Crypto.com Makes Historic $70 Million Investment in AI.com Domain Ahead of Super Bowl
In a groundbreaking move just ahead of the Super Bowl, Crypto.com has acquired the coveted AI.com domain for an astonishing $70 million, marking a record-setting purchase in the tech world, according to the Financial Times. The entire transaction, conducted in cryptocurrency with an undisclosed seller, eclipses previous domain sale records.
Kris Marszalek, founder of Crypto.com, aims to launch the website during the Super Bowl, featuring a personal AI assistant designed for messaging, app navigation, and stock trading. “From a long-term perspective — over the next 10 to 20 years — AI will undoubtedly be one of the greatest technological advancements of our era,” Marszalek stated to the Financial Times.
This acquisition shatters the former record, previously held by CarInsurance.com, which sold for $49.7 million in 2010. Other significant sales include VacationRentals.com at $35 million and Voice.com at $30 million. Noteworthy past transactions also include PrivateJet.com for $30 million and 360.com for $17 million, alongside the infamous Sex.com, which changed hands for over $13 million on two occasions.
Larry Fischer, the broker who facilitated the sale, emphasized the uniqueness of such assets: “With domains like AI.com, there are no alternatives. If an opportunity like this arises, it may never occur again.”
While the potential return on investment from high-value domain names remains uncertain, Marszalek’s portfolio already includes Crypto.com and a substantial $700 million investment in stadium naming rights, suggesting that owning pioneering digital real estate holds significant appeal for him.
