Domain Industry News — October 2025

October 2025 proved to be another dynamic month for the domain business: renewed growth in global registrations, major moves by registrars, important policy and abuse-related developments, and continued strength in the aftermarket. If you’re a domain investor, brand owner or buyer, the signals from this month matter.

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1. Global registration growth continues

According to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)-associated Domain Name Industry Brief data, by end-Q3 2025 there were approximately 378.5 million domain names across all TLDs — an increase of 1.8% vs the previous quarter, and up roughly 4.5% year-on-year. www.hoganlovells.com+1

• The legacy gTLDs (.com, .net, .org etc) remain the dominant share — for example .com still has over 159 million domains. www.hoganlovells.com
• New gTLDs (so-called nTLDs) also continue strong growth: 42.9 million domains at end-Q3 2025 (up ~21% year-on-year) though renewal rates remain lower. www.hoganlovells.com+1
• Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) remain resilient: approx. 144.8 million ccTLD domains, up ~3.4% year-on-year. www.hoganlovells.com

Implication: The growth shows the domain market is far from saturated. But the lower renewal rates in some new extensions suggest caution when evaluating long-term value.

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2. Major registrar/marketplace moves & aftermarket momentum

• The GoDaddy Inc. domain services business reported a 28% surge in aftermarket domain revenue in its Q3 results. Domain Name Wire | Domain Name News
• Daily transaction briefs show continued activity: e.g., on October 25 the highest-priced domain sold was 7657.com for US$21,250; total transaction value that day ~$338,904 with an average sale price of ~$722.61. dn.com
• On October 23, one day’s reported total sales were ~$319,722 with average price ~$657.86. dn.com

Take-away: The aftermarket remains active with decent volume and buyer interest. For sellers, this continues to be fertile ground; for buyers, opportunities remain.

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3. Domain abuse & trust challenges

• Lookalike / impersonator domains continue to be a serious threat. For example in the UK, “lookalike domains” targeting logistics, legal and financial firms caused significant losses (£40k-£160k per incident) by mimicking legitimate sites via character substitution or alternate TLDs. TechRadar
• Security teams and registrars are increasingly monitoring TLDs with lower barriers or lax enforcement.

Why this matters: Trust in domain names remains a key brand/asset concern. Domains that carry higher abuse risk may command lower resale value or require more verification. For domain investors and brand owners — building trust and brand-safe portfolios matters.

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4. Extension & geographic shifts of note

• New gTLDs are growing in number, but many still suffer low renewal rates (e.g., renewal rate for .xyz ~19.5% in Q3 2025). www.hoganlovells.com
• ccTLDs remain important: Brands are reaffirming local presence via geographic TLDs (.uk, .de, .in etc) as localization and trust become more relevant.
• AI-related domains (.ai) continue to attract attention (though not only in October). This thematic interest persists.

Observation: While new extensions provide opportunity, they also carry more risk (renewal, brand perception). For many end-user brands, established extensions (.com, strong ccTLDs) still hold advantage.

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5. End-User Sales & Market Signals

• The weekly end-user domain sales report (via Domain Name Wire) showed multiple domains sold in the tens of thousands to end-users in October. Domain Name Wire | Domain Name News
• Example: Tuning.com sold for €72,000, signalling demand in specific verticals (audio/automotive) even in not ultra-short names. dn.com+1

Key insight: End-user demand remains the strongest driver of value, especially when a name aligns with a business/vertical niche. Generic names remain relevant, but vertical relevance matters.

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6. Strategic implications for buyers & sellers

For Sellers

• If you hold quality domains (brandable, short, keyword-rich) and end-user appeal, list them now and promote effectively. The aftermarket climate is healthy.
• For less premium names (longer, niche, less generic), consider renewal cost vs resale potential — disposal or “liquidation” strategy may make sense.
• Assure domain trust: Clean history, minimal abuse risk, good registrar reputation — these factors help when negotiating with end-users.

For Buyers

• If acquiring domains for brand or business use, established extensions (.com, strong ccTLDs) still provide strongest trust.
• But thematic domains (AI, fintech, vertical keywords) remain good investments — especially if the domain ties to real business.
• Conduct due diligence: check domain history, link profile, renewal/transfer risk. With new gTLDs especially, renewal/usage risk can be higher.

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7. What to watch in Q4 and beyond

• The next batch of new gTLD application windows (the next wave of extensions) — which will shift supply dynamics.
• Renewal rate trends: more transparency will show which extensions are truly “sticky” vs drop-prone.
• Brand owners increasing domain portfolios for defensive/cyber-trust reasons — leading to potential increased demand for short brandables.
• Domain monetization and content use: domains that are “parked” and never used may lose appeal relative to those actively deployed with authority and traffic.

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Final Thoughts

October 2025 reinforces a few consistent truths in the domain industry: demand remains for strong names with brand or vertical appeal; the domain registration base continues growing globally; but risk remains higher in new or less-trusted extensions. For domain investors, the sweet spot remains near the intersection of scarcity, brand relevance and end-user utility.

As you navigate the rest of 2025, continue focusing on quality — for buyers and sellers alike. The domain market is evolving, but smart players who adapt will continue to thrive.