A domain can now say it is for sale, in DNS

RFC 10023, an informational document from July 2026, introduced the _for-sale reserved DNS name. When published as a TXT record, the _for-sale.example.com domain signals that example.com is available for purchase, even if it is already registered and functioning normally. The record includes a mandatory version tag and may contain optional tag=value pairs.

It is crucial to distinguish _for-sale from domain parking, which replaces the site with a sales page, negatively impacting the domain's traffic and email functionality. The convention allows domain owners to signal their willingness to sell without resorting to cold emails that privacy protection may hinder. By placing the _for-sale signal in DNS, brokers and automated availability services can easily check name availability, providing an external, risk-free method for interested parties to act on the opportunity. However, it is essential to sign the zone with DNSSEC to prevent forgeries.