History of the TLD

.finance is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) introduced through ICANN’s New gTLD Program. The application for .finance was submitted and the Registry Agreement with ICANN was signed in 2014. The TLD was delegated into the DNS root zone in April 2014 and subsequently made available for general registration following its sunrise and launch phases. It was created to provide a dedicated namespace for online activities and businesses associated with the financial sector.

Main Use and Industry Position

.finance is positioned as a domain extension specifically suited for the financial services sector. This includes financial institutions, banks, investment firms, advisors, fintech platforms, financial educators, analysts, consultants, and related information services. The namespace helps signal relevancy and topical focus to users and search engines and can support branding within the competitive financial space.

Comparison to Other TLDs

Compared with legacy TLDs such as .com or .net, .finance offers a more descriptive and industry-specific option that communicates financial intent directly. While it does not have the broad recognition of legacy extensions, its semantic relevance can support niche branding and topical relevance. It is open to general registration without specific limitations, unlike some sponsored or restricted TLDs.

Pros and Cons of the TLD

Pros

• Provides clear industry context for financial and related services

• Open registration without restrictive eligibility requirements

• Supports branding and topical relevance for finance-centric sites

Cons

• Lower overall recognition compared with legacy TLDs such as .com and .org

• May have higher pricing relative to some generic alternatives

• Adoption remains more niche with fewer total registrations than major TLDs

Registration Criteria

Registration of a .finance domain is open to any individual or organisation globally. There are no specific restrictions tied to business type or licensing, and domains are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summary

.finance is an established generic top-level domain created through ICANN’s New gTLD Program and active since 2014. It serves entities and individuals involved in financial services, fintech, banking, investment, and related fields. With open registration and support for modern DNS features, .finance provides a specialized alternative to more generic domain namespaces for organisations seeking industry-aligned branding.