|
making
discovery
seamless and personalized. There was a
direct uplift in numbers: a 17.4%
increase in engagement and a 14.6%
rise in conversions since launching
our AI-driven search and discovery
platform.
Beyond
AI, the evolution of alternative
domain extensions, like .ai and .io,
signaled a growing openness for
adoption of alternative TLDs among
entrepreneurs and startups. Single-word
domains in these extensions gained
significant traction in 2024 as they
offered more branding opportunities and
affordability compared to traditional
.com domains. Atom’s support for these
extensions and launch of marketplaces
like our Sapphire
Marketplace reflect how
we’re aligning with these trends.
2024
also highlighted the importance of
consumer-centricity. Today’s buyers
are seeking domains that don't just
function but inspire. They’re
looking for names that tell a story and
spark ideas. That’s why we’ve
focused on enhancing the storytelling
and branding around each domain we
offer.
2025
is shaping up to be a year where the
domain industry can truly evolve and
redefine how it creates value. For me,
four major areas stand out: the growth
of alternative extensions, the next
level of AI innovation, real progress
toward moving domains on-chain, and an
opportunity to work together as an
industry.
The
.ai extension is going from strength
to strength, and .io remains
popular for tech startups. In 2024,
entrepreneurs were increasingly open to
strong single-word domains with
alternative extensions. In 2025 we
intend to become the go-to domain sales
platform for this category of domains,
with our new Sapphire Marketplace
dedicated to non-.com
Single-English-Word domains
On
top of that, we will also be launching dedicated
marketplaces for country-specific TLDs
for regional buyers. Our research in
2024 showed that ccTLDs have a high
level of trust within their target
countries, making them a massive
untapped opportunity. Our goal is to
provide buyers with options that are
both culturally relevant and
commercially valuable.
Second,
AI isn’t just about making things more
efficient anymore—it’s about innovation.
The real opportunity lies in using AI to
predict trends that aren’t obvious
yet. At Atom, we’re investing in tools
that go beyond the basics, like
predictive analytics and buyer persona
modeling, so we can align our domain
listings with emerging industries before
they even hit their peak. Our goal is to
help buyers and sellers prepare for
what’s coming, not just what’s
already here.
Another
interesting development is the progress
being made in moving domains on-chain.
Companies like D3
are doing groundbreaking work in this
space, which could fundamentally change
how domains are managed, financed and
traded, making the process more secure,
transparent, and accessible. While the
shift to blockchain-based domains may be
gradual, this is an area to watch
closely in 2025 and beyond, as it
represents a critical step toward
modernizing the infrastructure of our
industry.
Finally,
I think it’s time for the domain
industry to come together. For
too long, we’ve worked in silos, but
2025 should be the year we embrace
collaboration. Whether it’s
sharing data, building tools together,
or open integrations, working together
can unlock so much more value for
everyone. At Atom, we’re already
walking the talk with the launch of Atom
Connect platform, our easy
to integrate APIs as well as our
AI-powered domain suggestion tool, which
we’ve made available to registrars and
other marketplaces. It’s about
increasing the pie for everyone, not
just competing for market share.
For
me 2025 is an opportunity to not only
grow Atom —it’s about contributing
to a domain industry that empowers
innovation, fosters collaboration, and
opens new doors for everyone.
Doron
Vermaat
Founder&
CEO, Efty.com
Efty
is the leading domain name
software-as-a-service investment
platform and operator of the world's
largest commission-free domain name
marketplace Efty.com.
Their customers include the owners of
some of the world’s best domain names
that are not offered for sale anywhere
else.
|
Doron
Vermaat |
The
most significant trend in 2024 is the
increased demand and adoption of .ai
domain names. With a large percentage of
venture capital flowing into AI
startups, a corresponding surge in
capital has been directed toward premium
.ai aftermarket domain names. This trend
has cemented .ai domain names as the
top-selling ccTLD domains at Efty
Pay in 2024.
In
response, we’ve worked diligently to
ensure that Efty Pay can process .ai
sales across the registrar ecosystem
with the speed and simplicity our
platform is known for. Efty Pay removes
friction on both the buyers' and
sellers' end, making the domain name
purchase fast, secure, and easy.
Focusing on seamless transactions and
maintaining our commitment to trust and
reliability, we’ve positioned Efty Pay
as the go-to solution for handling .ai
domain sales effectively.
Additionally,
Efty Pay has excelled in fast payouts.
We allow sellers to deliver the domain
name to our secure holding account
through a push or transfer, and we issue
payouts within one business
|
|
day, taking care of the remaining
transfer process with the buyer. By
staying adaptable and user-focused, Efty
will continue to lead in innovation and
deliver value to its users.
As
we look to 2025, user education
remains a critical focus. Many
buyers are unaware of aftermarket domain
names' strategic importance and value.
At Efty, we aim to bridge this gap by
expanding our knowledge hub and
publishing insightful content that
empowers buyers with the tools and
knowledge they need to make informed
decisions. This will strengthen trust
and drive more activity in the
aftermarket domain space.
Another
significant opportunity for 2025 is our
plan to open the Efty.com marketplace to
all sellers. Access to Efty Pay
and the Efty.com marketplace is limited
to those with an Efty Investor
subscription. Expanding this access, we
aim to create a more inclusive
marketplace that benefits a broader
range of domain investors and sellers.
This shift will make it easier for
sellers to leverage our platform’s
tools and for buyers to access a wider
array of premium domains, enhancing
liquidity and overall marketplace
activity.
In
addition, we anticipate that AI
will become increasingly important in
domain discovery across the aftermarket.
At Efty, we are actively investigating
ways to integrate AI into our
marketplace, which would benefit sellers
by helping them sell more domains and
achieve better prices. More
intelligent domain discovery tools
powered by AI could transform how buyers
find the perfect domains, creating a
more efficient and rewarding experience
for everyone involved.
In
conclusion, 2025 promises exciting
opportunities for growth and innovation
in the domain industry. Efty is
committed to staying ahead of trends,
addressing challenges, and empowering
buyers and sellers through our platform.
We’re excited to contribute to the
industry's evolution and support its
continued success.
|
Lars
Jensen
Founder&
CEO, ShortDot
SA
CEO
& Co-Founder, WebUnited
ShortDot SA
owns and operates five new Top-Level Domain Extensions: .icu, .bond, .cyou, .cfd and
.sbs. The company, headquartered in Luxembourg,
has flourished with a distributed team of highly talented professionals across
the US, EU, and India. Serial
entrepreneur Lars is also actively
involved with multiple tech startups.
|
Lars
Jensen |
2024
has been an extraordinary year, marked
by significant milestones and
transformative trends across the
industry. We are incredibly grateful to
be part of such an innovative and
collaborative space. One of the most
defining trends this year has been the rapid
adoption of Web3 technologies. The
number of wallets with positive balances
surpassed 400 million—a clear
indicator of how decentralized
technologies are entering the
mainstream. At WebUnited,
we anticipated this shift early on,
building a bridge between Web2 and Web3
back in 2023. In 2024, we’ve seen
tremendous enthusiasm from the domain
name industry to embrace this evolution,
with Web3-related domain registrations growing
by 35% year-over-year.
Another
game-changer has been the integration
of AI. By 2024, 70% of the devices
we use daily incorporated AI
capabilities. This surge has
fundamentally reshaped workflows and
boosted productivity across industries.
At Nicky.me,
AI has allowed us to streamline
operations and offer smarter, more
efficient tools to our users. From
enhancing customer service to automating
marketing processes, AI has proven to be
a cornerstone of innovation.
|
|
Throughout
2024, we’ve been fortunate to see
renewals and premium sales for ShortDot
extensions nearly double compared
to the previous year. This growth
reflects not just the increasing
recognition of the value these
extensions offer but also the trust and
enthusiasm from startups and SMEs who
are embracing innovative domain options
to build their online presence. We’re
deeply grateful to be part of an
industry that continues to evolve and
thrive, thanks to the collective efforts
and creativity of so many talented
individuals and organizations.
|
Finally,
the return to in-person events
has been another highlight. The ICANN
meeting in Istanbul was a powerful
reminder of the strength and
camaraderie in our industry. Seeing
so many passionate people come together
to share ideas and create meaningful
connections was inspiring. These moments
of collaboration have helped foster a
truly impactful year.
As
we approach 2025, I’m
optimistic and grateful for the
opportunities ahead. We are fortunate to
work in an industry that is constantly
evolving and driven by incredible talent
and innovation. Two key trends will
undoubtedly shape the upcoming year: the
continued integration of Web3 and
the rise of AI. Web3 remains a
huge opportunity, especially in bridging
the gap between decentralized technology
and traditional users.
I
had the privilege of attending the Token
2049 conference in Singapore, an
incredible event that brought together over
20,000 attendees worldwide to
discuss the future of Web3 adoption. One
of the central themes was
|
Lars
Jensen speaking at an Ask Me
Anything session
at the 2024 Domain Summit
conference in London. |
|
addressing
a
pivotal question: How can we bridge
the gap between Web2 and Web3,
enabling traditional users to embrace
decentralized technologies seamlessly?
The discussions were inspiring and
practical, emphasizing the need for
intuitive tools, user-friendly
interfaces, and education to demystify
blockchain technology for everyday
users. It was a valuable opportunity to
gain insights into how we, as an
industry, can collectively innovate to
make this transition smoother and more
accessible for everyone. For us,
this means creating tools that simplify
blockchain adoption—whether through
user-friendly wallets, decentralized
identity platforms, or
blockchain-enabled domain registration
services.
|
AI
will continue to empower businesses,
especially SMEs. The democratization
of tools like automated content
creation, operational support, and
data-driven decision-making will enable
smaller enterprises to compete more
effectively with larger corporations. At
Nicky.me, we’re embracing AI to
achieve similar goals of efficiency and
innovation. Our AI-powered podcast
features incredibly lifelike voices
generated from real experts’ input. By
simply feeding factual information from
our team, we can produce engaging and
intuitive content that saves significant
production time and costs. This allows
us to share insights quickly and
effectively, making complex topics more
palatable for our audience. You can
check it out here.
That
said, challenges lie ahead.
Integrating Web3 and AI into legacy
systems requires trust, security, and
user education. At WebUnited, we’re
committed to addressing these challenges
through strategic partnerships and
user-centric innovation. We believe the
hybrid integration of Web2 and Web3,
guided by AI, will create a seamless
digital ecosystem for users worldwide.
Finally,
the domain industry’s role in this
transformation is critical. With
ICANN’s next round of activities and
the growing demand for Web3-related
domains, there’s a unique opportunity
for collaboration. Working together as
an industry can shape a more inclusive,
innovative future.
As
we enter 2025, I want to express my
heartfelt thanks to everyone in this
incredible industry. I look forward to
meeting everyone at all the amazing
events in 2025! Cyou soon!
|
Michael
Gilmour
Co-Founder,
ParkLogic.com
Michael
Gilmour founded his first business
when he was 16 years old and has been an
avid online entrepreneur for over 30
years. After completing his MBA and
founding a number of ecommerce
businesses, Michael served as a director
of the prestigious Australian Internet
Industry Association, the last two of
which he was elected to the position of
vice-chairman. Michael, who has been a
domain investor for over 15 years,
co-founded ParkLogic in 2007 and is now
its sole owner. The company maximizes
domain revenue and manages domain
portfolios for clients all over the
world.
|
Michael
Gilmour |
In
the information economy, Internet
traffic is what is powering everything
and is like the oil of the industrial
revolution. How much would Google be
worth if no one went to it? Not much.
I’ll then answer your about 2024 and
2025 from the perspective of Internet
traffic and more importantly, why I
believe domain traffic monetization
is about to explode in value.
At
its core, domain traffic is people going
to places to find information and
conduct commerce. What depends on this?
Everything! I decided to illustrate this
point at a recent domain conference by
comparing domain data across 6 years to
the Google share price. What I found was
there was a 0.93 correlation where the
domain traffic could predict the Google
share price 7 days in advance!
Everything, including Google’s share
price ultimately depends upon Internet
traffic.
There
are two dominant sources of revenue for
those domain investors that monetize
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|
their
traffic: Google (via the parking
companies) and real-time bidding
networks (RTB). At ParkLogic we saw
Google’s RPM (Revenue per Thousand
Visitors) remain relatively flat from
January until September and then
steadily decline until the end of the
year. This was within the expectations
of many of the changes that Google has
made to the domain channel.
The
good news is that after an initial dip
in March the RTB networks surged
forward into June and remained buoyant
for the remainder of the year. RTB
networks have helped to largely offset
the greater margins that Google has
insisted on taking.
Currently
RTB networks are paying out 256% more
than Google on an RPM basis and over
10,000% more on a normalized RPM
(nRPM) basis (you read that correctly).
The difference between RPM and nRPM is
that nRPM creates a metric that allows a
more accurate comparison of different
traffic monetization sources. The
revenue split between Google and RTB
Networks is now 60/40 and we see this
dramatically increasing in 2025 (more on
this later). What these numbers
highlight is just how important RTB
networks are in monetizing domain
traffic.
|
Over the past two decades Michael Gilmour has been a featured
speaker at domain conferences around the world, including the
2017 edition of Domaining Europe in Berlin where we took this shot. |
Looking
at the crystal ball into 2025 can
sometimes be challenging but I will do
my best to outline some of the exciting
innovations that ParkLogic will be
bringing to the market for monetizing
domain traffic.
During
2024 ParkLogic has been developing a
new traffic routing technology that
extracts every last cent out of domain
traffic. For the last six months,
every wall in my study was plastered
with flip charts covered in mathematics
equations that led to a sophisticated
traffic routing algorithm. The result
was a pricing model that more accurately
compares Google average daily price
versus the spot pricing provided by the
RTB networks. We can now do this for any
geo zone, device and time.
What
do I mean by this? Google currently
releases daily revenue numbers while RTB
networks bid as the traffic becomes
available. This is a classic average
versus spot price conundrum, and we
finally solved it. This more accurate
algorithm means that we can now compare
what Google will pay for German Desktop
traffic at 4:01pm versus what the RTB
network will offer at the same time.
This is a game changer and if our
test portfolio is any indication this
will provide a huge increase in
revenue for domain investors.
The
second innovation is retention.
This innovation is all about growing a
reoccurring revenue stream for clients
by encouraging users from domain traffic
to subscribe to a variety of services
that will allow ongoing monetization.
This will create an ever-increasing
revenue stream, and we will then provide
a share back to the referring domain
owner. In the coming months, ParkLogic
clients will see how many
“subscribers” their domains have
generated and the growing revenue from
these users.
The
third innovation is what we call Apogee.
Apogee is a dashboarding system that
provides a simple revolutionary way to
display any data from any source.
Clients can easily create new dashboards
and have them display information from
sources as diverse as other parking
providers, cryptocurrencies or even each
of their registrars. If you can access
the data, you can display it in Apogee.
These
are but three of the exciting
innovations that ParkLogic has been
working upon and each of them are likely
to transform the domain monetization
landscape. You can expect them to be
released in the coming months and
that’s when the ParkLogic team will
begin working on some of our much bigger
plans….so 2025 is looking like it will
be an absolutely awesome
year!
|
Michael
Robrock
CEO,
Sedo.com
After
a successful 20-year career in online
marketing, Michael Robrock took
on a major role at Sedo in August
2019 as their new Chief Operating
Officer. Barely a year later, on Sept.
1, 2020, Robrock was picked
to lead the company as the industry
giant's new CEO. Now in his 5th
year at the helm, Michael continues to
keep Sedo's global domain operations on
track and running full steam ahead.
|
Michael
Robrock |
2024
was a solid year for the aftermarket and
domain industry as a whole, without any
extreme highs or lows. Given the various
global crises that needed to be
addressed and the fact that it was a
year of major elections, it was expected
that the economy would be more
uncertain. Nevertheless, there were
notable events in the aftermarket,
particularly the hype around
AI-related domains, which had
already started in 2023 but continued to
gain momentum throughout 2024. It is a rare
feat for any TLD or trend topic to
maintain such success over an extended
period. The fact that AI even has its
own TLD (.ai, although
technically a ccTLD) makes the theme's
success even more evident.
Domains
related to gambling and
cryptocurrencies were also
successful, mainly under traditional
TLDs. As expected, short .com
domains remained stable, with high
demand and strong prices in the market. ccTLDs
and new gTLDs gained popularity
and value overall. More details about
the development of the aftermarket in
2024 will be published in the upcoming Global
Domain Report 2025, which will be
released jointly with InterNetX.
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The
topic of cybersecurity and security
was a significant concern for the domain
industry in 2024 and will continue to be
a pressing issue. The rise of online
scams and misleading QR codes
highlighted the importance of domains
in building trust with users. On the
other hand, it also emphasized the need
for better awareness about the role of
domains in establishing a brand. After
25 years of education on domains we
still deal with this issue and plan to
continue our efforts in the future.
After
global economic uncertainty in 2024,
activity is expected to pick up in the
first quarter of 2025. With the United
States under new leadership, new policy
decisions will be made, affecting the
economy and financial markets. Lower
taxes and fewer regulations are expected,
which could impact domain prices and the
aftermarket. Domain sellers might
benefit from this and experience a year
of growth.
|
In
this regard, 2025 should be an exciting
and eventful year. We can expect the
domain industry to undergo changes due
to global economic trends, with AI and
technology being at the forefront.
Demand for AI-related domains and their
appreciation will remain high. There
will be much to discover and analyze,
including the impact of AI on domain
search and valuation as well as how
domains will perform in AI-based search
engines like Perplexity.
Voice
search will continue to gain
importance, creating new advertising
opportunities, especially for social
media and e-commerce. We will see a
stronger focus on biotechnology, health,
evergreen themes like gambling, gaming,
cryptocurrencies, and renewable energy,
which will continue to influence the
aftermarket in 2025. It is possible more
domains in these categories will sell in
the lower priced segments, and domain
auctions will regain popularity.
The
performance of TLDs in the aftermarket
will continue in 2025, with .com
emerging as a winner, especially for
high-quality domains. |
Image
from Bigstock |
|
More large
companies will sell unused or
underutilized premium and ultra-premium
domains from their portfolios. The
effects of stagnation and price
increases in traditional TLDs like .com
and .net in the primary market might
lead to a shift towards alternative
TLDs.
|
While
traditional ccTLDs and gTLDs will remain
popular, concerns surround the .io
ccTLD, as it is feared that it might
disappear due to geopolitical issues.
Many tech companies rely on .io for
their branding, so they will likely
search for alternatives soon. We might
see a shift towards .ai and .tech as
alternatives to .io.
Cybersecurity
will continue to play a significant
role. With the NIS2
directive improving
cybersecurity, compliant and trustworthy
players will have an advantage in the
market. In this regard, Sedo's
marketplace is well-equipped. We look
forward to 2025, the year the domain
will celebrate its 40th anniversary!”
|
Paul
Nicks
Vice
President, Domain Investors,
GoDaddy
For
the past 14 years, Paul
Nicks has been an advocate for domain
investors within the industry's most
influential and impactful company. Over
those years, his consistent support
resulted in GoDaddy embracing and
supporting the community, including an
important sponsorship of the Internet
Commerce Association. We
profiled Paul in a December 2002 Cover
Story.
|
Paul
Nicks |
In
2024 one of the most significant shifts
has been the increased focus on Lease
to Own options for domain investors.
At GoDaddy, we've embraced this trend by
implementing Lease to Own worldwide
directly within the GoDaddy search
experience. This approach offers buyers
a flexible way to acquire domains over
time, making it more accessible for
those who might not be ready for an
upfront purchase.
For
sellers, Lease to Own provides a more
consistent income stream through
monthly payments. This model has shown
to be beneficial, as our study of over 1
million domains opted in to Lease to Own
at Afternic revealed a 35% higher
average sales price compared to
traditional Buy it Now options. It's a
win-win for buyers and sellers.
Another
notable trend is the continued influence
of AI in the tech industry, which
has influenced domain sales,
particularly the .ai extension.
We've observed the .ai extension
climbing the ranks in the aftermarket,
moving from 8th in 2022 to 5th
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|
in
2023, and reaching the third spot
in 2024 among Afternic's highest selling
extensions. This surge reflects the
growing importance of AI and its
associated technologies, and I
anticipate this momentum will persist.
There's even potential for .ai to
overtake .org by 2025, becoming the
second highest sales volume TLD after
.com in the aftermarket.
Following
on from the transformative AI momentum
of 2024, we're just scratching the
surface of what's possible in the
domain industry. At GoDaddy, we see
tremendous opportunities to
revolutionize how both domain buyers and
sellers operate in the digital
space.
For
domain investors and sellers, AI
technology will be increasingly woven
into their daily operations. We're
developing intelligent tools that can
analyze market trends, optimize pricing
strategies, and identify high-potential
domain opportunities with unprecedented
accuracy. This AI powered approach will
help sellers make more informed
decisions and maximize their portfolio's
value.
|
On
the buyer side, we're witnessing a
fascinating evolution in how businesses
and individuals approach their online
presence. AI will serve as a
knowledgeable guide, helping
customers navigate the complex world of
domain selection and digital branding.
Through GoDaddy
Airo™, our AI-powered
solution, we're creating an experience
that combines human creativity with
machine intelligence to help customers
build their perfect digital identity. |
|
What's
particularly exciting is how AI will democratize
expertise in the domain industry.
Tools that once required years of
experience to master will become
accessible to newcomers, while seasoned
professionals will gain powerful new
capabilities to enhance their
operations. We're committed to making
the entire process more intuitive,
efficient, and successful for everyone
involved.
GoDaddy
will return to the Big
Game this February with GoDaddy
Airo™ front and center. This is
just the beginning of how we're
reimagining the future of digital
identity creation!
|
Sam
Dennis
Founder
& CEO,
DomainEasy.com
When
GoDaddy acquired innovative domain sales
platform DAN.com and merged it into
their own Afternic.com, new options for
those who wanted an alternative began
surfacing. One of the most promising
among those, DomainEasy, launched under
the guidance of industry veteran Sam
Dennis and drew immediate attention with
a 0% commission rate for sellers.
|
Sam
Dennis |
As DomainEasy entered the market in late 2024, we observed a clear pattern emerging in the domain industry: while the market was consolidating, domain owners were increasingly seeking more control and flexibility over how their assets were sold and managed. The consolidation had led to fewer choices for domain owners, with new restrictions being imposed and options becoming more limited.
We identified a significant gap in the market – domain investors were being underserved by existing platforms that offered rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions. Many domain owners, particularly those with substantial portfolios, were looking for the freedom to work with different brokers for their domains or manage their own leads, rather than being locked into a single sales channel. This insight shaped our approach to building DomainEasy as
an open platform that emphasizes
choice: domain owners can manage their leads directly, work with their preferred brokers, or use a combination of both. Our platform introduces much-needed flexibility at a time when other options in the market were becoming more restrictive.
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|
Looking ahead to
2025, we see several transformative trends emerging in the domain industry. First is the growing demand for
sophisticated analytics and data-driven insights in domain portfolio management. Domain owners are increasingly seeking real-time visibility into their portfolio performance, from traffic patterns to buyer engagement metrics – a shift that will be crucial for optimizing domain values and identifying market opportunities.
The influence of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly significant, not just for domain appraisals, but for identifying emerging market trends and predicting future domain value appreciation. However, we believe the real opportunity lies in using AI to
enhance lead qualification and buyer
matching, helping connect the right domains with the most relevant buyers. While some platforms are experimenting with fully automated trading systems, we believe AI should augment rather than replace human judgment in domain transactions.
|
The
crypto and Web3 space continues to evolve, albeit with more measured expectations than in previous years. While speculative domain buying in this sector has cooled, we're seeing increased interest from established Web3 projects seeking to secure traditional domain names to complement their blockchain presence – suggesting a maturing market where Web3 companies are
building bridges between traditional and decentralized internet infrastructure. |
Image
from Bigstock |
Another significant trend we expect to accelerate is the demand for flexible payment
options. The traditional model of requiring full upfront payment for premium domains has limited market accessibility. We're seeing strong interest in financing options that make high-value domains more attainable for businesses, while ensuring attractive returns for domain owners.
The challenge for the industry will be
balancing automation and efficiency with the personal touch needed for complex
transactions. While technology can streamline many aspects of domain trading, high-value deals often require nuanced negotiations and relationship building. At
DomainEasy, we're focusing on building tools that
enhance rather than replace the human element in domain transactions, while providing clear visibility into every aspect of the sales process, from lead qualification to transaction status.
|
Sandeep
Ramchandani
CEO,
Radix
Sandeep
Ramchandani is a respected authority
in the global domain and web hosting
industry, boasting over two decades of
experience. As an early member of the
Directi Group, he played a pivotal role
in leading LogicBoxes to becoming the
leading player in the domain name
automation space. With a rich history as
a pioneer in the domain industry,
Sandeep has held diverse leadership
positions encompassing strategy, policy,
business development and product
management. Today, he spearheads
Radix, the world's largest new
domain registry, boasting an impressive
portfolio of ten new domain extensions.
|
Sandeep
Ramchandani |
From our perspective, one of the most significant trends in 2024 was
the continued decline in new .com
registrations. For decades, .com was considered the benchmark for the overall gTLD market—and for good reason. It remains the dominant gTLD, holding over 40% of new registrations. However, this long-standing dominance appears to be under threat.
New .com registrations have declined for the third consecutive year, with a
~9% drop between 2023 and 2024, following declines of 3% and 8% in the previous two years. In fact, 34.4 million new registrations in 2024 marked the lowest annual figure since 2018. Adding to the challenge, .com
renewal rates also softened during the year, reflecting a potential shift in market sentiment.
Despite this downturn, an interesting development emerged when
Warren Buffett significantly increased his stake in
Verisign, raising his holding to over 13%. This move stands out, especially considering that Berkshire Hathaway is currently sitting on record cash reserves. However, even with Buffett’s endorsement, Verisign's stock ended the year lower, underperforming in what was otherwise a stellar year for the stock market.
In contrast, GoDaddy had an exceptional 2024, with its stock nearly
doubling in value, building on an impressive
43% rise in 2023.
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Across various industry metrics, it’s evident that other leading gTLDs have not shown any signs of weakness. Whether this signals a fundamental shift in consumer behavior remains to be seen. The coming months will provide deeper insights as renewal rates and actual domain usage data become available.
In 2025, as AI becomes increasingly mainstream and affordable, we anticipate it will serve as a major catalyst for the growing demand for new web projects across various
sectors. What once required months of development and tens of thousands of dollars can now be accomplished in
a fraction of the time and cost. From business websites and personal blogs to e-commerce stores and creative portfolios, AI-powered tools are
democratizing web development, enabling individuals and businesses to establish their online presence with unprecedented ease and efficiency.
At a time when major tech platforms and marketplaces—across social media, broadcasting, and e-commerce—continue to consolidate
power, often at the expense of creators, publishers, and sellers, the
Domain Name System (DNS) offers a
compelling home base. Owning a domain provides users with the opportunity to build a lasting brand, operate with complete autonomy, and retain full control over their digital presence—free from the constraints and evolving policies of third-party platforms.
2025 will also mark the opening of the next round of new
TLDs. As a company which was born out of the previous round, we look forward to newer opportunities emerging from this
round.
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Todd
Han
Founder,
Dynadot
Todd
Han's remarkable journey through the
domain industry when he started domain
registrar Dynadot up from a small
home office back in 2002. Todd ran the
company single handedly for three years
but from those modest beginnings he has
since grown Dynadot into a thriving
business with over 130 team members and
more than 100,000 customers around the
world. We profiled Todd in a September
2023 Cover
Story.
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Todd
Han |
Artificial
intelligence was undoubtedly the
defining trend of 2024. At Dynadot,
we have fully embraced this revolution
by integrating AI into multiple aspects
of our platform, including domain
search, domain appraisal, and our domain
marketplace. These enhancements have
empowered users to discover and evaluate
domains more effectively and
efficiently. Furthermore, Dynadot has
become a leading destination for
AI-related domain names, solidifying our
position as one of the best aftermarket
platforms for AI domains.
Reflecting
on my experiences with past
technological shifts—like the rise of
email, the internet, and the
introduction of the iPhone—I firmly
believe that AI represents a
transformative leap forward. Just as
the Industrial Revolution made labor
abundant, the AI revolution is poised to
make intelligence abundant. However, the
broader implications for society are
still unfolding, and no one can yet
fully grasp how profound this change
will be. At Dynadot, we are committed to
staying at the forefront of this
evolution, ensuring our customers have
the tools they need to succeed in an
AI-driven world.
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In 2025,
we are making a bold move to give all
our customers access to our best Super
Bulk pricing. This decision reflects
Dynadot’s ongoing commitment to
efficiency and fairness. By optimizing
our operations, we’ve been able to
reduce costs, and we’re proud to pass
those savings directly to our customers.
This change not only enhances
affordability but also reinforces our
dedication to providing unparalleled
value.
We’re
also seeing growing interest in ccTLDs
and new gTLDs, as individuals and
organizations continue to explore
creative ways to represent their brands
online. In 2024, we expanded our
offerings by adding support for 50
new country and global TLDs,
providing users with access to a more
diverse and valuable inventory of domain
names. In 2025, we plan to build on this
momentum by introducing even more TLD
options to meet the increasing demand
for innovative branding opportunities.
Looking
ahead, the biggest challenge will be
navigating the rapid pace of
technological advancements while
maintaining our commitment to security
and simplicity. We are confident
that our focus on innovation,
efficiency, and customer satisfaction
will position us to take full advantage
of the opportunities in 2025 while
tackling challenges head-on.
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