Grasp the new era of the domain industry and understand the underlying logic behind the 2026 World Domain Conference.

The Domain World Conference 2026, co-organized by DN.com, is fast approaching.

Many industry peers have asked us about the event: What is the significance behind the theme "Encountering a New Era of Domains"?

Why was Hong Kong chosen as the venue?

How do the converging themes of AI, Web3, and digital brand assets aim to address specific industry challenges?

In this article, we break down the underlying logic by sharing insights from the organizing committee's planning process.

As the waves of AI and Web3 reshape the entire digital industry, the domain name sector is entering a new cycle.

While interest in new domain extensions rises and the value of domains as assets and identity markers is increasingly highlighted, the industry still faces significant hurdles: many brands lack a strategic approach to domain assets; investors struggle to value AI-related domains; most Web3 domains remain merely conceptual; and there is a lack of practical, actionable precedents for cross-border rights confirmation and compliant trading. The entire industry value chain urgently needs a pragmatic platform for in-person dialogue.

In the past, a domain name was simply an "online street address," serving primarily as a gateway for traffic. Today, however, AI agents make choices on behalf of users, Web3 identities require on-chain resolution, and brands expanding globally must navigate compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Domain names are no longer just addresses; they have evolved into "anchors of digital trust," simultaneously embodying brand identity, protection against cybersquatting, cross-platform identity, and auditable asset attributes.

This marks the dawn of a "New Era": premium domains are entering a fresh cycle of development, with valuation logic, ownership models, and trading mechanisms all undergoing fundamental restructuring.

Why Hong Kong?

The domain business is global, yet discussions regarding this new cycle require a specific environment. Hong Kong offers several irreplaceable advantages:

A Hub for Law and Finance: Its common law system and the free flow of capital provide a solid foundation for digital asset compliance.

A Web3 Policy Hub: Hong Kong has issued the "Policy Statement on the Development of Digital Assets 2.0" and is advancing the LEAP framework, with regulations for stablecoins, tokenized bonds, and virtual asset custody gradually taking effect. Here, discussions on the convergence of domain names and Web3 are backed by concrete policies.

A Meeting Point of East and West: For registrars and investors from the Mainland, Hong Kong serves as a low-friction gateway to the Asia-Pacific region; for overseas registries, it acts as a strategic bridgehead for entering the Chinese market.

By hosting this event at the Choi's Building in Hong Kong—featuring a high-end, closed-door venue—we aim to facilitate in-depth dialogue among global decision-makers within a compliant framework.

Promoting the 2026 Domain World Conference at the CAI Building Main Entrance

Why is the core theme a fusion of AI, Web3, and branded digital assets?

Focusing solely on AI risks getting bogged down in speculation over rising ".ai" domain prices; focusing only on Web3 risks sliding into the conceptual hype surrounding decentralized identities; focusing exclusively on branding risks remaining stuck in the old routine of merely having a trademark and an official website.

The organizing committee deliberately combined these three elements:

On the AI ​​front: Addressing the question of "which domain looks official" in the era of intelligent agents, and re-evaluating the value of short-character .com domains and semantic extensions.

On the Web3 front: Exploring compliant pathways for domains to serve as unified identities, brand credentials, and gateways for on-chain resolution.

Regarding branded digital assets: Incorporating domains into corporate digital asset portfolios, making them defensible, tradable, and auditable.

Only by integrating these three elements can end-users, investors, and registries sit at the same table and successfully close deals.

Promotion for the 2026 Domain World Conference at CAI Tower

Four key segments addressing four major industry pain points

The conference features keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, live auctions, and closed-door matchmaking sessions. These are not merely agenda fillers but are designed to precisely solve real-world challenges:

Morning Keynotes & Roundtables: We have invited leading registries and compliance experts to discuss topics such as "Asset Revaluation in the AI ​​Era" and "The Intersection of Web3 and DNS." Roundtables will bring together traditional investors and AI/Web3 entrepreneurs to bridge knowledge gaps and deliver actionable asset allocation strategies.

Afternoon Auctions & Practical Demos: Featuring premium assets—such as 2-letter .com domains and scarce .ai domains—alongside industry figures like Cai Wensheng (invited), Dai Yue, and security experts. Live demonstrations will cover high-premium negotiations, cross-border transfers, and hijacking prevention, addressing pain points like a lack of transparency regarding premium assets and the absence of pricing benchmarks.

Evening VIP Closed-Door Session: Reserved for core sponsors and specially invited guests, this session facilitates one-on-one matchmaking between registry policies, corporate procurement needs, and investment capital, minimizing resource mismatches.

As a co-organizer, DN.com continues to contribute industry resources and media outreach to the event. We anticipate three key outcomes from this conference: a set of valuation and compliance benchmarks for domains in the AI/Web3 context; a series of long-term partnerships spanning registries, brands, and investors; and a high-quality domain trading network centered in Hong Kong.

Join us on October 26 at CAI Tower, Hong Kong, for the Domain World Conference, hosted by Domain World Conference and co-organized by DN.com. We invite all stakeholders across the value chain—registrars, investors, corporate domain managers, and Web3/security service providers—to bring your assets, budgets, and branding challenges, and to map out your strategy for the new cycle in this "New Era of Domains."