/26/7500-hand-registrations-one-year-later/

domainnamewire.com7,500 hand registrations, one year laterJosh Reason shares an update on his hand registration experiment. The numbers don't lie: people are hand registering more domains now than ever before. In the third quarter, people registered 13.1 million new .com and .net domains. That was a record for Verisign, beating the previous record set just three months earlier. Sure, some were expired domain backorders, but many weren't.

Andrew Allemann

Will Verisign’s $171.4 million bet on .web pay off? Verisign paid a lot for .web. We're about to see what kind of return it will get.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/23/will-verisigns-171-4-million-bet-on-web-pay-off/

domainnamewire.comWill Verisign’s $171.4 million bet on .web pay off?Verisign paid a lot for .web. We're about to see what kind of return it will get. In an SEC filing yesterday, Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN) disclosed the total cost of acquiring the .web top level domain: $171.4 million. Most of that was already known. In 2016, Nu Dot Co won an ICANN auction for the name for $135 million. In its Q3 2016 10-Q filing, it reported paying $145 million for the domain, suggesting it paid Nu Dot Co a $10 million premium to buy the asset.

Andrew Allemann

Verisign sets another registration record, .web sunrise in December 13.1 million new .com/.net registrations set another record. Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN) reported third-quarter earnings this… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/22/verisign-sets-another-registration-record-web-sunrise-in-december/

domainnamewire.comVerisign sets another registration record, .web sunrise in December13.1 million new .com/.net registrations set another record. Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN) reported third-quarter earnings this afternoon. The company reported $443 million in Q3 revenue, up 5.7% year over year. Operating income increased from $284 million to $296 million. Net income was flat after deducting a $7.5 million loss related to assets held for sale. The company didn't disclose what those assets are.

Andrew Allemann

Afternic released its Portfolio API. Here’s how to use it New API makes it possible to integrate with other tools and manage your portfolio. Afternic's Portfolio API…... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/22/afternic-released-its-portfolio-api-heres-how-to-use-it/

domainnamewire.comAfternic released its Portfolio API. Here’s how to use itNew API makes it possible to integrate with other tools and manage your portfolio. Afternic's Portfolio API is now open to all sellers. The API lets sellers automate tasks and optimize their portfolio. I've used it in two ways: Add listings - When I have bulk listings to add, the API can be easier to use than Afternic's web system. You can upload listings, set prices, turn on/off LTO, and choose landers.

Andrew Allemann

Green energy company tries UDRP after three failed purchase attempts DLA Piper represents green energy firm in bad cybersquatting claim. A Danish green energy company has been…... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/22/green-energy-company-tries-udrp-after-three-failed-purchase-attempts/

domainnamewire.comGreen energy company tries UDRP after three failed purchase attemptsDLA Piper represents green energy firm in bad cybersquatting claim. A Danish green energy company has been found guilty (pdf) of reverse domain name hijacking. WindSpace A/S filed a cybersquatting claim with World Intellectual Property Organization against the domain name windspace.com. The domain was registered in 1999, well before WindSpace A/S existed. It has been owned by a succession of green energy companies, passed along through acquisitions.

Andrew Allemann

.Qa domains get new restrictions: change your nameservers now People outside Qatar and domain investors should take note. Qatar is adding new restrictions to second level .qa domain registrations,… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/21/qa-domains-get-new-restrictions-change-your-nameservers-now/

domainnamewire.com.Qa domains get new restrictions: change your nameservers nowPeople outside Qatar and domain investors should take note. Qatar is adding new restrictions to second level .qa domain registrations, severely restricting who can register the domains. The .qa registry has not yet publicly published its updated guidelines (the most recent registration agreements on its site are more than a decade old), but accredited registrar QHost has relayed important information.

Andrew Allemann

auDA plans to grandfather existing .com.au and .net.au registrants Move could save millions of domain registrations from the chopping block. auDA, the organization that manages Australia's .au… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/21/auda-plans-to-grandfather-existing-com-au-and-net-au-registrants/

domainnamewire.comauDA plans to grandfather existing .com.au and .net.au registrantsMove could save millions of domain registrations from the chopping block. auDA, the organization that manages Australia's .au country code domain, plans to give a reprieve to existing .com.au and .net.au domain name registrants. Last month, auDA's board approved changes that would severely limit who could register these domains. It removed a "close and substantial connection" test for registering domains.

Andrew Allemann

Eighteen end user domain sales including .si A couple of companies bought .si domains for defensive purposes. Looking at some of this week's sales at Sedo, it's clear that many of the sites were built with coding… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/21/eighteen-end-user-domain-sales-including-si/

domainnamewire.comEighteen end user domain sales including .siA couple of companies bought .si domains for defensive purposes. Looking at some of this week's sales at Sedo, it's clear that many of the sites were built with coding assistants. The ease of developing sites is a key driver behind domain sales this year. Here's a list of the end user domain sales I could dig up. You can view previous lists like this…

Andrew Allemann

Man tries to reverse hijack lotto domain name Complaint filed against the generic name of a lotto-style game. An Indian man tried to reverse-hijack the domain name sattamatkajico .com, a World Intellectual… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/20/man-tries-to-reverse-hijack-lotto-domain-name/

domainnamewire.comMan tries to reverse hijack lotto domain nameComplaint filed against the generic name of a lotto-style game. An Indian man tried to reverse-hijack the domain name sattamatkajico .com, a World Intellectual Property Organization panelist ruled. Rikshiram Aghria filed the dispute (pdf), citing Indian trademark registrations for the marks SATTA and SATTA MATKA in stylized form. Satta matka is a numbers-based gambling game that originated in India. It's a generic term, which made this dispute fall flat.

Andrew Allemann

Report: cheap domains, bulk registrations, subdomains favored among cybercriminals Latest Interisle report continues on themes from previous years. Security firm Interisle… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/20/report-cheap-domains-bulk-registrations-subdomains-favored-among-cybercriminals/

domainnamewire.comReport: cheap domains, bulk registrations, subdomains favored among cybercriminalsLatest Interisle report continues on themes from previous years. Security firm Interisle released its annual Cybercrime Supply Chain 2026 report (pdf) today, outlining how different internet layers contribute to cybercrime. The report echoes previous ones, pointing to cheap domains, bulk registrations, and free subdomains as being correlated with increased crime activity. Interisle calculates that new top level domains, which account for 15% of registered domains, account for 52% of maliciously registered domain names.

Andrew Allemann

Geo TLD applications plummet in 2026 round The number of geo domain name applications was down significantly from the previous new TLD round.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/20/geo-tld-applications-plummet-in-2026-round/

domainnamewire.comGeo TLD applications plummet in 2026 roundThe number of geo domain name applications was down significantly from the previous new TLD round. In 2012, new top level domain applicants applied for some of the largest city names: .london, .nyc, .miami, and more. Sixty-six applications were filed for geographic top level domains 14 years ago. This year, just 15 self-identified as geographic:

Andrew Allemann

Escrow.com sees summer slowdown for domain sales Company expects a bounceback in Q4. Escrow.com's parent company, Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN; OTCQX: FRLCY), released a Q3…... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/20/escrow-com-sees-summer-slowdown-for-domain-sales/

domainnamewire.comEscrow.com sees summer slowdown for domain salesCompany expects a bounceback in Q4. Escrow.com's parent company, Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN; OTCQX: FRLCY), released a Q3 business update (pdf) today. Overall, Escrow.com's Gross Marketplace Value (GMV) rose 28.0% year over year to $153.1 million in U.S. dollars. The Australian company reports in Australian dollars, so it showed only 18.6% growth due to currency headwinds. Despite the GMV increase, revenue fell.

Andrew Allemann

Meta (Facebook) needs Colombian department’s permission to get .meta TLD Meta is a geographic name under ICANN's new top level domain rules. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) applied for the .meta top level domain name in this year's ICANN TLD expansion… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/19/meta-tld/

domainnamewire.comMeta (Facebook) needs Colombian department’s permission to get .meta TLDMeta is a geographic name under ICANN's new top level domain rules. Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) applied for the .meta top level domain name in this year's ICANN TLD expansion round. The company said it intends to use the domain as a so-called "dot-brand", meaning only the company will use domains registered under .meta. But the company will need permission from a Colombian department government in order to obtain the domain.

Andrew Allemann

I went to Japan to relax, but ICANN had other plans A 3 a.m. wake-up call, 1,616 TLD applications, and Japan's weird web. One thing I love about what I do for a living is that I can take unlimited vacation… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/19/i-went-to-japan-to-relax-but-icann-had-other-plans/

domainnamewire.comI went to Japan to relax, but ICANN had other plansA 3 a.m. wake-up call, 1,616 TLD applications, and Japan's weird web. One thing I love about what I do for a living is that I can take unlimited vacation and work from anywhere. The thing I dislike the most is that I can never truly take a vacation. While I pre-write stories before I travel, I also want to quickly report the latest domain news.

Andrew Allemann

Behind the scenes at the .si registry – DNW Podcast #608 How Donald Trump's proclamation led to an overnight transformation for Slovenia's .si country code domain. For Barbara Povše and her team at… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/19/behind-the-scenes-at-the-si-registry-dnw-podcast-608/

domainnamewire.comBehind the scenes at the .si registry – DNW Podcast #608How Donald Trump's proclamation led to an overnight transformation for Slovenia's .si country code domain. For Barbara Povše and her team at Slovenia's .si domain registry, things have always moved at a deliberate pace. That changed last month when Donald Trump triggered a frenzy of domain registrations. During a speech to the United Nations, Trump announced that his administration would start referring to artificial intelligence as "super intelligence." He followed up with an executive order.

Andrew Allemann

Woman faces changing 211 accounts after .name domain termination Woman says termination of third-level .name domains has created a full-time job. Earlier this week, I wrote that I think ... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/16/woman-faces-changing-211-accounts-after-name-domain-termination/

domainnamewire.comWoman faces changing 211 accounts after .name domain terminationWoman says termination of third-level .name domains has created a full-time job. Earlier this week, I wrote that I think ICANN and Verisign (NASDAQ: VRSN) should reverse course on terminating third-level .name domains. ICANN just published another reconsideration request (pdf), and it perfectly captures the hardship some people are experiencing. Judy Johnston registered a third-level .name domain in 2002, and has been using it for nearly 25 years.

Andrew Allemann

Abion acquires Brandsec, expanding its IP protection business IP protection company makes inroads in Australia and New Zealand with acquisition. Intellectual property and domain management company… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/16/abion-acquires-brandsec-expanding-its-ip-protection-business/

domainnamewire.comAbion acquires Brandsec, expanding its IP protection businessIP protection company makes inroads in Australia and New Zealand with acquisition. Intellectual property and domain management company Abion has acquired Brandsec's corporate domain management business. Abion, formerly Ports Group, said the acquisition will help the company expand in Australia and New Zealand. Abion is based in Sweden and has its largest presence in Europe. Brandsec employees will move to Abion and continue servicing the existing client base.

Andrew Allemann

Citizen journalist turns to courts to stop game of domain whac-a-mole After winning UDRP, respondent registered more domains related to the complainant. A citizen journalist who won a UDRP… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/16/citizen-journalist-turns-to-courts-to-stop-game-of-domain-whac-a-mole/

domainnamewire.comCitizen journalist turns to courts to stop game of domain whac-a-moleAfter winning UDRP, respondent registered more domains related to the complainant. A citizen journalist who won a UDRP against a porn studio earlier this year has turned to the courts after the company allegedly continued targeting him with defamatory articles and domain names similar to his personal name. In March, I wrote about Paul Mulholland's short-lived victory in a UDRP dispute against the studio.

Andrew Allemann

Domain registrars push back on Australian domain name changes Ten registrars ask auDA board to reverse course on change that could impact majority of .com.au and .net.au domain registrations.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/15/domain-registrars-push-back-on-australian-domain-name-changes/

domainnamewire.comDomain registrars push back on Australian domain name changesTen registrars ask auDA board to reverse course on change that could impact majority of .com.au and .net.au domain registrations. A group of ten domain name registrars has written to the auDA board (pdf), asking the group to reverse a decision that would severely limit eligibility to register .com.au and .net.au domain names. The board recently approved a Policy Advisor Panel's…

Andrew Allemann

End user sales: here comes .si End users are buying .si domains, but so far it seems mostly for defensive purposes. Domain investors have been piling into .si domains after Donald Trump said the U.S.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/15/end-user-sales-here-comes-si/

domainnamewire.comEnd user sales: here comes .siEnd users are buying .si domains, but so far it seems mostly for defensive purposes. Domain investors have been piling into .si domains after Donald Trump said the U.S. would refer to AI as SI. But what about end users? Well, this week's Sedo sales list has two end users buying .si domains. They are companies that already use .ai and forward the .si domain to the .ai.

Andrew Allemann

PIR (.org) names .Org Impact Awards winnners Latin American organization TECHO wins .Org of the Year. Public Interest Registry (PIR), the organization behind .org domains, held its annual .... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/14/pir-org-names-org-impact-awards-winnners/

domainnamewire.comPIR (.org) names .Org Impact Awards winnnersLatin American organization TECHO wins .Org of the Year. Public Interest Registry (PIR), the organization behind .org domains, held its annual .Org Impact Awards ceremony last week. The nonprofit awarded $180,000 to organizations across seven categories. This year's big winner was TECHO, an organization working in Latin America's informal settlements, mobilizing volunteers and communities to overcome poverty through housing, civic engagement, and community-building programs.

Andrew Allemann

Verisign and ICANN should reverse course on third-level .name domains The reputational damage will hurt both organizations. Over the past week, two more registrants of third-level .name… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/14/verisign-and-icann-should-reverse-course-on-third-level-name-domains/

domainnamewire.comVerisign and ICANN should reverse course on third-level .name domainsThe reputational damage will hurt both organizations. Over the past week, two more registrants of third-level .name domains have filed reconsideration requests with ICANN, asking the board to reverse the organization's decision to allow Verisign to eliminate their domain names. I agree with them. This is one of those cases where ICANN and Verisign should recognize their mistake and reverse course because eliminating these registrations undermines trust in both organizations.

Andrew Allemann

The ease of building web apps seems to be driving aftermarket sales in 2026 Four out of five domains I've sold this year have already been developed. One explanation for an increase… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/13/the-ease-of-building-web-apps-seems-to-be-driving-aftermarket-sales-in-2026/

domainnamewire.comThe ease of building web apps seems to be driving aftermarket sales in 2026Four out of five domains I've sold this year have already been developed. One explanation for an increase in aftermarket domain sales this year is that it's become so easy for people to develop websites and apps. A couple of years ago, a complex site required hiring a developer or coding it yourself. Now, thanks to artificial intelligence, anyone can build a complex website, and they can do it quickly.

Andrew Allemann

Thirty-six end user sales from Atom Companies are developing these thirty-six domains purchased at Atom last month. Atom had a strong sales month in September, judging by self-reported sales.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/13/thirty-six-end-user-sales-from-atom/

domainnamewire.comThirty-six end user sales from AtomCompanies are developing these thirty-six domains purchased at Atom last month. Atom had a strong sales month in September, judging by self-reported sales. Many of the buyers are artificial intelligence companies, but there was also a recycling business, a couple of billing/invoicing companies, and even a precious metals trading platform. These are end user sales I could find from the last month.

Andrew Allemann

New Atom app makes it easier to respond to domain offers Atom Seller app provides a simpler way to complete most common tasks. Atom launched a dedicated iPhone app…... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/12/new-atom-app-makes-it-easier-to-respond-to-domain-offers/

domainnamewire.comNew Atom app makes it easier to respond to domain offersAtom Seller app provides a simpler way to complete most common tasks. Atom launched a dedicated iPhone app last month. After using it for a week, I think it has several benefits over using the atom.com website, especially while on the go. Let's face it, Atom has so many features that its website is difficult to use. The app strips things down to what you do most often and shows the most important data.

Andrew Allemann

Rick and the Beanstalk- DNW Podcast #607 How Rick Schwartz is getting his valuable domains into the hands of builders. For three decades, Rick Schwartz has been building a portfolio of super-valuable domain names, and… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/12/rick-and-the-beanstalk-dnw-podcast-607/

domainnamewire.comRick and the Beanstalk- DNW Podcast #607How Rick Schwartz is getting his valuable domains into the hands of builders. For three decades, Rick Schwartz has been building a portfolio of super-valuable domain names, and he sells them from time to time at eye-watering prices. This year, something changed. Rick decided to put domains like property.com, tryouts.com, and stud.com into the hands of builders. He organized the…

Andrew Allemann

Twenty-eight European ccTLDs end users bought A butcher restaurant, a crypto platform, and a skincare business bought domain names at Nameshift. Nameshift…... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/12/twenty-eight-european-cctlds-end-users-bought/

domainnamewire.comTwenty-eight European ccTLDs end users boughtA butcher restaurant, a crypto platform, and a skincare business bought domain names at Nameshift. Nameshift is a domain sales platform with 1.5 million domain names. Most of its domains are European ccTLDs, so its data is worth reviewing. The company shared its last few months of sales data with me so I could see what end users in Europe are buying.

Andrew Allemann

Time is running out: .com prices go up on November 1 Renew or transfer this month to postpone the price hike. .Com domain name registrants have just a few more weeks to renew at today's prices.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/09/time-is-running-out-com-prices-go-up-on-november-1/

domainnamewire.comTime is running out: .com prices go up on November 1Renew or transfer this month to postpone the price hike. .Com domain name registrants have just a few more weeks to renew at today's prices. Verisign, the registry for .com domains, will raise prices by 7% on November 1. The new wholesale price will be $10.97, plus ICANN's 20-cent fee. If your registrar is charging anything close to that, you can expect a price increase next month.

Andrew Allemann

Inside the 345 dot-brand top level domain applications Nearly 20% of new TLD applications are for dot-brands. Here are some interesting ones. ICANN published the full list of 1,616 top level domain… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/09/inside-the-345-dot-brand-top-level-domain-applications/

domainnamewire.comInside the 345 dot-brand top level domain applicationsNearly 20% of new TLD applications are for dot-brands. Here are some interesting ones. ICANN published the full list of 1,616 top level domain applications on Wednesday. Just over 20% of applications (345) are so-called "dot-brand" domains. There are a lot of interesting applications. Here are some things that stand out to me. Vibe coding platforms joined the fray: Lovable and Vercel both applied for matching domains.

Andrew Allemann

Beware of privacy issue when buying/selling a .si domain name The seller can see the buyer's address when the domain is transferred. There has been a flood of .si domain sales lately, and domain… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/09/beware-of-privacy-issue-when-buying-selling-a-si-domain-name/

domainnamewire.comBeware of privacy issue when buying/selling a .si domain nameThe seller can see the buyer's address when the domain is transferred. There has been a flood of .si domain sales lately, and domain investors should be aware of a major privacy issue. After selling a domain, the seller can see the buyer's address when the buyer transfers the domain to another registrar. I'm not sure if it's the other way around, too.

Andrew Allemann

Taylor Swift applies for her own top level domain Music.taylorswift is coming to a browser near you. Pop star Taylor Swift is getting a new home on the web.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/08/taylor-swift-applies-for-her-own-top-level-domain/

domainnamewire.comTaylor Swift applies for her own top level domainMusic.taylorswift is coming to a browser near you. Pop star Taylor Swift is getting a new home on the web. The singer has applied for her own top level domain name, .taylorswift, as part of ICANN's 2026 expansion round of top level domains. Interestingly, had the artist applied for .swift, she would have run into a conflict. Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, the group that oversees SWIFT banking transfers, applied for .swift as a top level domain.

Andrew Allemann

.Com report: Cloudflare keeps climbing See the top domain registrars for .com domains. ICANN has published the latest registrar-by-registrar data for the .com namespace using official data from Verisign.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/08/com-report-cloudflare-keeps-climbing/

domainnamewire.com.Com report: Cloudflare keeps climbingSee the top domain registrars for .com domains. ICANN has published the latest registrar-by-registrar data for the .com namespace using official data from Verisign. The data is always three months in arrears; the newest data provided is for June 2026. I added a new column this month that shows where the registrar ranked the prior month for each metric. Some observations from the latest numbers:

Andrew Allemann

University of South Carolina beats the other USC to .usc Sorry, USC in California. Another school will operate .usc. The University of South Carolina has applied for a top level domain name: .usc.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/08/university-of-south-carolina-beats-the-other-usc-to-usc/

domainnamewire.comUniversity of South Carolina beats the other USC to .uscSorry, USC in California. Another school will operate .usc. The University of South Carolina has applied for a top level domain name: .usc. I believe this is just the second university in the United States to apply for a top level domain. Massachusetts Institute of Technology applied for .mit in the 2012 round. It seems to use it only as a forwarding address.

Andrew Allemann

Booking.yeah could become an actual domain name The travel booking site wants to create the .yeah TLD after using it in commercials for years.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/08/booking-yeah-could-become-an-actual-domain-name/

domainnamewire.comBooking.yeah could become an actual domain nameThe travel booking site wants to create the .yeah TLD after using it in commercials for years. It's been a joke among domain industry insiders that the company promotes the non-existent domain name. Well, the joke might end soon: the company applied for .yeah in this year's new top level domain expansion round. Did the company pay $227,000 for an entire top level domain just to use it for one second level domain?

Andrew Allemann

Link Freedom Group chooses it final TLDs, swapping 19 Company replaces 19 of its proposed strings. Well, that was quick. Less than 24 hours after ICANN revealed which top level domains companies applied… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/08/link-freedom-group-chooses-it-final-tlds-swapping-19/

domainnamewire.comLink Freedom Group chooses it final TLDs, swapping 19Company replaces 19 of its proposed strings. Well, that was quick. Less than 24 hours after ICANN revealed which top level domains companies applied for, Link Freedom Group has decided which strings it will continue to pursue. The second-largest applicant is still applying for 158 domains, but it has swapped in some replacement strings. I count 19 primary strings it abandoned in favor of replacement strings (the number in parentheses is the number of companies it would have to fight to win the domain):

Andrew Allemann

XYZ revs up with 139 top level domain name applications Company behind .xyz and 34 other TLDs makes a big splash. Daniel Negari's new top level domain name empire is continuing to expand.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/xyz-revs-up-with-139-top-level-domain-name-applications/

domainnamewire.comXYZ revs up with 139 top level domain name applicationsCompany behind .xyz and 34 other TLDs makes a big splash. Daniel Negari's new top level domain name empire is continuing to expand. XYZ.com LLC applied for 139 top level domain names, making it the third-largest applicant in the 2026 round by my count. The company currently runs 35 top level domains, including its namesake .xyz. XYZ didn't apply for most of the domains it now runs in the 2012 round; it later went on an acquisition spree, buying domains from other companies.

Andrew Allemann

.Org registry applies for eight top level domain names Nonprofit looks to add more do-good domains to its portfolio. Public Interest Registry, the nonprofit that runs .org, is expanding its top level… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/org-registry-applies-for-eight-top-level-domain-names/

domainnamewire.com.Org registry applies for eight top level domain namesNonprofit looks to add more do-good domains to its portfolio. Public Interest Registry, the nonprofit that runs .org, is expanding its top level domain offerings. The company applied for 14 top level domains in the 2026 round: aid cause (uncontested) donate hope (uncontested) impact mission (uncontested) nonprofit (uncontested) organization It selected backup strings for six of the domains. If successful, the applications will add to the company's stable of charity-related domains.

Andrew Allemann

Surprise? Intercap registry is one of biggest new TLD applicants Smaller registry goes big with 71 new TLD applications. Intercap Registry is one of the biggest new top level domain applicants… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/surprise-intercap-registry-is-one-of-biggest-new-tld-applicants/

domainnamewire.comSurprise? Intercap registry is one of biggest new TLD applicantsSmaller registry goes big with 71 new TLD applications. Intercap Registry is one of the biggest new top level domain applicants in the 2026 round, applying for 71 strings. Until now, the company has been a smaller player in the registry business. It operates .inc, .dealer, and .box. So it was a bit surprising to see its name repeatedly in ICANN's list of applications.

Andrew Allemann

Most contested top level domains: .agent, .lab(s), .bit Unofficially, these TLDs have the most applicants. Today, ICANN released the full list of 1,616 new top level domain name applications it received this… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/most-contested-top-level-domains-agent-labs-bit/

domainnamewire.comMost contested top level domains: .agent, .lab(s), .bitUnofficially, these TLDs have the most applicants. Today, ICANN released the full list of 1,616 new top level domain name applications it received this year. The most-contested sting is no surprise: .agent is at the top of the list. But two things are immediately surprising. First, only five companies applied for .crypto. Many had that high on their list for most-contested.

Andrew Allemann

Squarespace gets into the domain registry business Registrar applies for 15 top level domains. Domain name registrar and web presence platform Squarespace has thrown its hat into the ring for new top level… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/squarespace-gets-into-the-domain-registry-business/

domainnamewire.comSquarespace gets into the domain registry businessRegistrar applies for 15 top level domains. Domain name registrar and web presence platform Squarespace has thrown its hat into the ring for new top level domain names. The company applied for 15 top level domains with ICANN this year: brand chef class firm goods gym hub lab learn member planner pod skill trainer venue Squarespace is one of the largest domain name registrars, thanks to its…

Andrew Allemann

Amazon dials back top level domain ambitions in 2026 round Company applies for eight dot-brand top level domain names. Tech giant Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) was one of the largest applicants for new top… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/amazon-dials-back-top-level-domain-ambitions-in-2026-round/

domainnamewire.comAmazon dials back top level domain ambitions in 2026 roundCompany applies for eight dot-brand top level domain names. Tech giant Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) was one of the largest applicants for new top level domain names in the 2012 expansion round, applying for 76 extensions. It was also one of the biggest disappointments when it came to actually releasing the TLDs it won. It took years. There was lots of foot-dragging.

Andrew Allemann

Chinese new TLD applicant appears to have been fake Why did someone create a fake applicant website? A Chinese company that said it applied for over 100 top level domain names was apparently fake.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/chinese-new-tld-applicant-appears-to-have-been-fake/

domainnamewire.comChinese new TLD applicant appears to have been fakeWhy did someone create a fake applicant website? A Chinese company that said it applied for over 100 top level domain names was apparently fake. In August, Journey to the West Corporation created a website promoting what it said were 323 primary and replacement strings that it applied for in ICANN's 2026 new TLD expansion round. Most of the domains were related to China, including many IDNs.

Andrew Allemann

GoDaddy applies for 77 top level domains World's biggest domain registrar wants to drastically expand its top level domain portfolio. Domain name registrar GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) has applied for 77 top level domain… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/godaddy-applies-for-77-top-level-domains/

domainnamewire.comGoDaddy applies for 77 top level domainsWorld's biggest domain registrar wants to drastically expand its top level domain portfolio. Domain name registrar GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) has applied for 77 top level domain names through its registry subsidiary. The company largely sat out the 2012 round of new TLD expansion. In 2020, it acquired Neustar's registry business, and then rolled up several companies' TLDs through acquisition.

Andrew Allemann

Meta applies for .SuperIntelligence, 17 other top level domains Tech giant wants .superintelligence, .agent, and other TLDs. For many people, the first time they heard the term "super… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/meta-applies-for-superintelligence-17-other-top-level-domains/

domainnamewire.comMeta applies for .SuperIntelligence, 17 other top level domainsTech giant wants .superintelligence, .agent, and other TLDs. For many people, the first time they heard the term "super intelligence" was when Donald Trump uttered the term last month. During a speech to the United Nations, Trump said that the U.S. would refer to artificial intelligence as super intelligence going forward. He later signed an executive order to that effect.

Andrew Allemann

Donald Trump applies for .trump top level domain name President wants his own top level domain name. U.S. President Donald Trump has applied for his own top level domain name: .trump.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/donald-trump-applies-for-trump-top-level-domain-name/

domainnamewire.comDonald Trump applies for .trump top level domain namePresident wants his own top level domain name. U.S. President Donald Trump has applied for his own top level domain name: .trump. ICANN, the organization that oversees the domain name system, opened the door to applications for new top level domains this year for the first time since 2012. Trump's application was among 1,616 submitted during the application window. ICANN revealed the applications today.

Andrew Allemann

WordPress maker Automattic applies for 16 top level domains including .matt List includes founder's name, .matt. Automattic, the company behind WordPress, plans to expand its top… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/wordpress-maker-automattic-applies-for-16-top-level-domains-including-matt/

domainnamewire.comWordPress maker Automattic applies for 16 top level domains including .mattList includes founder's name, .matt. Automattic, the company behind WordPress, plans to expand its top level domain name portfolio by as many as 16 domains. The company already operates .blog, which has about 375,000 registrations. (For more about its thinking behind getting .blog in the 2012 expansion round, listen to Domain Name Wire's podcast with Matt Mullenweg.) This time around, the company applied for:

Andrew Allemann

Google applies for 39 top level domain names: .agent, .waymo & more Company will face competitors for some of the domains, including .agent. Google has applied for 39 top level domain names in ICANN's 2026 expansion round.... https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/google-new-tlds-2026/

domainnamewire.comGoogle applies for 39 top level domain names: .agent, .waymo & moreCompany will face competitors for some of the domains, including .agent. Google has applied for 39 top level domain names in ICANN's 2026 expansion round. That's far fewer than the 101 it applied for last time, in 2012. From the last batch, two of its most successful open top level domains are .app and .dev. It paid $25 million in an auction to get .app.

Andrew Allemann

OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, applies for 15 top level domain names Company applies for five "dot brands" plus generic strings, such as .agent, .skill. Artificial intelligence company OpenAI has… https://domainnamewire.com/2026/10/07/openai-maker-of-chatgpt-applies-for-15-top-level-domain-names/

domainnamewire.comOpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, applies for 15 top level domain namesCompany applies for five "dot brands" plus generic strings, such as .agent, .skill. Artificial intelligence company OpenAI has decided to get into the top level domain name business. The company applied for fifteen top level domain names: agent agi asi chatgpt codex daybreak deploy evals gpt mcp model oai openai skill voice The company is one of thirteen to apply for .agent.