Identity Digital Applies for 216 New Domain Extensions in ICANN's Next Round

Applications span 13 categories, each chosen for distinct positioning and broad, organic interest

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Identity Digital®, operator of the world’s largest portfolio of top-level domains, today announced it has applied for 216 new domain extensions in ICANN's Next Round, the first opportunity since 2012 to add new top-level domains (TLDs) to the internet. The applications span 13 categories, including AI, web3, commerce, and finance, and were chosen to give people and businesses more relevant ways to establish themselves online.

The 2012 round added more than 1,200 extensions to the internet, and in the years since, people and businesses have increasingly looked for names that signal what they do and who they serve. Identity Digital expects AI to accelerate that shift, with new AI ventures and agents looking for recognizable, trusted names as they establish their identities online. Identity Digital's applications are built for that next phase.

Identity Digital Applied for Extensions Built for Long-Term Demand

Each string in Identity Digital’s Next Round application portfolio went through a five-pass curation process. The team studied shifting language patterns, changing naming behaviors, and the ways AI is reshaping online activity. From that analysis, the team chose strings with strong potential for long-term growth and the ability to meet emerging customer needs.

"We see the internet as a home for everyone, and new extensions give more people and businesses a way to show who they are and what they stand for," said Akram Atallah, CEO of Identity Digital. "AI is accelerating that need, and these applications are designed to give everyone building online a relevant, trusted name. We approached this round with the same ambition we had in 2012, backed by a disciplined selection process and long experience running domains at scale."

Registrars and Domain Investors Get a Clearer Read on Where Domains Are Heading

For registrars, the applications offer a look at the extensions Identity Digital is pursuing. Partners can start evaluating which categories may best fit their customers. The range of categories also points to distinct audiences, including AI startups, creators, financial services firms, retailers, and professional service providers. Once delegated, the new extensions will be delivered through the same Identity Digital platform and registrar relationships supporting its portfolio today.

The applications also show domain investors where Identity Digital sees opportunity. They point to the sectors and naming patterns the company believes will sustain interest, from emerging industries to changing online behavior.

The Experience and Infrastructure Behind the Applications

Identity Digital continues to manage the world's largest portfolio of domain extensions, with more than 270 extensions and over 28 million registered domain names on its cloud-native platform. It has spent two decades operating them at scale. Built on AWS, the infrastructure meets ISO and NIST cybersecurity standards and features active abuse prevention to protect registered domains. The company draws on its technical stability and operating experience to support each new extension through long-term growth.

216 Applications Across 13 Categories

Every application fits within one of these thematic categories:

AI
Web3 & Crypto
Finance
Commerce & Retail
Media & Creators
Tech & Infrastructure
Trade & Industry
Professional Services
Travel & Hospitality
Identity & Trust
Gambling
Generic
Health & Wellness

Visit identity.digital/newgtld to explore Identity Digital's applications and learn more about its strategy for ICANN's Next Round.

These are applications, not operational extensions. Each application is subject to ICANN's evaluation process, and no extension is available until it launches. Until then, domain names within these extensions can't be reserved or registered.

About Identity Digital

Identity Digital Inc. simplifies and connects the online world with domain names and related technologies to empower people to build, market, and own their authentic digital identities. With the world’s largest portfolio of TLDs, including .llc, .pro, .world, .fyi, and .studio, Identity Digital supports over 28 million domains on its innovative registry services platform. In addition, Identity Digital enables customers to discover, register, support, and use high-quality domain names with its registrar, name.com. Headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., Identity Digital is a global company with approximately 250 employees. For more information, please visit identity.digital.