One of the strongest domain extensions in the market right now is the .XYZ extension.  Sites like Namebio.com and Twitter have documented the end-user sales of one and two-word domain names in the $xx,xxx and $xxx,xxx range.

Most auctions for desirable names at the wholesale level are getting multiple bidders and running up domains to 10-50x initial minimum bids.  The demand and prestige in the .xyz namespace are driven by companies operating within Web3 and next-generation technologies. 

You can shop at Cloudname.com for aftermarket .xyz domain names by clicking under extensions, “.xyz” then you can sort by price high to low or low to high, see recent or premium listings, or search by your desired price category.

Reports in the past few years have shown an impressive rise in registrations of .xyz domains, leading the way compared to the other new gTLDs. As of May 2022, there were more than 5 million domains using .xyz so clearly they have become a valuable option for new and existing businesses.

So what is the history of the .xyz domain and are there really benefits to choosing this extension over other more traditional ones? We aim to answer these questions and more in the following article so let’s get started!

What is the history of the .xyz domain?

In 2013, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) included the .xyz domain in their planned releases for new domains. After being approved for the general public in mid-2014, it very quickly grew past expectations.

Developed by Daniel Negari and the xyz.com corporation, it really took off when Google announced that their parent organization Alphabet would be using a .xyz domain. The marketing power this generated catapulted the domain extension to one of the most popular within a matter of months.

It is interesting to note that Negari himself highlighted a key characteristic of the .xyz domain. He explained that .com is linked to original investors and there was a need to connect with the new, younger generation of investors and entrepreneurs. This is where the new domain comes into play.

What are the benefits of choosing a .xyz domain?

Whilst Google may not care too much if you own a .com or .xyz domain in terms of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), there are some fantastic benefits to choosing one of the more modern gTLDs like .xyz. Let’s explore the most relevant and useful benefits that domain traders and organisations may want to know about.

Represent the new generation

As highlighted above, .com, .net and .org are some of the most popular domain extensions out there but they are linked with the traditional, first investors on the internet. It is highly likely you will struggle to find your preferred domain with a .com ending and this shows just how saturated the market is by established players.

With an increased focus on all things digital, the new generation of tech entrepreneurs, investors and traders have embraced the more modern implications of the .xyz domain.

It isn’t industry-specific

Unlike some of the modern gTLDs, the .xyz domain extension doesn’t have a specific industry linked to it. When we think of .ai, we think of artificial intelligence and when we think of .io we think of data-focused industries.

The big benefit of .xyz is it is generic, engaging and full of potential for almost any business in any industry. This makes it a fantastic choice for those wanting to invest and trade domains, like many of the Cloudname community and we’ve written a helpful guide on domain trading which can be found here.

It isn’t geo-locked

Whilst many of the domain extensions out there are not geo-locked, some do have restrictions linked to them because they have been designed to represent a particular country or region.

The benefit of .xyz and some other modern domains is that they are neither directly nor indirectly linked to a location. You will not be penalised by Google in terms of Search Engine Optimization and equally, branding won’t be a problem, wherever you are operating in the world.

There are no restrictions on who can register one

Reflecting the benefits listed above, as a result of not being industry-specific or geo-locked, it can be registered by pretty much anyone! This is a big bonus to those struggling to find that perfect domain name with a traditional gTLD like .com or .net.

This level of flexibility and creativity is vital in a world where there are literally new internet users every second and new websites launching all of the time. As the world gets more connected and more competitive, these flexible domains will play an increasingly more important role.

The concern about the rise of spam coming from .xyz domains

We feel it important to flag up one concern about .xyz domains and this is the use of them by spam sites and other criminal enterprises. This isn’t purely from .xyz domains and in reality, it is an increasing challenge because of the range of new TLDs that are available.

To help explain it, imagine you have an established business with a .com domain. If these modern, cheaper domains like .xyz are available then you can create a copy that is designed to defraud and confuse people.

Added to this is the fact that the modern domains are often a lot cheaper than traditional ones, making it a more affordable way to harm others.

As mentioned, this isn’t specific to .xyz domains but they are useful for highlighting this challenge many of us face. Always take the time to check if you’re using a legitimate site and if ever in doubt, never share information or click on links.

Why do we have so many domain extensions and what is the difference?

There may be many of you reading this thinking why on earth do we need yet more domain extensions? And equally, what is the difference between them and what makes one better than the other?

Let’s quickly recap what a domain is and why we have them in the first place…

Originally, to connect to another address on a network you had to type a series of numbers and whilst the internet was a closed shop for experts this wasn’t a big deal. As the internet began to develop and become more mainstream, a new solution was needed and this is why the Domain Name System was developed in 1983.

A domain name is made up of different sections and the key part we are focusing on in this article is the ending of a domain, known as the top-level domain. If we use www.cloudname.com as an example, everything after ‘cloudname’ is the top-level domain extension.

As the internet has expanded, the traditional domains have been used up and it is now highly unlikely you will be able to find your first, second or even third choice name with a .com extension. This has driven the regular introduction of modern and alternative extensions like .blog, .tech, .ai and .xyz.

A summary of the different types of domains available

All of these different domains available will now fall into four main categories and this makes it easier to understand some key differences. 

• Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs): The first and most well-known set of extensions that include .com, .org and .net. They still hold significant sway over consumers who worry about the reputation of a business but with the challenges faced by finding an available domain businesses are turning to alternative TLDs.
  
  
• New Generic Top-Level Domains (new gTLDs): Designed to tackle the challenges faced in the paragraph above, these include the .xyz domain. Offering the modern generation and businesses the chance to claim their own space on the internet there are some fantastic, creative options including .tech, .io and .ai.
  
  
• Country-code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): A more specific sub-section of domains, the ccTLDs are extensions created for a specific country or region. The most well-known examples include .co.uk for the United Kingdom and .fr for France. These often have restrictions on who can register a domain and as a result, are great for those focusing on a location. It is important to note that some domains like .ai were initially designed for a country but in fact, have become linked to industry and don’t suffer from any kind of location restrictions.
  
  
• Crypto Domains: The most modern set of domain extensions out there, designed specifically for Web3.0 and the world of cryptocurrency. Built on blockchain technology, they differ from other domains in many ways, firstly by the fact that when you buy one you own it indefinitely. However, there are still some limitations to using them for websites and Search Engine Optimization.

This is a topic that can be confusing for many thanks to such a wide variety of options out there. By taking the time to understand the differences and potential pros and cons of different extensions you can narrow down your choices for that new website.

Summary

As you can see, the .xyz domain extension is a representation of the modern and ever-evolving approach to the internet. In a world that is shifting more and more towards digital interactions, .xyz domains offer many people and organizations the chance to grab that perfect domain name.

As traders, they also present further opportunities for long-term investment in a niche that is unlikely to slow down any time soon. If you’d like to see which .xyz domains are available to buy or tent, take a moment to join the Cloudname platform.