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WebsiteIntroduction
Verisign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN) is a Delaware-incorporated company headquartered in Reston, Virginia, that operates critical components of the Domain Name System (DNS). As the registry operator for the .com, .net, .name, .cc, .jobs, and .edu top-level domains, Verisign maintains a global infrastructure that ensures resolution services, root zone management, and DNS security for users of the internet.
Corporate Structure and Operations
Founded in 1995 as a spin-off of RSA Security’s certification services, Verisign has focused on two core business segments:
• Naming Services, encompassing the operation of top-level domains and root zone management
• Network Intelligence and Availability (NIA) Services, covering DDoS mitigation, managed DNS, and threat intelligence
Under the Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Verisign must operate the .com registry in a content-neutral manner. The company distributes domain names to over 2,000 ICANN-accredited registrars and serves as Root Zone Maintainer, digitally signing and publishing the internet root zone daily. Verisign employs approximately 900 staff across its global network of hundreds of points of presence, supporting 100 percent DNS uptime for the .com and .net TLDs for over 28 years.
Domain registrations by Markus Spiske
Recent Developments and News
• On July 28 and 29, 2025, Verisign filed prospectus supplements (Rule 424(b)(3)) in connection with a secondary offering of 4,300,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $285.00 per share, with J.P. Morgan serving as underwriter. An option to purchase an additional 515,032 shares was granted for 30 days following each prospectus date. Verisign will not receive proceeds from this offering.
• On July 30, 2025, the company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing items under Sections 8.01 and 9.01; specific details were not included in the public summary of the filing.
• In the second quarter of 2025, the Domain Name Industry Brief reported 371.7 million domain name registrations across all TLDs, an increase of 0.9 percent from Q1 2025 and 2.6 percent year-over-year. Q1 2025 closed with 368.4 million registrations. Q4 2024 and Q3 2024 registrations stood at 364.3 million and 362.3 million, respectively.
• On January 11, 2025, Verisign supported the introduction of the new DNSSEC Key Signing Key (KSK-2024) in the root zone.
• On October 20, 2023, ICANN and Verisign renewed the Root Zone Maintainer Agreement for an eight-year term.
• On September 23, 2025, Verisign’s stock closed at $282.07, reflecting a 0.24 percent decline for the day. Trading volume was 177,140 shares compared with an average daily volume of 10 shares.
Financial and Strategic Analysis
Verisign’s secondary offering of 4.3 million shares at $285 per share (totaling approximately $1.2255 billion in gross offering value) allows existing stockholders to liquidate their holdings without diluting the company’s capital. The underwriting discount amounted to $2.85 per share. The difference between the offering price and the closing market price ($282.07 on September 23, 2025) indicates potential downward pressure on share value since late July 2025.
The July 30, 2025 Form 8-K did not disclose major financial metrics, and investors are directed to the 2024 Form 10-K and the Q1 2025 Form 10-Q for revenue, net income, and cash flow details. Verisign’s regulated pricing for .com under Amendment 35 of the Cooperative Agreement offers limited pricing flexibility, which may affect revenue stability and margins. The company's role in DNS security and registry services supports its ongoing financial position.
Market Position and Industry Context
Verisign holds a significant share of global domain name registrations by operating the two most frequently used generic TLDs, .com and .net, and by providing root zone services necessary for DNS resolution. With over 371 million registered domains tracked in Q2 2025, Verisign supports a notable portion of internet infrastructure and facilitates e-commerce activities of businesses worldwide. Its engagement in ICANN processes, root zone maintenance, and DNSSEC deployment positions Verisign as a relevant participant in discussions regarding internet governance and security.
tl;dr
In Q2 2025, Verisign oversaw 371.7 million domain name registrations, up 0.9 percent from Q1. On July 28–29, 2025, 4.3 million shares were offered by existing stockholders at $285 per share, with no proceeds to Verisign. The stock closed at $282.07 on September 23, 2025. Key milestones include the January 11, 2025 DNSSEC KSK-2024 rollout and the October 20, 2023 eight-year renewal of the Root Zone Maintainer Agreement. Domain registration growth remains stable, and considerations regarding pricing under Amendment 35 may influence future revenue; investors should monitor filings in the 2024 10-K and 2025 Q1 10-Q for further guidance.
