DotAsia GoCreate! Series
Hong Kong | Domain Summit Asia
The first Domain Summit Asia, organized by DotAsia (.Asia), Jack Dai, DN.com (China), and Helmuts Meskonis (UK–Latvia), brought together domain investors, registrars, registries, entrepreneurs, and digital leaders for an intimate two-day program in Hong Kong.
Inaugural Domain Summit Asia Group Photo
Asia is experiencing the largest Internet growth globally— driven by rapid digital transformation, technological advancements, increasing digital infrastructure investments, and a large youth population now coming online. The first Domain Summit Asia was held in Hong Kong 17-18 November 2025, organized by DotAsia (.Asia), Jack Dai, DN.com (China), and Helmuts Meskonis (UK–Latvia). Domain Summit Asia 2025 brought together domain investors, registrars, registries, entrepreneurs, and digital leaders for an intimate two-day program in Hong Kong that featured an engaging GoCreate! Session focusing on the domain name industry.
GoCreate! aims to stimulate innovation in the domain market space, by exploring new technologies and usage of domain names to drive the expansion of the global DNS. During the Domain Summit Asia GoCreate! session, Edmon Chung, CEO, DotAsia (.Asia), polled the group to ask where the most Internet growth and DNS expansion would be in the world. The supermajority agreed that the Asia Pacific (APAC) region would be home to the future of the Internet.
The Next Round
The New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program is a community-driven initiative that enables the continued expansion of the Domain Name System (DNS). Through the introduction of new gTLDs, including domain names in a variety of scripts and languages, the program aims to foster diversity, encourage competition, and enhance the utility of the DNS. Asia is an important market for the New gTLD Program, opening in April 2026.
DotAsia is also a mentor in the Applicant Support Program (ASP), which is intended to make the New gTLD Program application and evaluation processes and fees more accessible to APAC nonprofits and other entities that would like to operate a registry but would otherwise be unable to apply, because of financial and resource constraints. Whether building a brand, spotlighting a geographic region or language on the world stage, uniting a cause, or launching a business to offer domain names under a new registry, a new gTLD can be a powerful tool for commerce and communication. As a mentor in the ASP and longtime player in the DNS industry, DotAsia is helping provide organizations in Asia Pacific with a range of financial and non-financial assistance—including access to volunteer professional services, training, and reductions in gTLD evaluation fees.
Edmon stated that the next round in April is going to be an “important time”, noting that there are already 100 applications in the 2025 ASP, whereas the 2012 ASP only had 3 applications. He also observed that the Next Round would be more specialized, and predicted that registrants will drive choice of new gTLDs: “It’s not just a .COM dominant world anymore”.
Demystifying Domain Names
Conversations at Domain Summit Asia also centered on Personalized Domain Names, and how to demystify using domain names by allowing people to easily experience registering and using a domain name.
Edmon noted that he had recently re-installed Internet applications at home, but that it was quite technical for the average user. He asked the audience at GoCreate! how many of them had their own personalized domain names…and surprisingly, not many did! Edmon emphasized, “Get them! You’re in the business! Executives should encourage our own staff to try out their own domain. You can get a really cheap domain. It will help us address the Personal Domain market.”
A similar observation was shared by Owen Smigelski, Head of ICANN Compliance and Regulations for Namecheap during the inaugural GoCreate! session at the APAC DNS Forum in Hanoi, Viet Nam. He stated that only 20% of ICANN Compliance staff had domain names, and fewer than half of Government Advisory Committee (GAC) members did. “I think it’s very important to get the people who are coming up with rules [and policies] about domain names to have the experience of having their own domain name. They should at least understand the process,” he emphasized. Tran Xuan Hau from iNET echoed the need for those shaping Internet policies to understand domain ownership firsthand.
Artificial Intelligence
The Domain Summit Asia GoCreate! session asked participants which technology would primarily drive new gTLDs: Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Crypto? Tokenization? Drones, Autonomous cars? One audience member joked that “pets are going to drive it”, including “cat photos”.
Edmon asked the audience whether AI will help simplify DNS set up, and enhance the value of domains. A participant shared openly, “We as an industry don’t know what’s going on – does the public know?” Edmon responded that “demystifying” AI and personalized domain names is crucial, as that will make them easier for the public to use.
Conversation then centered on how AI could increase the value of domain names. Industry attendees stated that they did not necessarily believe AI would increase resell value, but that it could increase the value for general Internet users if they are able to start using a personalized domain name. AI could help users get “set up”, and unlock the value of a domain name for them. If more people are actively using domain names and engaging online, it could create value to the DNS. This in turn, could theoretically over time build up some monetary value of a domain name. Other GoCreate! sessions have focused on the topic of AI, a rapidly growing technology that is already impacting the Domain Name System (DNS) Industry.
As the industry marches into new technological and commercial frontiers, DotAsia encourages everyone to GoCreate!
The GoCreate! collaborative series will foster a deeper understanding and increased adoption of domain name assets within the digital landscape. The initiative underscores the strategic advantages for businesses in utilizing a meaningful portfolio of domain names, to enhance market reach, brand affiliation and resilience of digital systems. DotAsia plans to continue the series at other venues in Asia in 2026 and beyond. Stay tuned to the GoCreate! website for more information about how you can participate.
With its rising youth, infrastructure, and economy—Asia is the future of the DNS industry. If you’re in the community, collaborate with DotAsia and share your ideas for the GoCreate! series.