The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has confirmed that 1,616 applications have been paid for new top-level domains (TLDs) on the Internet. These TLDs are the suffixes at the end of web addresses, like .com or .org. The full list of these applications will be made public by October 14, known as Reveal Day, allowing the identification of which domain extensions were requested multiple times. Although the formal evaluation process is yet to begin, some applicants have already begun to assert their claims over certain extensions. This marks the first major expansion of TLDs since 2012, when extensions like .alsace, .best, .sncf, and .xyz were introduced. The owners of these new TLDs can then sell second-level domains—such as "example.best" or "example.xyz"—to businesses and individuals. This year, ICANN has opened the door for a new round of TLD applications, known as "Round 2" or the "2026 Series." A total of 1,663 applications were submitted, with a minimum fee of $227,000 per application, except for those participating in a support program that offers discounts. By the end of August, 56 entities were eligible to apply, though the exact number of submissions remains unclear. Out of the 1,663 applications, 1,616 have successfully paid the required fees, totaling more than $360 million. This is a significant increase from the 2012 campaign, which saw nearly 2,000 applications for a total of $350 million. The details of the applicants will be officially released by October 14, with more information on the timeline expected early next week. ICANN has issued a warning to the public, urging caution and advising that only information directly from ICANN should be trusted, as some applicants have already disclosed their intended domain extensions publicly. Disputes over domain extensions have already begun, even before the official Reveal Day. One notable case involves the .easy extension, where EasyGroup, which includes the airline EasyJet, has threatened to take legal action against Link Freedom Group (LFG) for its application. LFG is now seeking a court ruling to clarify that any disputes over the .easy domain must be resolved through ICANN's formal arbitration process. LFG has also requested that ICANN disqualify EasyGroup for allegedly violating rules, including unauthorized communication between applicants. Meanwhile, another company, Aruba, has also applied for the .easy extension. Other disputes are emerging as well, such as the case around the .texas extension. The State of Texas has publicly opposed any application for the .texas domain, stating it does not support or endorse such an extension. While it does not confirm if the state itself is an applicant, its strong opposition suggests it may be one. The ICANN has not yet responded to the legal actions or the state’s opposition. As the timeline for the 2026 Round continues to unfold, ICANN is also being urged by legal representatives to provide more clarity on procedures and deadlines, especially regarding the limited time applicants have to choose a replacement extension if their primary choice is unavailable.