In a groundbreaking move for the tech and cryptocurrency sectors, Kris Marszalek, the founder of Crypto.com, has reportedly acquired the domain AI.com for a staggering $70 million. This historic purchase marks the highest price ever paid for a domain name, surpassing the previous record of $49.7 million set by CarInsurance.com in 2010.
The Financial Times states that this transaction, paid in cryptocurrency to an undisclosed seller, highlights both the burgeoning interest in artificial intelligence and the willingness of crypto entrepreneurs to invest heavily in promising digital assets. Larry Fischer, the broker who facilitated the sale, is certainly enjoying this remarkable financial turn, as it sets a new benchmark in the domain market.
Marszalek aims to unveil the AI.com platform during the upcoming Super Bowl, featuring a personal AI agent designed to assist users in messaging, app management, and even stock trading. He emphasized the long-term potential of artificial intelligence, asserting that it could become one of the most significant technological advancements in the coming decades. “If you take a long-term view — 10 to 20 years – [AI] is going to be one of the greatest technological waves of our lifetime,” he stated.
The sale of AI.com represents a drastic shift in the valuation of domain names, especially considering the previous high-ranking transactions. Other notable domain sales include VacationRentals.com for $35 million in 2007 and Voice.com for $30 million in 2019, along with PrivateJet.com and 360.com, both of which commanded prices in the tens of millions as well. The infamous Sex.com has traded hands for over $13 million twice, though its second owner faced bankruptcy while trying to monetize the domain.
Fischer commented on the unique market for domains like AI.com, insisting that such high-value assets have no substitutes. “When one becomes available, the opportunity may never present itself again,” he noted, underscoring the rarity and potential of such prime digital real estate.
While the financial viability of these mega-domain purchases remains uncertain, Marszalek’s investments appear calculated. He already controls Crypto.com and recently spent $700 million on stadium naming rights, indicating a strategy focused on premium branding and market identity. With the acquisition of AI.com, he is positioning himself at the forefront of an evolving technological landscape that is increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence.
