Domain Industry News: AI.com Sells for Record-Breaking $70 Million
AI.com a prestige real estate asset with a 33-year legacy is acquired by Crypto.com Founder Kris Marszalek this record-shattering $70 million deal has sent shockwaves through the domain industry, leaving seasoned domain investors astonished by the sheer scale of the transaction a 33 Year old premium domain that has had a now become one of the Internet’s Most Prestigious "Moveable Billboards"
The domain investment industry has reached an unprecedented peak with the confirmed sale of AI.com for $70 million. Acquired by Kris Marszalek, Founder and CEO of Crypto.com, this transaction stands as the most expensive publicly disclosed domain sale in history—more than doubling the previous $30M record held by Voice.com.
The acquisition was center-stage during Super Bowl LX (2026), where Marszalek launched the domain as a new consumer-facing hub for autonomous AI agents.
The "Pointed" History: A Timeline of Tech Dominance
What makes AI.com unique is its history as a "living billboard." Before the final sale, the domain was used by the world’s tech elite to signal market authority through a series of high-profile redirects:
1993 – 2021: The Early Foundations
Originally home to Advanced Instruments Corp® in the mid-90s (offering dial-up and PC builds), the domain was later held for over 15 years in the legendary Future Media Architects (FMA) portfolio.
2022: The Professional Listing
Following its exit from FMA, the domain was listed for sale via Saw.com with an asking price of $11 million, immediately sparking a bidding war among the "Big Tech" elite.
2023: The OpenAI Era
In March 2023, the world noticed a massive shift: AI.com began redirecting to chat.openai.com. For months, it served as the unofficial front door for ChatGPT during its most explosive growth phase.
2024: The Gemini Shift
By April 2024, the "billboard" changed hands again. The domain was recorded with a 302 Redirect pointing to gemini.google.com, signaling Google’s temporary influence over the asset.
2025 – 2026: The $70M Finality
After brief redirects to Elon Musk’s xAI and even a viral MKBHD video, the domain was officially secured by Marszalek in a deal brokered by Larry Fischer. The $70M price tag was paid entirely in cryptocurrency, marking the end of its "revolving door" era.