Eric Lyon
Scorpion Agency LLCTop Member
- Impact
- 29,482
Today, I'll be analyzing the .fyi gTLD to see if I can dig up any helpful data points that could be stacked with someone elses research into the .fyi extension.
Note: At the time of this evaluation all the 1-character .fyi domains were taken and only a few 2-character .fyi domains were available to register with a low-2-figure standard to mid-2-figure premium registration cost.
With the above in mind, lets dive right in...
Note: NameBio.com shows 20 .fyi domain sales reports ranging from $101 to $35,000.
Some notable sales are:
The .fyi gTLD has experienced significant volatility over the last five years, characterized by a period of aggressive growth followed by a recent sharp correction.
Yearly Registration Totals (May)
The "Actionable News" Hack
Because ".fyi" implies a notification or a heads-up, the word before the dot can serve as the subject of the information. This creates a domain that reads like a sentence or a specific alert.
You can use a verb before the dot to describe the act of providing information.
As seen in the NameBio.com sales data you provided, high-value keywords combined with .fyi create an "authority hub" for that specific industry.
You can use personal pronouns or identifiers to make the information source clear.
Short domains often gain value simply by being easy to type, even if they don't form a word.
Cybersquatting and the ACPA
The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) is a U.S. law that allows trademark owners to sue domain registrants. To win, the trademark owner must prove:
The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) is an international administrative proceeding used to resolve domain disputes. A trademark holder can seize your domain if they prove:
In the eyes of a UDRP panel or a court, certain actions are red flags for bad faith:
On the flip side, if a large company tries to bully you into giving up a domain you have a legitimate right to (e.g., you registered a generic word like "apple" for a fruit business), they can be found guilty of RDNH. However, with a niche gTLD like .fyi (which has 64,790 registrations), the "generic" argument is harder to make if the keyword is highly specific to a brand.
Potential Practices for Safe Outbound
To minimize legal risk when handling domains that might overlap with trademarks:
Target High-Utility Verticals
Focus on niches where "transparency" and "data sharing" are essential. Based on the $3,500 datacenter.fyi sale, you should target high-CPM (Cost Per Mille) industries where businesses need to share complex info with clients or investors.
Prioritize "Semantic Hacks"
The strength of .fyi lies in its meaning ("For Your Information"). Invest in domains that read like a complete thought or a direct service.
Since first-year registration costs are as low as $3.02 - $5.20 at registrars like Spaceship or Cloudflare, your "carrying cost" is low.
Given the legal risks of ACPA and UDRP, avoid names like Nike.fyi or Tesla.fyi. The $101 sale of decentralized.fyi proves that generic, industry-wide terms still have a secondary market without the legal headache of targeting specific brands.
Short-Form Liquid Assets
The $398 sale of 6.fyi and the $1,800 sale of up.fyi suggest that short, 2-3 character domains have a floor value regardless of the keyword. If you can find available 3-letter .fyi domains, they represent solid "liquid" assets.
Summary of the "Sweet Spot"
What works for one may not work for another and vice versa.
Have a great domain investing adventure!
Source
Source
Note: At the time of this evaluation all the 1-character .fyi domains were taken and only a few 2-character .fyi domains were available to register with a low-2-figure standard to mid-2-figure premium registration cost.
With the above in mind, lets dive right in...
.fyi domain registration costs
According to Tldes.com the .fyi registration cost ranges from $3.02 to $7.50+..fyi domains registered today
According to DNS.Coffee there are 64,790 .fyi domains registered today.Public .fyi domain sales reports
It's hard to find that many .fyi domain sales reports online, indicating most are privately sold.Note: NameBio.com shows 20 .fyi domain sales reports ranging from $101 to $35,000.
Some notable sales are:
- datacenter.fyi: $3,500
- up.fyi: $1,800
- sex.fyi: $750
- 6.fyi: $398
- decentralized.fyi: $101
5-year .fyi domain growth summary
The .fyi gTLD has experienced significant volatility over the last five years, characterized by a period of aggressive growth followed by a recent sharp correction.
Yearly Registration Totals (May)
- 2021: 28,044
- 2022: 39,690 (+41.5%)
- 2023: 58,027 (+46.2%)
- 2024: 64,549 (+11.2%)
- 2025: 82,735 (+28.2%)
- 2026: 64,790 (-21.7%)
- The Surge (2021–2025): Between 2021 and 2025, the extension saw a total growth of approximately 195%. The peak in 2025 (82,735 registrations) likely reflects successful marketing campaigns by the registry (Identity Digital) or bulk registrations by speculators, encouraged by the high-value sales reported on NameBio.com (such as datacenter.fyi for $3,500).
- The Recent Correction (2025–2026): Over the last year, the extension lost nearly 18,000 registrations, a drop of 21.7%. This decline is typical for newer gTLDs when large blocks of domains registered during "first-year" promotions fail to renew at standard prices.
- Long-term Trajectory: Despite the recent dip, the current total of 64,790 registrations is still 131% higher than it was five years ago, suggesting that the TLD has established a stable, albeit niche, user base.
8 niches for .fyi domains
- Tech & Startup Intelligence: A dominant niche for the extension, used for internal data hubs, change logs, and transparency portals. Key examples include levels.fyi (salary data) and layoffs.fyi (tech job market tracking).
- AI & Machine Learning Resources: Developers and creators use it for documenting AI models, prompts, and tools. Notable sites include aitools.fyi, notbyai.fyi, and aimodels.fyi.
- Financial Insights & Reports: The extension is a strong fit for personal finance advice, cryptocurrency tracking, and budgeting apps. Sales like datacenter.fyi ($3,500) and registrations such as coin.fyi highlight this sector's activity.
- Education & Online Learning: Educators use .fyi for clear, accessible learning hubs and tutorials. Its "For Your Information" meaning aligns with knowledge-sharing platforms and "how-to" guides.
- News & Media Outlets: Media agencies use the extension to signal immediacy for breaking news and niche industry updates. It is favored by independent journalists and bloggers providing factual, actionable advice.
- Remote Work & Digital Nomadism: A growing niche for sharing remote work training, digital nomad tools, and hostels. Sites like RemoteWork.fyi are common for standalone awareness efforts and industry specific reports.
- Corporate Transparency & Communications: Businesses use the extension for public-facing product roadmaps, employee announcements, or investor relations hubs that are separate from their primary marketing sites.
- Niche Hobbyist & Interest Groups: The extension's informal yet informative tone is used by collectors and specialized enthusiasts. Active sites include vinylrecords.fyi, ozmuseum.fyi, and genderdysphoria.fyi.
What a playful .fyi domain hack might look like
A domain hack occurs when the keyword before the dot combines with the extension after the dot to spell a full word, phrase, or well-known acronym. Since .fyi is already a widely recognized acronym for "For Your Information," hacks typically focus on phrasal logic or contextual puns.The "Actionable News" Hack
Because ".fyi" implies a notification or a heads-up, the word before the dot can serve as the subject of the information. This creates a domain that reads like a sentence or a specific alert.
- Deals.fyi (Information about current sales)
- Prices.fyi (Information about cost tracking)
- Stocks.fyi (Information about market updates)
You can use a verb before the dot to describe the act of providing information.
- Just.fyi (The most popular hack, implying a quick, casual update)
- Need.fyi (Implying "this is the information you need")
- Get.fyi (A call-to-action to receive data)
As seen in the NameBio.com sales data you provided, high-value keywords combined with .fyi create an "authority hub" for that specific industry.
- Datacenter.fyi ($3,500 sale): This isn't just a site about datacenters; the hack suggests it is the central intelligence or "the facts" about datacenters.
- Decentralized.fyi ($101 sale): This acts as a guide or an informational bulletin for the decentralized web.
You can use personal pronouns or identifiers to make the information source clear.
- Staff.fyi (Internal company updates)
- My.fyi (A personal dashboard or link-in-bio page)
- Official.fyi (Verified, factual data)
Short domains often gain value simply by being easy to type, even if they don't form a word.
- 6.fyi ($398 sale): A "short-code" hack that is memorable for its brevity rather than its linguistic meaning.
- Up.fyi ($1,800 sale): A phrasal hack suggesting "what's up" or an upward trend/update.
10 lead sources for .fyi domain outbound campaigns
- LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Use this to find decision-makers (CEOs, Marketing Directors) at tech startups or research firms that lack a dedicated "reports" or "data" domain.
- Google Search (Keyword-Specific): Search for the keywords in your domain (e.g., "datacenter reports") to find companies currently paying for ads on those terms.
- BuiltWith: Identify companies using specific tech stacks (like AI or data visualization tools) that would benefit from a dedicated .fyi hub for their documentation.
- Crunchbase: Target startups that have recently raised funding and may be looking to expand their brand authority with niche "info hubs" or transparency portals.
- WHOIS.sc: Research owners of similar domain names (e.g., if you own example.fyi, look for who owns example.com or example.info) to find buyers interested in defensive registrations or upgrades.
- Apollo.io: This platform provides a massive B2B database with filters for industry and job role, making it easier to build a targeted list for industry-specific .fyi domains.
- Industry Directories & Niche Listings: Scan directories like Clutch or G2 for companies in sectors like "Market Research" or "Consulting" who often share industry "FYIs".
- Product Hunt: Monitor new product launches. Startups frequently use .fyi domains for their changelogs, roadmaps, and documentation.
- Online Communities (Reddit/Slack): Participate in niche subreddits or Slack groups related to your domain’s keyword to identify influential people or companies looking for better ways to share data.
- Google Maps: Useful for finding local service businesses (like law firms or consultants) that don't yet have a modern website and might see value in a simple, informative .fyi portal.
- How to leverage an Ai Assistant to find domain leads
- How to leverage Social media to find domain leads
- How to leverage Job Boards to find domain leads
- eMail Marketing Best Practices for Domain Outreach
- List of FREE tools for outbound domain sales
- Outbound Domain sales Tips
Legal considerations when selling a domain to an existing business
Approaching a business to sell a domain name that matches their trademark is a "high-risk, high-reward" strategy. While sales like datacenter.fyi for $3,500 show the market's potential, doing so incorrectly can lead to losing the domain without compensation through legal action.Cybersquatting and the ACPA
The Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) is a U.S. law that allows trademark owners to sue domain registrants. To win, the trademark owner must prove:
- Your domain is identical or confusingly similar to their distinctive mark.
- You registered or used the domain with a "bad faith intent to profit."
The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) is an international administrative proceeding used to resolve domain disputes. A trademark holder can seize your domain if they prove:
- The domain is identical or confusingly similar to their mark.
- You have no rights or legitimate interests in the domain (e.g., you aren't using it for a real business).
- The domain was registered and is being used in bad faith.
In the eyes of a UDRP panel or a court, certain actions are red flags for bad faith:
- Soliciting the Sale First: Proactively reaching out to a trademark owner to sell them a domain for a price far exceeding your out-of-pocket registration costs is often viewed as primary evidence of bad faith.
- Targeting Competitors: Threatening to sell the domain to the trademark owner’s direct competitor.
- Preventing Use: Registering the domain specifically to "block" the trademark owner from using it.
On the flip side, if a large company tries to bully you into giving up a domain you have a legitimate right to (e.g., you registered a generic word like "apple" for a fruit business), they can be found guilty of RDNH. However, with a niche gTLD like .fyi (which has 64,790 registrations), the "generic" argument is harder to make if the keyword is highly specific to a brand.
Potential Practices for Safe Outbound
To minimize legal risk when handling domains that might overlap with trademarks:
- Focus on Generic Keywords: Selling reports.fyi is safer than selling brandname.fyi.
- Passive Sales: List the domain on marketplaces (Afternic, Sedo, Dan) and let the buyer come to you.
- Legitimate Use: If possible, develop a small "For Your Information" landing page related to the keyword to establish a "legitimate interest" before reaching out.
- Avoid Extortionate Language: Never use aggressive or "threatening" language in your outreach emails.
Potential .fyi domain investing strategy
Based on the current data from DNS.Coffee and the historical sales trends on NameBio.com, a successful .fyi investment strategy should prioritize high-utility keywords over speculative brand-matching. With 64,790 active registrations and a recent market correction (down from 82,735 in 2025), the "hype" has cooled, leaving a prime opportunity for "value investing" in names that solve specific business communication needs.Target High-Utility Verticals
Focus on niches where "transparency" and "data sharing" are essential. Based on the $3,500 datacenter.fyi sale, you should target high-CPM (Cost Per Mille) industries where businesses need to share complex info with clients or investors.
Prioritize "Semantic Hacks"
The strength of .fyi lies in its meaning ("For Your Information"). Invest in domains that read like a complete thought or a direct service.
- Actionable: Look for verb-led or subject-led hacks like Get.fyi, Status.fyi, or Market.fyi. These are more likely to attract end-users who want a dedicated "status page" or "update portal" separate from their .com site.
Since first-year registration costs are as low as $3.02 - $5.20 at registrars like Spaceship or Cloudflare, your "carrying cost" is low.
- Tactical Play: Register keywords that have high search volume but are too expensive as a .com. A company might not pay $50,000 for Renewables.com, but they will likely pay $1,500 - $3,500 for Renewables.fyi to use as an industry report landing page.
Given the legal risks of ACPA and UDRP, avoid names like Nike.fyi or Tesla.fyi. The $101 sale of decentralized.fyi proves that generic, industry-wide terms still have a secondary market without the legal headache of targeting specific brands.
Short-Form Liquid Assets
The $398 sale of 6.fyi and the $1,800 sale of up.fyi suggest that short, 2-3 character domains have a floor value regardless of the keyword. If you can find available 3-letter .fyi domains, they represent solid "liquid" assets.
Summary of the "Sweet Spot"
- Acquisition Cost: $5.00
- Target Sale Price: $1,500 – $5,000
- Holding Period: 2–4 years (waiting for the right corporate end-user)
- Outbound Strategy: Target companies already publishing "white papers," "industry outlooks," or "transparency reports."
- How to leverage an Ai Assistant to find domain leads
- How to leverage Social media to find domain leads
- How to leverage Job Boards to find domain leads
- eMail Marketing Best Practices for Domain Outreach
- List of FREE tools for outbound domain sales
- Outbound Domain sales Tips
Questions for you
- Do you own any .fyi domains?
- If so, how are they doing for you?
- Thinking about investing into .fyi domains?
- If so, what niche will you target and why?
What works for one may not work for another and vice versa.
Have a great domain investing adventure!
