OpenAI, Google, and Meta Compete for .agent Domain as Crypto Firms Apply for .bitcoin and .wallet
ICANN opens new domain applications to AI and crypto firms
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which manages the global internet address system, released 1,615 applications for new generic top-level domains on October 7, 2026. The filings come from 481 applicants and mark the first round of new domain extensions since 2012.
Among the most contested names are AI-related extensions like .agent and .agi, with major technology companies competing for control. Cryptocurrency firms are also in the mix, applying for extensions tied to digital assets such as .bitcoin and .wallet.
Key numbers from the filing round
- 1,615 total applications filed across all extensions
- 481 separate applicants
- 13 bidders for .agent, the most contested name
- 11 bidders for .bit, making it the second most contested
- $227,000 evaluation fee per standard application
- First new generic top-level domain round since 2012
Big tech competes for AI-focused extensions
OpenAI submitted applications for 15 extensions, including .agent, .agi, .asi, .gpt, .model, .skill, .voice, and .mcp. Google is competing for several of the same names, including .agent and .mcp. Meta is also seeking .agent alongside extensions related to its AI products.
.mcp stands for Model Context Protocol, a standard created by Anthropic for connecting AI applications to external tools and data. Five separate applications target this extension. Anthropic itself applied for only two extensions, .anthropic and .claude, leaving .mcp open to other bidders.
Seven applicants are competing for .agi, which refers to artificial general intelligence, a term for AI systems that can handle any cognitive task a human can.
Running a successful top-level domain registry lets a company manage domain registrations and collect fees under ICANN rules. The financial stakes can be high. Google's registry subsidiary paid $25 million to win .app in a 2015 ICANN auction, showing how expensive contested extensions can become.
Crypto companies seek naming infrastructure
The application round has drawn cryptocurrency companies looking for extensions connected to digital assets, blockchain networks, and online payments. Five applicants are targeting .crypto, while .wallet and .dao each drew four applications. The .bitcoin, .btc, and .nft extensions each received two applications.
A blockchain is a shared digital ledger that records transactions across multiple computers without needing a central authority. A crypto wallet is a tool that stores the private keys used to access and manage digital assets.
The Cardano Foundation said on October 8 that its application for .ada is advancing to the next stage of ICANN's process. Frax Finance also disclosed an application for .frax, describing plans to link internet naming with on-chain ownership, payments, and AI-driven commerce.
Approval of a crypto-related domain would not automatically add blockchain functionality or wallet access. Those features would require additional technical work.
What is confirmed and what remains open
The confirmed facts are the 1,615 applications, 481 applicants, the specific extensions each major company filed for, and the $227,000 evaluation fee per application. The Cardano Foundation confirmed its .ada application is advancing.
What is not yet determined is which bidders will win each contested extension. When multiple applicants target the same name, ICANN rules may lead to a competitive auction. None of the contested domains have been awarded as of the filing release.
Why this matters for the internet
The domain extensions could shape how AI agents and crypto services connect to the broader internet in the future. A company that operates a successful registry controls the registrations for millions of websites using that extension and collects ongoing fees. The competition between AI and crypto infrastructure providers over internet naming rights reflects a wider effort to build the identity and payment systems that autonomous software and decentralized finance may depend on.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.