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In 1993, a 10‑year‑old Malaysian boy purchased a two‑letter domain name for about 1,500 Nepali rupees. Decades later, that same domain has been sold at the highest publicly disclosed price in internet history. The domain AI.com was sold for $70 million (over 9 billion Nepali rupees), making it the most expensive domain transaction ever recorded.
According to reports, Ismail, who bought AI.com in 1993, safeguarded it for decades before selling it to Kris Marszalek, founder and CEO of the world’s largest crypto platform, Crypto.com. While some view the story of a 10‑year‑old buying AI.com in 1993 as a “digital myth,” the record‑breaking sale has nonetheless stirred global attention.
AI.com now holds the record as the most expensive domain name ever sold publicly. The $70 million deal surpasses the previous record set by CarInsurance.com, which sold for $49.7 million.
दुई अक्षरको डोमेन नाम ९ अर्ब रुपैयाँमा बिक्री, बन्यो कीर्तिमान
Crypto.com and Kris Marszalek’s Story
Crypto.com is a cryptocurrency exchange and wallet platform headquartered in Singapore, serving millions of users worldwide with crypto trading, investment, DeFi, NFT marketplace, and payment services. Kris Marszalek, its co‑founder, is recognized as a leading figure in the crypto industry. A few years ago, Crypto.com famously acquired naming rights to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, renaming it Crypto.com Arena—one of the most expensive stadium naming deals in history.
Why Buy AI.com?
Reports suggest Kris purchased the domain in April 2025, paying entirely in cryptocurrency. Two‑letter domains tied to popular technologies like AI are rarely available, making them extremely valuable. His plan is not just to hold the domain but to build a consumer‑focused AI platform on it.
Currently, the AI.com website is live, offering users the ability to create usernames and even AI.com email IDs. Kris and his team aim to develop an “AI agent” platform where users can build their own AI assistants in under 60 seconds. These agents will be able to send messages, interact across apps, and even assist with stock trading.
The platform’s main goal is to make AI tools accessible to everyday people without technical expertise.
From Monaco to Crypto.com
Crypto.com began in 2016 under the name Monaco, later rebranded. Today, it serves millions with trading, derivatives, NFT marketplace, wallet, and card services. Kris’s acquisition of AI.com is seen as another bold marketing move, positioning Crypto.com at the intersection of crypto and AI industries.
