.us registry shifts to Identity Digital after 24% decline

The .us country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) is changing hands for the first time in over two decades. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has selected Identity Digital to administer .us, replacing GoDaddy Registry, which had managed the namespace since acquiring Neustar in 2019. The transition follows a sharp decline in registrations, with the domain count dropping 24% year-over-year to 1.86 million as of July 2026.

Contract details and transition

The new contract spans three years, with options that could extend it to seven. A transition period of up to nine months is included, during which Identity Digital will migrate the registry onto its systems. The NTIA has not yet disclosed the wholesale pricing under the new agreement, leaving registrars uncertain about future costs. The outgoing rate of $6.50 per domain generated approximately $12.1 million annually based on July’s count, though first-year discounts and premium names may reduce actual revenue.

The NTIA’s selection process initially excluded both GoDaddy and Identity Digital due to a rule barring registry operators from also acting as registrars for .us. This restriction was later relaxed, allowing Identity Digital—owner of the registrar Name.com—to bid. The final request for proposals required bidders to address DNS abuse, enforcement of the U.S. nexus requirement, and access to registrant data while balancing stakeholder interests.

Registry performance and challenges

The .us namespace has seen steady erosion, losing roughly 592,000 domains over the past year. However, recent indicators suggest a potential turnaround: July 2026 saw new registrations rise 5.56% compared to the same month in 2025, and renewal rates improved slightly. The NTIA’s October announcement described .us as having "more than two million" domains, though the registry’s own figures place it 141,173 short of that mark.

Identity Digital inherits a registry with structural challenges. The U.S. nexus requirement—mandating that registrants have a connection to the United States—has historically limited adoption. The NTIA’s request for proposals emphasized creative approaches to enforcing this rule while protecting registrants’ First Amendment rights. How Identity Digital will implement these safeguards remains unclear.

What’s next for registrars and registrants

For hosting providers and registrars, the transition will require coordination with Identity Digital to ensure a seamless migration. Akram Atallah, Identity Digital’s CEO, stated the company’s priority is "a smooth handoff," though specifics of the timeline and technical changes have not been released. Registrars will also need to adapt to any new pricing or policies, particularly around nexus enforcement and abuse mitigation.

Identity Digital brings experience managing large ccTLDs, including Australia’s .au and Anguilla’s .ai, the latter of which it migrated to its platform in early 2025 without downtime. The company’s track record may ease concerns about operational stability, but the .us contract’s emphasis on innovation and abuse prevention could signal stricter policies ahead.