Crypto.com’s $70 Million Acquisition of AI.com: Domain Strategy and Business Expansion

On February 6, 2026, Crypto.com shocked the industry with its $70 million acquisition of AI.com. This deal, facilitated by Larry Fischer, set a global record for domain name transactions and was highly innovative, using digital assets for payment. The acquisition was actually completed in April 2025. Crypto.com plans to launch a new AI business using this domain and promote it during the Super Bowl, officially entering the artificial intelligence field.

This acquisition is not an isolated case. Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek also acquired domains such as og.com and XBT.com. Specific prices were not disclosed, but it is speculated that they were significantly lower than AI.com, possibly part of a bundled acquisition. Currently, og.com is operational as the official website of its independent prediction market platform, OG. Launched in the US in February 2026, the platform focuses on sports betting contracts and operates compliantly through its acquired CFTC-registered entity, CDNA, thus capitalizing on the booming prediction market.

Crypto.com’s domain strategy began with a pivotal leap in 2018. At that time, the company was called Monaco, a cryptocurrency credit card company. In June 2018, Monaco acquired the Crypto.com domain, registered in 1993, from University of Pennsylvania professor Matt Blaze for $12 million in cash—the latter having refused to sell for years. Following the acquisition, Monaco officially changed its name to Crypto.com, quickly increasing brand recognition thanks to the domain’s high industry alignment, and gradually expanding from a payment tool into a full-chain cryptocurrency ecosystem platform.

In addition to its domain strategy, Crypto.com’s brand exposure strategy was equally significant. In November 2021, it reached an agreement with AEG to acquire the 20-year naming rights to the Staples Center for $700 million in cash, payable in installments. The agreement officially took effect in December 2021 during the Christmas sales event, and will run until 2041. This iconic Los Angeles arena, home to multiple teams including the Lakers and Clippers, and hosting events such as the Grammys, underwent a complete rebranding by June 2022, significantly enhancing its global brand influence.

Its expansion into the sports sector doesn’t stop there. Since 2021, Crypto.com has become the official cryptocurrency platform for the NBA, signed contracts with stars like Curry to launch co-branded NFTs, and ventured into sponsoring the UFC and the World Cup, building a global sports marketing system.

From acquiring domain names to rebrand in 2018, to securing stadium naming rights in 2021, and expanding into new areas with the acquisitions of AI.com, og.com, and XBT.com, every step Crypto.com has taken has revolved around brand upgrading and business expansion. Today, it has grown into a cryptocurrency giant with 150 million users and is projected to reach $15 billion in revenue by 2024. This dual domain name acquisition marks the beginning of a new phase of “cryptocurrency + artificial intelligence + prediction markets,” and it is expected to continue expanding into more areas in the future.