Company That Owns Epik Registrar Enters Top-Level Domain Space

Registered Agents Inc., the parent company of domain registrar Epik, has formally applied for six new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). The company announced applications for the strings .epic, .identity, .mark, .private, .registeredagent, and .verified, signaling a clear push into the namespace managed by ICANN.

The applications were submitted under the umbrella of Registered Agents Inc., and the initiative is being led by Chris Ambler. Ambler is a longstanding figure in the domain industry who originally proposed the .web gTLD decades ago and later joined Epik after a period working at GoDaddy. In 2022, Registered Agents acquired the Epik registrar, and Ambler took a leading role in efforts to expand the company’s presence in domain operations.

Why These gTLDs Matter

Securing a gTLD allows an organization to operate a new domain namespace and establish registration policies, pricing, and usage guidelines for second-level domains beneath that string. Names such as .identity and .private suggest an emphasis on identity-related services and privacy-focused offerings, while .verified and .registeredagent broadly communicate trust or official representation. The choice of .epic is notable because it closely resembles the Epik brand name, potentially creating synergy between the registrar and any registry services that would be operated under the new gTLD.

Astronym Registry and Backend Services

Alongside the gTLD applications, Registered Agents announced the creation of Astronym Registry, a backend registry services operation. Astronym Registry has applied to ICANN to become an approved Registry Service Provider (RSP). If approved, Astronym would handle the technical infrastructure required to run one or more gTLDs, and the company has stated that it intends to offer backend services to registries beyond those owned by Registered Agents.

Becoming an ICANN-accredited RSP involves meeting technical, security, and operational requirements that ensure stable DNS operations. A successful RSP application would allow Astronym to provide registry management, zone file generation, DNSSEC signing, and other critical functions for gTLD operators.

Potential for Contention and Competition

Some of the applied-for strings are likely to face contention from other applicants. Industry watchers have already signaled interest in certain strings, and multiple applicants for the same gTLD typically lead to contention resolution processes administered by ICANN. That can include private auctions, community priority evaluations, or other mechanisms defined in ICANN’s gTLD application procedures.

Registered Agents’ decision to pursue .epic, .mark, and .private may prompt competing bids, given the general commercial appeal of short, brandable, and privacy-oriented extensions. Where contention arises, outcomes will depend on the specific applicants involved and the resolution path they select or are required to follow.

What This Means for Epik and Domain Customers

If Registered Agents secures one or more of these gTLDs and Astronym is approved as an RSP, Epik could benefit from having closer alignment between registrar services and registry operations. That alignment might translate into tailored registration policies, marketing integrations, or special offerings for Epik customers under the new namespaces. At the same time, ICANN’s processes and any competing applications will shape how, and whether, these gTLDs ultimately become available to registrants.

Registered Agents’ move into the registry space underscores a broader trend of registrars and domain industry veterans seeking greater control over the naming ecosystem by operating registries or providing backend registry services. The applications for .epic, .identity, .mark, .private, .registeredagent, and .verified are the company’s first public step toward that goal, and the industry will be watching to see how the ICANN application process unfolds for these strings.