AI.com goes for $70M as crypto boss bets big on buzzword bubble
(2026/02/09)
- Reference: 1770655747
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/02/09/70m_aicom_domain_sale/
- Source link:
If you're running an online business, it helps to own a memorable domain. That's why a wealthy tech exec just paid $70 million to buy the hottest word you can own: AI.com.
The deal was brokered by Larry Fischer of getyourdomain.com, according to the [1]Financial Times , and is the most expensive domain purchase in history, eclipsing the [2]previous record – $49.7 million for CarInsurance.com.
The buyer was Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com. While the figure is eye-watering, it is considerably less than the $100 million Fisher was [3]bandying around in 2025. According to the Financial Times, Fischer said: "With assets like AI.com, there are no substitutes. When one becomes available, the opportunity may never present itself again."
[4]
While the final figure is not the nine-figure sum mooted last year, it is not to be sniffed at.
[5]
[6]
Marszalek told the FT that he hoped AI.com could offer similar features to OpenClaw – ideally without the associated [7]security nightmares of the vibe-coded agent farm.
He added that there were "good business reasons" for coughing up so much for AI.com. "There is a big desire for us to own this touchpoint, otherwise you get commoditized. I thought it was quite interesting that one person can own two domains that stand for such important categories."
[8]Unlocking the hidden power of unstructured data with AI
[9]Containers, cloud, blockchain, AI – it's all the same old BS, says veteran Red Hatter
[10]Indian police commissioner wants ID cards for AI agents
[11]Whether they are building agents or folding proteins, LLMs need a friend
Marszalek is doubtless expecting lightning to strike twice, given the impressive growth of Crypto.com in an already crowded market. According to the company's website, it has more than 150 million users globally. As the AI bubble continues to inflate, the $70 million paid for AI.com could end up looking like a canny investment. Or it could be the final note in the symphony of hubris that accompanies both crypto and AI.
Marszalek's purchase coincides with growing investor jitters over the amounts being poured into a technology that has yet to justify the funds lavished on it. Then again, Marszalek told the FT he was taking a long-term view of "10 to 20 years."
[12]
The purchase price was reportedly paid entirely in cryptocurrency. It would probably be best not to check the Bitcoin prices for a bit. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ft.com/content/83488628-8dfd-4060-a7b0-71b1bb012785
[2] https://www.godaddy.com/resources/skills/the-top-20-most-expensive-domain-names
[3] https://getyourdomain.com/press/ai-com-sale
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/05/openclaw_skills_marketplace_leaky_security/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/09/unlocking_hidden_power_unstructured/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/08/waves_of_tech_bs/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/09/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/07/ai_companion_bots_vishal_sikka_interview/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The deal was brokered by Larry Fischer of getyourdomain.com, according to the [1]Financial Times , and is the most expensive domain purchase in history, eclipsing the [2]previous record – $49.7 million for CarInsurance.com.
The buyer was Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com. While the figure is eye-watering, it is considerably less than the $100 million Fisher was [3]bandying around in 2025. According to the Financial Times, Fischer said: "With assets like AI.com, there are no substitutes. When one becomes available, the opportunity may never present itself again."
[4]
While the final figure is not the nine-figure sum mooted last year, it is not to be sniffed at.
[5]
[6]
Marszalek told the FT that he hoped AI.com could offer similar features to OpenClaw – ideally without the associated [7]security nightmares of the vibe-coded agent farm.
He added that there were "good business reasons" for coughing up so much for AI.com. "There is a big desire for us to own this touchpoint, otherwise you get commoditized. I thought it was quite interesting that one person can own two domains that stand for such important categories."
[8]Unlocking the hidden power of unstructured data with AI
[9]Containers, cloud, blockchain, AI – it's all the same old BS, says veteran Red Hatter
[10]Indian police commissioner wants ID cards for AI agents
[11]Whether they are building agents or folding proteins, LLMs need a friend
Marszalek is doubtless expecting lightning to strike twice, given the impressive growth of Crypto.com in an already crowded market. According to the company's website, it has more than 150 million users globally. As the AI bubble continues to inflate, the $70 million paid for AI.com could end up looking like a canny investment. Or it could be the final note in the symphony of hubris that accompanies both crypto and AI.
Marszalek's purchase coincides with growing investor jitters over the amounts being poured into a technology that has yet to justify the funds lavished on it. Then again, Marszalek told the FT he was taking a long-term view of "10 to 20 years."
[12]
The purchase price was reportedly paid entirely in cryptocurrency. It would probably be best not to check the Bitcoin prices for a bit. ®
Get our [13]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.ft.com/content/83488628-8dfd-4060-a7b0-71b1bb012785
[2] https://www.godaddy.com/resources/skills/the-top-20-most-expensive-domain-names
[3] https://getyourdomain.com/press/ai-com-sale
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/05/openclaw_skills_marketplace_leaky_security/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/09/unlocking_hidden_power_unstructured/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/08/waves_of_tech_bs/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/09/asia_tech_news_roundup/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/07/ai_companion_bots_vishal_sikka_interview/
[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/aiml&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aYoStHvsz1Yu8dTPhR0eIwAAAJI&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[13] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/