Crypto Briefing • October 7th 2026, 6:50 PM
ICANN reveals 1,615 new domain applications, and AI suffixes like .agent and .agi are crowded
Key Summary
ICANN has revealed 1,615 new top-level domain applications, with a notable share of them related to AI startups. Companies like Meta and OpenAI applied for .agent, while OpenAI also applied for .agi and .asi. The applications are now undergoing a review process, with some applicants adjusting their strings and others facing potential auctions. The goal is to provide more choice for users and competition within the Domain Name System.
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Introduction
The internet is getting new endings. ICANN has revealed 1,615 applications for new top-level domains, and a surprising share of them read like an AI startup's pitch deck.Application Process
Applying is not cheap. ICANN charges USD 227,000 per string, so the ten applicants for .agent each wrote a check of that size for a shot at a single suffix.Notable Applicants
Ten companies, including Meta and OpenAI, applied for .agent, according to The Verge. OpenAI also applied for .agi, which drew seven applicants, and .asi, which drew six.Review Process
The 1,615 applications came from 481 different applicants. Of the total, 333 are brand applications and 16 are community-based applications.Conclusion
The goal is to provide more choice for users and competition within the Domain Name System.#ICANN#AI#DomainNames#.agent#.agi#.asi#Meta#OpenAI#CyberDomain