PINKY • BRAND

03/12/2026

ICANN's next new gTLD application window opens April 30 and closes August 12. This round brings a real opportunity for the right applicants with the right business models. I shared some thoughts on who is best positioned to make the most of it.

https://pinkybrand.com/2026/03/12/new-gtlds-next-round-who-really-wins-this-time/

The application window opens April 30th and closes August 12, 2026. The strength of a string means very little without a sound strategy underneath it, and this round will reward those who figured t…

02/26/2026

Most 2026 dotBrand TLD conversations already cover the basics—trust, security, and timing. My article adds four questions that brands and their advisors can explore now to refine their strategy and set up a smoother path to success in the next round.

https://pinkybrand.com/2026/01/22/four-under-discussed-questions-brands-should-add-to-their-2026-dotbrand-decision-checklist/

I am not anti dotBrand; I am pro clear-eyed decisions, and here are four under discussed questions on governance, transitions, UX friction, and regulatory footprint worth adding to every 2026 dotBr…

02/20/2026

A must-read for anyone building or operating in the domain ecosystem. Especially registries and registrars, hosting providers, security teams, and AI platform builders. This blog post introduces iQ’s new Domain Intelligence Platform, a single API that turns any domain into a complete, actionable intelligence profile in seconds.​

If you are still stitching together WHOIS, DNS, screenshots, and reputation feeds, this illustrates what it looks like to replace that patchwork with one production-grade hub that powers abuse management, threat hunting, compliance, and AI-driven workflows at scale.

One API call for complete, production-grade domain intelligence. The same central hub that powers iQ Abuse Manager, now available as a commercial service.

02/13/2026

As you plan for the next wave of new gTLDs, it’s worth examining how much of your strategy depends on registrar channels. Registrars are an essential partner, but treating them as the only route to market can limit your options for building real demand. (This blog post was originally published in December, just before the break.)

The next round is coming. If you think landing enough registrars will magically make your new TLD a success, you’re betting your entire business on someone else’s shelf space.

02/06/2026

Last year's sale of AI.COM was made public today. It sold for a new world record price of $70 million, purchased by the owners of CRYPTO.COM. AI.COM is expected to launch this weekend, accompanied by an ad during the Super Bowl. This is giant news for the domain name industry and another example of the ever-increasing value of high-quality digital assets in the 21st century.

https://ai.com/

01/30/2026

Since I wrote about choosing an RSP a few weeks ago, ICANN has released the first List of Evaluated Registry Service Providers, which means prospective applicants for the 2026 next round can now move from hypotheticals to real shortlists and hard questions. And congratulations to the RSPs that have successfully cleared ICANN’s Evaluation Program and are now listed as evaluated providers for the 2026 round. A lot of hard, often invisible work goes into getting that check mark!

https://pinkybrand.com/2026/01/07/choosing-your-registry-service-provider-one-of-the-most-consequential-decisions-before-april/

The official RSP list publishes January 30th. If you’re planning to apply in April, you have roughly three months to evaluate providers, ask the right questions, and avoid a costly mismatch.

01/23/2026

Most 2026 dotBrand conversations seem to be missing four strategic questions that could change the apply/don't apply decision. I wrote them down.

https://pinkybrand.com/2026/01/22/four-under-discussed-questions-brands-should-add-to-their-2026-dotbrand-decision-checklist/

I am not anti dotBrand; I am pro clear-eyed decisions, and here are four under discussed questions on governance, transitions, UX friction, and regulatory footprint worth adding to every 2026 dotBr…

01/07/2026

The official RSP list publishes January 30th. If you’re planning to apply in April, you have roughly three months to evaluate providers, ask the right questions, and avoid a costly mismatch.

https://pinkybrand.com/2026/01/07/choosing-your-registry-service-provider-one-of-the-most-consequential-decisions-before-april/

The official RSP list publishes January 30th. If you’re planning to apply in April, you have roughly three months to evaluate providers, ask the right questions, and avoid a costly mismatch.

01/06/2026

By 2030, autonomous AI agents could outnumber human domain registrants 3-to-1. The domain industry is building for legitimate use cases, but the real challenge is abuse at machine speed and a new international legal framework that treats DNS operators as evidence holders for the gravest international crimes.

By 2030, autonomous AI agents could outnumber human domain registrants 3-to-1. The domain industry is building for legitimate use cases, but the real challenge is abuse at machine speed and a new i…

12/17/2025

The official ICANN 2026 new gTLD Applicant Guidebook is finally here, and the real question for serious applicants isn’t “Can we apply?” but whether our business case and risk tolerance truly justify it.
https://pinkybrand.com/2025/12/17/the-2026-new-gtld-guidebook-is-final-should-you-still-apply/

The official 2026 new gTLD Applicant Guidebook is finally here, and the real question for serious applicants isn’t “Can we apply?” but whether our business case and risk tolerance truly justify it.…

12/12/2025

Excited to share that I’m allocating some of my consulting time to support the team behind Reputable Domains, a new human-verified whitelist service designed to help legitimate brands reduce the risk of false blacklisting and disruption to their online presence. If you manage important domains and want to learn more, feel free to reach out.

https://reputable.domains/announcing-reputable-domains

names

Preventing blacklist problems before they happen

12/09/2025

Thinking of applying for a new TLD? You don’t have to choose between registrar shelf space and building your own demand funnel. In this post, I explore three practical ways to launch a TLD that uses the traditional registrar channel without depending on it for all of your success.

The next round is coming. If you think landing enough registrars will magically make your new TLD a success, you’re betting your entire business on someone else’s shelf space.