While .FOOD, .LIVING, .LIFESTYLE are self-explanatory, .VANA is “intended to be used in collaboration with major Web3 ecosystems to bring new functionality to domain names.” The Registry further explained that “unlike other TLDs with Web3 aspirations, .VANA operates like a traditional open gTLD by using standard EPP and does not require any special APIs or blockchain knowledge to register.”
As for .DIY (for “Do It Yourself”), it is advertised as being “the digital canvas to showcase [one’s] skills”, .DIY can serve as “the interactive knowledge base for customers” and can be used to “host how-to videos for customers or establish yourself as a do-it-yourself expert“.
All five new gTLDs are unrestricted, meaning that they are open to everyone, and their launch follows the same schedule, which is as follows:
Sunrise: 24 January – 28 February 2024
During Sunrise, trade mark holders who have registered their trade marks with the Trade Mark ClearingHouse (TMCH) will be able to apply for the corresponding domain names under the gTLDs of their choice.
Customer Loyalty Period: 28 February 2024 – 29 February 2024
During this period, which is rather unusual, it appears that existing customers or partners of the Registry can register any available domain name on a first come, first served basis, for a high fee ($25,000 Registry application fee, plus the registration fee).
Early Access Period (EAP): 29 February 2024 – 6 March 2024
During EAP, available domain names can be registered by anyone on a first come, first served basis for an extra fee, which will be quite high at first ($25,000 on Day 1, which is the same price as during the 1-day Customer Loyalty Period). The Registry application fee will however decrease day by day leading up to General Availability, going down to $500 on the last day of EAP. The registration fee will need to be paid on top.
General Availability: 6 March 2024 onwards
From this date, anyone will be able to register available domain names on a first come, first served basis, with no restriction and at a standard price (except for .VANA for which the registration fee is higher).
