The Evolution of Domaining: Trends and Developments in 2019

The org extension, once a symbol of non-profit organizations, saw significant changes in 2019. The sale of the org extension to Ethos Capital sparked controversy, with many questioning whether it aligned with the sector's values. Despite this, ICANN approved the sale, marking a new chapter for the domain extension.

One notable trend in domaining was the rise of fractional ownership experiments. This innovative approach allows multiple individuals or entities to share ownership of a single domain name. While still in its early stages, this concept has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about domain ownership.

In other news, NameSilo took home the award for Best Registrar at Namepros in 2019. Meanwhile, SpinWebs' name servers were identified as ' and '. These name servers play a crucial role in directing website traffic, and are typically set up by the company hosting the website.

Dreamscape made headlines when it acquired web.com for $73 million. This deal highlights the importance of domain names in the digital landscape. When a domain name is delegated to a set of name servers, these servers have the authority to direct the domain name to any location.

In 2019, several mergers took place within the domaining industry. Team Internet, owner of Parking Crew and Tonic, was acquired by CentralNic for $48 million. Meanwhile, Team Blue and Register Group merged operations. These consolidations are likely to shape the future of domaining.

ICANN faced scrutiny in 2019 after discovering that it had failed to perform required registrar functions, including processing new registrations and allowing existing registrants to renew domain name registrations. The domain registrar AlpNames was shut down as a result.

Despite these challenges, com domain sales remained strong in 2019. With total volume and number of sales exceeding those in 2018, it's clear that domaining is still a thriving industry. One notable sale was the $30 million purchase of the .com domain, making it one of the largest .com sales ever recorded.

In summary, 2019 was a transformative year for domaining. From controversy surrounding the org extension to innovative fractional ownership experiments and significant mergers, this space is constantly evolving. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see how these trends shape the landscape of domaining.

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