Global Domain Registrations Hit Another Annual High at the End of 2Q-2024 - New Verisign Report Reveals the Winners and Losers

 VeriSign, (the administrator of the .com and .net TLDs) has released their latest quarterly Domain Name Industry Brief (DNIB) covering the 2nd quarter of 2024. This update showed that the total number of domain registrations across all TLDs worldwide ended the most recent quarter at 362.4 million. That is 5.8 million domains above the number number at the same point a year earlier, representing a 1.6% year-over-year increase.

.Com remains, by far, the dominant TLD on the Internet but .com's total number of registrations continued a recent trend of slipping from the previous year. With 157.6 million domains at the end of 2Q-2024, .com was down about 3.7 million from the same point in 2023, a 2.3% decline. .Net has continued to tread water each year but wound up with a slight increase year over year after gaining about 100,000 domains to reach 13.1 million at the end of 2Q-2024. 

ccTLDs and "new" gTLDs fared better. The country code domains finished the latest quarter with 140 million registrations, 3 million more than a year ago, representing a 2.2% increase YOY. New gTLDs enjoyed the largest jump but, being newer, they are of course working from a much smaller user base than the .coms and ccTLDs. Still, by adding 6.5 million domains the new Gs hit 34.6 million domains at the end of 2Q-2024, giving them an impressive 23.2% increase year over year. 

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Location Locked In For 2025 ICA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas - Tickets and Hotel Rooms Available Now 

Last month I told you about next year's dates being set for the Internet Commerce Association's Annual Meeting in Las Vegas (those are January 26-28, 2025). At the time the ICA expected to return to Resorts World, the site of last year's meeting, however a final contract had not been signed. Until that happened, the non-profit organization that fights to protect domain registrant's rights couldn't start selling tickets and offering discounted hotel rooms. 

The deal with Resorts World is now done and even expanded a bit over last year when all of the ICA's rooms were in the Hilton at Resorts World. This year registrants can choose either the Hilton or the Conrad. You can book your room now at this link. You can also get your tickets for the event and this is something you will want to act on right away at the early bird price of $399 expires on July 31 (if you want to bring a plus one who is not in the domain industry you can add a ticket for them at just $199, so take advantage of that and let your mates be part of the fun too)!

The Annual Meeting will open with a Sunday evening event, January 26. On Monday (Jan. 27) the day will be devoted to Indoor and Outdoor Social Activities that will conclude with an Opening Evening Reception. The grand finale, Tuesday (Jan. 28) will include Sessions, Panels, Guru Tables and  AMAs (Ask Me Anything Q&As), then wrap up with a Closing Reception including some outstanding entertainment. You can get a sense of ICA Annual Meeting excitement by checking out photos from last year’s meeting at ica.vegas. We will, of course, be there again and hope to see you there too! 

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Digital Creators and Investors Will Be Connecting in Iceland at the First Digital Asset Congress in September

While domain names were the original digital asset, several others have earned a sizeable following in recent years. Creators who utilize both new and long established digital platforms, along with those who invest in them, will have an all encompassing new conference of their own to attend in September. That is the first Digital Asset Congress (DAC) that will run Sept. 23-25, 2024 at the Hilton Nordic Hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The event will connect creative minds with seasoned investors and business leaders, while providing a broad overview of how to transform creative ventures into lucrative digital assets. The goal is to help attendees capitalize on the many opportunities within digital content, domain names and web infrastructures. 

Jason said the the heart of the Digital Asset Congress will be a  Networking Creator Lab where creativity and commerce will intersect, fostering a lively exchange of ideas and inspiration - all in one of the most beautiful locations on earth. The natural beauty wasn't the only reason he chose Reykjavik though. Reykjavik is strategically positioned between North America and Europe, making it a a central hub that facilitates easy and cost-effective travel for attendees from both continents. Jason noted, "This geographically advantageous location not only underscores the global significance of the congress but also ensures broader participation while keeping a mindful eye on keeping our carbon footprint lower."

You can learn more about the event at its official website and Early Bird tickets (at more than 50% off) are available now. If you plan to be part of the first Digital Asset Congress you will want to take advantage of that deal soon as prices go up after July 25. 

(Posted July 8, 2024) To refer others to the post above only (and not the full Lowdown column) you can use this URL:
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