A top-level domain (TLD) is an essential segment of the web address, located right after the last dot in the domain name, for example: mywebsite.com – here, “com” represents the TLD. TLDs are utilized by DNS (Domain Name Systems) to simplify the process of locating particular web servers. The categorization of TLDs is determined by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers). Common TLDs include .com, .net, .org, .edu, etc.
However, the TLD .capital does not denote a specific geographical or nationally designated space like .fr for France, or .uk for United Kingdom, but rather, it is industry specific. This kind of TLD is known as a generic top-level domain (gTLD).
The .capital TLD is aimed at businesses or individuals in the financial sector, specifically involving investment capitals or venture capitalists i.e. entities that provide financial assets to start-up companies or small businesses. The .capital TLD serves as a clear sign to potential users of a web service about the type of business or service they can expect on the website.
If, for instance, a venture capital firm named “Acme Ventures” secure the rights to “Acme.capital”, both their present and potential clients can use it to access the company’s website and rather effortlessly, identify what exactly the company does.
The domain .capital, launched in 2014, is managed by Donuts Inc., a company that specializes in providing hundreds of new domain options for the Internet public. Donuts Inc. operates the .capital domain extension in its portfolio of over 240 TLDs.
As per ICANN’s reports, the data shows an increased adoption of gTLDs including .capital, providing businesses with the opportunity to personalize their digital presence and enhance their brand identity. Expanding beyond traditional TLDs (.com, .org, .net) allows businesses to get creative and establish a domain that reflects their brand effectively.
Even so, when choosing a TLD for your website, it’s critical to think about what makes sense for your brand/business. Using creative or niche TLDs can help stand out, but some users may find them less trustworthy than traditional TLDs. Therefore, .capital can be ideal for those specifically in the financial sector, but might not hold the same power for other industries.
In terms of sources utilized to construct this response, the information on what a TLD is was derived from resources such as ICANN’s guidelines and Webopedia’s definition of TLD, while the specification about “.capital” was based on the services provided by Donuts Inc., the .capital domain registrar.
