National domains are a true digital geography, reflecting the diversity of our world. Two characters at the end of a website address seem like something ordinary. But in these letter codes is a whole world of unexpected stories, successes and surprises.
Ready for a fascinating journey through the domain zones that became stars? Let's go!
1. Small island, big money - .TV
What do the tiny island of Tuvalu and the world's streaming platforms have in common? The .TV domain! This slice of digital real estate generated more than $50 million in revenue for the country of 11,000 people after Tuvalu authorities transferred the rights to use the domain to large companies in the 1990s.
This money not only bolstered Tuvalu's economy, but also helped pay for membership in the UN. In fact, the domain has become a kind of "ticket" to the international arena for Tuvalu and streamers from all over the world partially finance diplomatic projects of the small island. Interestingly, revenues from the domain lease make up a significant part of the country's budget, second only to foreign aid.
Yes, this island may be small, but its impact on the global internet is impressive.
2. Startup darling - .IO
The domain originally belonged to the British Indian Ocean Territory, but who would have thought the IT world would make it iconic? All thanks to its association with "Input/Output" – the perfect phrase for those who work with code.
The popularity of .IO soared in the 2010s. It's short, it's stylish, it's techy. Docker.io, Stability.io, and other big projects proved that the right domain is half the success.
The funny thing is that the islands that own the domain may not even know that their name has become a global brand. All they have to do is calculate their revenues.
3. The doctor prescribed the domain - .MD
Moldavia probably had no idea what international success awaited its domain. For medical professionals, it has become a real boon: MD = Doctor of Medicine. Now doctors, clinics and medical startups are happy to register .MD
A curiosity case when a major US clinic accidentally linked itself to Moldova, thinking that .MD – is the «medical» zone of the USA, only added to the charm of this zone.
An interesting case when a major US clinic accidentally linked itself to Moldova, thinking that .MD – is the «medical» zone of the USA, only added to the charm of this zone
According to the Moldovan agency that administers the domain, several thousand addresses with the .MD ending are registered each year. In recent years, the domain has brought the country millions of euros, becoming an unexpected contribution to its economy. For Moldova, it is not just revenue, but a way to make a name for itself in the world/
4. Personal invitation from Montenegro - .ME
Montenegro gave the world the domain .ME, and it turned out to be a hit! Personal, romantic, playful – it's all about it. Sites like love.me, hug.me or even marry.me make this domain almost poetic.
And Telegram, with its t.me, has taken the zone to a new level.
Montenegro has earned over $20 million on .ME, turning a two-letter word into an emotional brand. It's perfect for those who want to emphasize their individuality.
5. Artificial intelligence from the Caribbean paradise - .AI
The domain .AI belongs to Anguilla, but IT companies around the world see it as a symbol of technology. It's almost as if the Caribbean was specifically preparing for the artificial intelligence boom!
It's ironic that the people of Anguilla know more about coconuts than they do about algorithms. But that doesn't stop them from making millions in domain fees. For example, Stack.ai was sold for $258,888.
You can imagine the dialog of the locals:
— «And what is this artificial intelligence?"»
— «I don't know, but it's definitely paying for our harbor repairs!
National top-level domains are a kind of digital passport to a country, but they are not always used for business/
Some zones remain virtually empty, thanks to strict rules, bureaucracy, ountry's politics or simply because of their owners who are "out of the loop". Let's find out where to look for these domain rarities and why they are more like collectible stamps than tools for websites.
6. DPRK and the invisible .KP
North Korea — is a country where the internet is only accessible to the "chosen". Therefore, the national domain .KP — is a real internet unicorn: you know it exists, but you will never meet it in the wild. The domain is extremely limited in use - there are about 30 websites officially registered. Among them are government resources and a couple of sites about Juche ideas. To register .KP, you need to be not just a citizen, but practically a “proxy of the regime”.
But why do you need a domain if no one inside the country will see your site anyway? There's no one to Google it.
7. Antarctica: Ice Silence .AQ
The .AQ domain stands out from the rest of the ccTLDs: it's available only to organizations related to research on the icy continent. Want a site about penguins with this domain? Alas, you can't — applications from "nature fans" are rejected mercilessly .
As a result, there are only 40-50 sites registered for the whole Antarctic. But each of them is like a diamond in the cold.
8. Arctic: fragile ice without a point
The Arctic does not have its own domain, and that is probably a good thing. Managing a domain zone that unites the territories of Canada, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, the United States and russia is a more difficult task than peacefully dividing ice floes. However, the idea of creating a single domain for the Arctic has been discussed. But so far it is just a fantasy, because it turned out to be more difficult to agree on the rules of use than to tame a polar bear.
So, if you suddenly want to create a site like “feed the polar bear.arctic”, you will have to choose from the already existing domain zones of these countries.
9. The smallest, but most popular: .TK from Tokelau
The tiny island state of Tokelau with a population of about 1500 people has come up with a clever move - the domain .TK is available to all comers.... for free! This idea was taken up by the whole world, and now .TK — is one of the most popular domains, competing with .COM.
The secret of success lies in the monetization model - free domains are often used for tests, temporary sites or even fraudulent activities. As it turns out, the Islanders make money not from registrations, but from the advertising they place on unused domains. Revenues are so high that they are comparable to the country's GDP.
Despite its microscopic size, Tokelau shows how skillful use of a domain zone can turn a tiny territory into a major player in the Internet market.
Sometimes letters mean more than they seem
National domains are more than just a geographical index. They are stories of countries finding or missing their place on the global stage. And who knows, maybe your future project will be a part of this exciting story.
The main thing is to choose the right domain (by the way, you can try it right now).
