New TLDs: Useful Tips for Domain Investors in 2025

So you're thinking about domain investing? Or maybe your company needs the perfect web address that actually says something about what you do. The domain world is changing fast, and new top-level domains (nTLD) can have a place in your online presence or portfolio in ways that could matter for both your wallet and your brand.

There are hundreds of new extensions available nowadays with even more on the way in 2026, creating opportunities for those who pay attention. Let's take a closer look at what's happening with new TLDs and why they might offer potential in branding and investing strategies.

 

What's Really Happening with New TLDs in 2025?

The domain landscape has shifted dramatically. In 2014, the number of early registrations of new TLDs was around 3 million. Fast forward to 2024, and that number exploded to nearly 37 million – that's 922% growth over a decade.

 

Recent statistics show that new gTLDs reached 33.3 million registrations at the end of Q1 2024, jumping 4.7% from the previous quarter and 22.1% year-over-year. By Q3 2024, they hit 35.4 million registrations, showing a 17.4% year-over-year increase.

 

This isn't just random growth – it's a sign that businesses and consumers are embracing alternatives to traditional domains, especially while more common traditional extensions become more saturated–creating challenges finding available domains.

 

Why .AI is the Current Domain Rockstar

If you've been watching tech news, this won't shock you: .AI domains are absolutely crushing it right now. Originally Anguilla's country code, .AI has become the go-to for anything AI-related. Experts predict .AI will reach 6 million registered domains by Q1 2025.

Why the explosion? Three reasons:

• The global AI boom created a massive demand for domains that scream "innovation"

• Built-in branding value for companies with "AI" in their names

• Instant credibility with tech-savvy audiences

Premium .AI domains are also selling for a significant amount of money. Recent sales include twin.ai for $95,000, advice.ai for $80,000, and mba.ai for $50,000.

 

While .AI domain was introduced in 2009, it isn’t considered as a part of the new TLD boom in 2014, but it’s popularity exploded in the past few years.

 

 

The Investment Case for New TLDs

Let's talk about costs and incomes. For domain investors, new TLDs can potentially offer several compelling advantages:

 

Lower Entry Costs = More Opportunities

The math is simple. Most valuable traditional domains were snatched up years ago, and even mediocre ones could cost thousands. Meanwhile, quality names in new TLDs can still be registered for under $100 in many cases, but the price will depend on the registrar and TLD.

 

This price gap means you can build a diverse portfolio without draining your bank account on a single premium investment. Depending on the registrar, you may be able to grab domains on sale or bundle them with another niche extension.

 

Premium Sales Are Happening

Here are examples of premium sales of new TLDs:

• w.club was sold for $5,250 recently

• The .AI sales mentioned earlier (twin.ai at $95,000, etc.)

While these high-value sales aren't everyday occurrences, they show the potential upside when you pick the right domains in emerging extensions.

 

The Creative Angle: Domain Hacks

New TLDs enable clever "domain hacks" – where the extension becomes part of the brand name. Think trendy.fashion instead of trendy fashion.somedomain or fashion.blog instead of fashion blog.somedomain. These creative combinations often stick in people's minds, making them more valuable to the right buyer. For startups looking to stand out, these can be worth a premium.

 

New TLDs Now Available at Dynadot

We’re excited to expand our domain offerings with a fresh set of TLDs! While most of them are country-code TLDs, many can be used for a great domain name with your business name (for example, sendyour.cv). You can now register the following TLDs through Dynadot:

• .MW — Perfect for businesses and individuals in Malawi, or for creating unique, global brands.

• .CHANNEL — Ideal for content creators, influencers, and businesses looking to build an online media presence.

• .ML — A great choice for organizations and projects based in Mali, as well as creative uses for machine learning-related content.

• .AD — The official domain for Andorra, perfect for businesses or tourism-related ventures targeting the region.

• .FR — France’s country code TLD, trusted by businesses, brands, and individuals who want to target a French-speaking audience.

• .CV — Representing Cape Verde, ideal for local businesses or initiatives connected to the islands.

• .YT — The country code for Mayotte, also creatively used for projects that want to reference “YouTube” content.

• .PM — The official TLD for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French overseas territory.

• .SI — Slovenia’s top-level domain, trusted for local businesses and expanding your presence in Central Europe.

• .KE — Kenya’s country code domain, essential for anyone looking to build a strong presence in East Africa.

These new options give you more flexibility to build a brand that reflects your identity, audience, and goals. Whether you’re looking for a country-specific domain, launching a content channel, or finding a creative domain hack, we've got you covered.

 

Strategic Approaches for Domain Investors

 

 

If you're serious about domain investing in the new TLD era, you need a strategy. Here are three approaches that you could investigate to see if they fit within your portfolio strategy:

 

Focus on Industry-Specific TLDs

Building a portfolio around industry-specific TLDs like .TECH, or .APP is a smart strategy if you’re knowledgeable in the tech niche. If you're in any niche and have an online shop or an idea for one, consider grabbing a .SHOP domain for your portfolio. These targeted collections appeal to businesses in specific sectors that are willing to pay premium prices for the perfect domain, if it aligns with their brand.

 

The key is developing expertise in particular markets so you understand what names have genuine value to potential buyers. Understanding historical sales and viability of each nTLD should also be considered when looking into investing into them.

 

Geographic Extensions for Local Businesses

Local businesses need a local presence. European ccTLDs have shown substantial growth, with extensions like .DE, .EU, and .CH are in high demand. City-specific TLDs like .NYC and .LONDON are gaining traction too, and have a very positive effect on local SEO. Some of these city-specific TLDs are considered part of the new TLD wave.

If you know a local market well, this can be a great niche to explore. Companies wanting to emphasize their local connections often seek these extensions.

 

Brand Messaging Through Domain Extension

The right TLD instantly communicates what a business does. organic.food tells you exactly what to expect from a business. This built-in clarity has real value for businesses trying to establish themselves online.

 

For investors, understanding these practical benefits helps identify domains with genuine utility, which can fetch higher prices than purely speculative acquisitions.

 

What's Coming: Future TLD Trends

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Here's what domain industry experts are watching:

 

ICANN's New Application Window

ICANN (the governing body of the domain industry) has confirmed plans to open a second application window for new gTLDs during spring 2026. This will allow organizations to apply for their own TLD registries and existing registries to launch new extensions.

 

This expansion will create fresh opportunities for early investors who spot promising new TLDs before they gain mainstream attention. Getting in early to what could be a popular extension years down the line may allow you to grab great domains easily.

 

City and Geographic TLDs Growing

Geographic TLDs (geoTLDs) and city-specific extensions continue gaining traction. Extensions like .ASIA, .TOKYO, .AFRICA, and .NYC help businesses enhance local SEO and establish regional market presence.

 

European ccTLDs, in particular, have shown strong growth, with extensions like .DE (Germany) growing every year and maintaining a strong market presence. Here is a curve showing the growth of. DE domain registrations over the last 10 years, courtesy of Domain Name Stats. This could be a trend applicable to more local new TLDs in prime regional hubs.

 

The Risks: What Domain Investors Should Watch For

Not all that glitters is gold, and, while new TLDs do have advantages along with general availability, they do come with their share of challenges and risks that investors should be aware of.

 

Premium Pricing Structures

Many new TLD registries use tiered pricing, where premium domain names come with higher registration and renewal fees (this can even occur when a new TLD is just launched! Something to keep an eye out for with the nTLDs in 2026). These ongoing costs can significantly impact your investment returns, especially if premiums are renewed annually.

 

Before acquiring a domain, always review the registry’s pricing policy—unexpected fees can directly impact your profitability.

 

Market Saturation Concerns

With so many new TLDs available, it’s easy for domain investors to spread themselves too thin by investing in extensions that never gain real traction.

 

The real challenge is figuring out which TLDs will become widely used and which ones will stay niche or disappear altogether. Staying informed, monitoring industry & cultural trends, along with doing proper research is key to making smart choices.

 

How Companies Can Choose the Right New TLD

 

 

For businesses looking at new TLDs for their own use rather than investment, here's a simple framework:

 

Match Your Industry

Choose a TLD that aligns with your business. If you sell tech products, .TECH or .APP might make sense. Run a shop? Consider .STORE or .SHOP. This immediate association helps customers understand your business at a glance.

 

Consider Your Geography

If you serve specific regions, geographic TLDs can strengthen your local presence. A business focusing on New York City might benefit from a .NYC domain, while a European company might consider their country's ccTLD.

 

Think About Brand Protection

Even if your main site uses a traditional TLD, registering your brand across relevant new TLDs prevents competitors or squatters from creating confusion. This defensive strategy is increasingly important as new TLDs gain traction.

 

The Numbers: Market Analysis in Simple Terms

The global domain registration landscape reached 362.4 million domain names across all TLDs by the end of Q1 2024, showing steady growth of 0.7% from the previous quarter and 2.1% year-over-year. Looking ahead, the global market should reach 464.8 million domain registrations by 2030, growing yearly at 3.3%.

 

These numbers tell an important story: while traditional domains still dominate in volume, new TLDs are seeing steadily increasing growth.

 

Success Stories: Who's Winning with New TLDs?

The most compelling cases for new TLDs come from those who've used them successfully:

 

Tech Startups Embracing .AI

AI startups are herding to .AI domains, as companies find that these extensions align perfectly with their brand identity. The instant association with artificial intelligence gives these companies an edge in communicating what they do.

 

Local Businesses Using Geographic TLDs

Restaurants, repair services, and other local businesses are finding that city-specific TLDs help them connect with local customers. A New York plumber might find more local SEO success with plumber.nyc than a generic TLD alternative.

 

E-commerce Sites with Industry-Specific Extensions

Online stores using extensions like .SHOP and .STORE report better customer understanding of their business model from the first interaction. These two extensions are also becoming common for entrepreneurs in the influencer space. These types of domains communicate the business purpose, creating clearer expectations for potential visitors and customers.

 

Final Thoughts: Should You Invest in New TLDs?

New TLDs present both opportunities and risks for domain investors in 2025. The market is clearly changing, creating space for savvy investors to find value in emerging extensions.

 

The key to success lies in research, strategic focus on specific niches, and understanding the practical value certain TLDs offer to businesses. Targeted investment in extensions showing real market adoption could yield significant returns.

 

For businesses selecting their own domains, the expanded options allow for more creative branding and clearer communication of purpose through domain choice alone.

 

Whether you're an investor or business owner, staying informed about new TLD trends will be crucial as we continue through this period of significant change in how we name and navigate the web.

 

The domain gold rush isn’t over—it’s expanded to new territories.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new gTLD Program?

The new gTLD Program, managed by ICANN, is designed to expand the domain name system by introducing a variety of new generic top-level domains. It gives individuals and businesses more choices for establishing their online presence and registering unique domain names.

 

How are new TLDs added?

New gTLDs are introduced through ICANN’s TLD application system, where applicants pay a fee and submit proposals. Once approved, these domains help diversify the DNS by offering more domain extensions tailored to different industries, regions, and interests.

 

Why are new gTLDs being introduced?

The goal is to foster greater competition, support innovation, and expand the availability of meaningful second-level domain names. Through the registry agreement process, ICANN ensures that each new gTLD contributes to a more dynamic and accessible internet.

 

Are new TLDs still being created?

Yes, new TLDs continue to be developed. In fact, ICANN has launched a new round of the gTLD Program in 2026, opening the door for even more domain extensions. This ongoing expansion ensures that businesses, brands, and communities have greater opportunities to find domain names that fit their identity and goals.