69 posts on recent sales, buyer interviews, pricing trends and the conferences where deals start.
ICANN's 2026 new gTLD round drew 1,663 submitted applications, and 1,615 are active after Reveal Day on October 7. No new extension is contracted or live yet. String Confirmation Day is November 17. Based on 2012, delegation is likely more than a year away, and .com keeps its lead for brand buyers.
Verisign raises the wholesale .com price 7%, from $10.26 to $10.97, on November 1, 2026, plus ICANN's 20-cent fee. Renewing or transferring before then postpones the rise. You can renew up to 10 years. Verisign may add up to 7% in each of the next three years.
AI.com sold for $70 million, the largest domain sale on record, to the owners of Crypto.com. The deal closed in April 2025 and became public on February 6, 2026. DNJournal reports a broker who specializes in stealth acquisitions represented the buyer. Anonymity protects the buyer from an inflated price.
ICANN's Board adopted the Transfer Policy recommendations on June 7, 2026. They remove the 60-day lock after a change of registrant and add a 30-day (720-hour) lock on new and newly transferred names. As of September 29, 2026, no effective date is published, so the 60-day rule still applies.
WIPO managed over 6,200 domain name cases in 2025, its highest caseload on record. Its updated Overview 3.1, published February 17, 2026, says a dictionary-word domain bought for resale may be fine if the use does not trade on a trademark. Buyers should still check trademarks before they pay.
The .ai domain passed one million registrations on January 20, 2026, up from about 587,000 a year earlier. The registry raised the two-year wholesale price from $140 to $160 on March 5. Bot.ai sold for $1.2 million, but AI.com sold for $70 million. Launch on .ai, and budget for the .com.
Yes, domain names still matter, but the reason has shifted. AI answers cut clicks to keyword and content sites, while they recommend brands by name. A short, easy to spell brand .com is simple to say, remember and type. Keyword-only value is weaker. Brand value is stronger.
Verisign's DNIB reported 401.6 million domain registrations at the end of Q2 2026, up 8.1% year over year. About 166.6 million are .com. Growth adds many new names, but a category .com exists once. That is why good names get harder to buy as the total grows.
Dan.com closed on June 27, 2025, and its lease-to-own deals moved to Afternic, which GoDaddy owns. You can still buy a domain on a payment plan through Afternic, Atom or Escrow.com domain holding. Terms differ on resale and use, so read the contract before you sign.
VideoIn this 80th Grit.org podcast episode, Brian Harbin and Michael Law review domain deals from the past six months, including herringbone.com and path.com, with lessons from each. They also explain the Escrow.com Masters of Domains ranking and say Grit Brokerage handled over 250 individual transactions last year.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast transcript, former EWN marketing director Clinton Hicks explains why Energy World Net, a natural gas compliance company, wanted ewn.com. Grit Brokerage's Maureen Sullivan helped secure lower-cost alternatives in 2022 and revisited the .com in 2024. Hicks says a broker was essential.
Grit Brokerage recaps the 2026 ICA Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, held at the new Park MGM location. Brian Harbin and Michael Law hosted a guru table on marketing and selling premium domains and sponsored the Kubba Cup pickleball tournament. The post also explains why the ICA matters to all domain owners.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast transcript, Brian Harbin and Michael Law discuss 2025 domain sales and trends, including Pallet.com, Nowhere.com, Yet.com and Quo.com. They cover the AI domain boom, deals such as Cargo AI and Tensor AI, and why outbound sales often take months and need patience.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast transcript, BrightWatch CEO Eric Aronson explains why his physical security technology firm upgraded from getbrightwatch.com to brightwatch.com. He hired Grit Brokerage after failing alone, found the process faster than expected, and says the benefits will show over time.
Grit Brokerage says the domain industry shows renewed strength and maturity in 2025, with strategic ownership replacing speculation. It reports over eight figures in domain sales in the past year, calls .COM the cornerstone of trust and .AI the clear second power TLD, and cites several industry voices.
Grit Brokerage highlights 2025 outbound sales that upgraded brands to premium domains. Examples include OHS.com, VHS.com, Pallet.com, Kargo.ai, PBN.ai, EstatePlanners.com and Tantalum.com. The team says it has sold dozens of high value domains this year across .com, .ai, .org and .xyz.
Grit Brokerage ranked number 9 on the 2025 Escrow.com Master of Domains list, its third time in the top 10 over the last four years. The team credits daily prospecting, researching buyers, negotiating fair deals and handling complex transactions, and thanks clients and partners for trusting it with premium domains.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast transcript, Alively co-founder Andrew McConnell explains how the health and wellness marketplace chose its name and acquired Alively.com. He hired Grit Brokerage rather than negotiate himself, and Maureen Sullivan secured the domain in about three weeks. He calls the premium domain worth the investment.
Grit Brokerage recaps the Internet Commerce Association meetup held in late January 2025 at Resorts World Las Vegas. Highlights include a pre show party, the Lonnie Borck Memorial Award for Richard Lau, a Trailblazer Award for Darpan Munjal, policy sessions, a town hall and a poker tournament.
Grit Brokerage was recently recognized in a Tech Times article titled From Dot Com to Dot AI: How Grit Brokerage Mines Million-Dollar Domains. This short post points readers to the full article on the Tech Times website so they can read the complete story about the team's work.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast transcript, Mac Spiller of Maddox Industrial Transformer explains why the company upgraded from maddoxtransformer.com to Maddox.com. After his own outreach to the owner failed, he hired Grit Brokerage. The deal took about three months, with almost no dip in search traffic afterward.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast episode, Grit Brokerage interviews Brandon Burroughs, Head of Digital at Omorpho, about upgrading from .fit to a .com. He covers spam filter problems with the non-.com name, the negotiation, and the lift in credibility and conversion rates after the move.
The .ai extension is the country code domain for Anguilla, and tech companies now use it to signal AI work. The post says you.ai sold for around $700,000 and more than 350,000 .ai domains are registered, double the prior year. Grit Brokerage notes prices for sought-after .ai names are rising quickly.
This guide explains the .io domain extension. It is reserved for the British Indian Ocean Territory but open to anyone. Tech companies favor it because IO means input/output. The post covers high prices, safety tips such as two-factor authentication and private Whois, and wordplay options like Pistach.io.
VideoGrit.org Podcast episode 43 recaps NamesCon 2024 and the value of domain conferences. Brian Harbin and Michael Law, with Tess Diaz and Stone Harbin, also cover Grit Brokerage's top 5 Escrow.com Masters of Domains ranking, the acquisition of Harbin.com, and why a last name .com matters.
Expired domains are names whose owners did not renew them. They pass through a grace period, a redemption period and deletion before release. Their value comes from backlinks, traffic, brand and keywords. Buyers find them at auctions, through brokers and backorder services, then use them for niche sites, redirects or investment.
VideoGrit.org Podcast episode 40 looks at teamwork and collaboration in domain sales. The Grit Brokerage team recaps deals for Story.com, Dare.com, Analysis.com, SwiftConnect.com, UsedMotorHomes.com, GrantWriting.com and DogTag.com. They also discuss a recent domain conference they attended and the trends they see for 2024.
Grit Brokerage sold Wasserman.com to Casey Wasserman and TeamWass, whose sports agency used TeamWass.com. The owner needed funds within weeks, so Grit researched the buyer and explained the opportunity. The post gives five reasons the acquisition was smart, including personal branding, control of the narrative and scarcity.
VideoGrit.org Podcast episode 37 features the Grit Brokerage team on closing deals and planning for 2024. Maureen Sullivan shares two acquisition stories, including CannabisTravelAgency.com. Brian Harbin explains three goal planning mindsets, and Michael Law describes his domain investing journey. The recurring theme is that grit drives results.
VideoIn this podcast episode, the Grit Brokerage team discusses the London Domain Summit they recently attended and several domain stories. These include RTBHouse upgrading its domain, CoolCats trimming its online brand, and entrepreneur Casey Wasserman acquiring his last name domain over a decade after his first inquiry.
Grit Brokerage's Michael Law traveled from Denver to attend the London Domain Summit on August 22 and 23, 2023. He met U.K. domain professionals among 250+ attendees and spoke on a panel called Buying and Selling Premium Domains. He credits organizer Helmuts Meskonis and plans to return in 2024.
VideoThis Grit Brokerage podcast episode highlights the tactics and specialties that set the team apart in the domain industry. The team describes its resilience and willingness to solve problems, and says it aims to be easy to contact and easy to work with.
Grit Brokerage senior domain broker Michael Law recaps the 2023 NamesCon Domain Conference in Austin, his ninth consecutive year attending. He attended June 1 to 3 and highlights networking with veterans and newcomers, positive panel feedback, Austin's setting and the after parties.
In this Nitty Gritty interview, Jean-Pierre explains why he acquired Clean.org through Grit Brokerage. The site is not live yet, but aims to share tools and blueprints for a cleaner earth. He wanted stopping power, faced doubts about paying so much for a .org, and found Grit responsive and forthright.
VideoIn this Grit.org podcast interview, Grit Brokerage's Brian Harbin describes the domain industry as the foundation of every online presence. He discusses the Escrow.com 2022 Masters of Domains award for being a top 10 grossing domain brokerage, and says the show plans one behind-the-scenes episode per quarter.
Grit Brokerage argues that premium one word .COMs remain the best choice for growing businesses and funded startups. Recent sales include NFTs.com for $15,000,000 and Connect.com for $10,000,000. These domains are memorable, brandable, versatile, in limited supply and signal authority and trust.
Grit Brokerage recaps the January 2023 Internet Commerce Association meetup at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Over 100 domain investors and brokers attended sessions on policy, UDRP proposals and a talk with attorney John Berryhill. The brokers meeting focused on broker governance and a code of conduct.
This report shares different types of domains Grit Brokerage recently helped sell, limited to names already in use. They include Atypical.com, SuperShare.com, Seam.co, Automotive.io, Attendant.ai, FarmLink.org and Strawhat.xyz. Grit says it deals mainly in .COM, with consistent sales in .IO, .CO, .AI, .ORG and .XYZ.
In this Nitty Gritty interview, Christopher explains why he bought RagsToRiches.com from Grit Brokerage for a cleaning business training course. He wanted a brandable, recognizable name separate from his current cleaning business. He already sees monthly traffic without marketing and found the process smooth.
NamesCon Global returned in person for 2022 after a two year hiatus, running August 30 to September 3 in Austin, Texas. Grit Brokerage founder Brian Harbin and senior broker Michael Law attended. The post recommends attending for networking, panels, master classes and after parties, and recaps the show's ownership history.
In this interview, the Reggie dog wellness brand explains upgrading from HelloReggie.com to Reggie.com through Grit Brokerage. The team wanted a domain that is easier to remember and share. After the move they saw more organic traffic and word of mouth customers, and Grit helped negotiate after a failed direct attempt.
Part 4 of the domain investing series covers reallocating profits after a sale. Investors should weigh holding time, carrying costs and taxes, stick with what worked, decide between one premium name or several, and stay picky because the average investor sells only 2% to 4% of their portfolio annually.
This post lists 35 domains that recently changed hands, mostly one word .COMs now used as the buyer's permanent brand. Examples include Cal.com, upgraded from Calendso.com, and Deel.com, which came from LetsDeel.com. Grit Brokerage compiled the list from James Iles of JamesNames.com and his Twitter feed.
Grit Brokerage founder Brian Harbin shared 2022 domain market predictions on a Domain Name Wire podcast, summarized here. Expected trends include rising prices for one word .COMs, higher sales volume, strong alternative extensions such as .ORG, .IO and .AI, Web3 demand, and fractional ownership following directions.com.
Part 3 of the domain investing series explains outbound marketing for domains. Investors can hire a broker or contact buyers themselves by email, phone or LinkedIn. The post stresses patient, spaced follow-ups over a month, transparency, useful data and closing through a trusted third party like Escrow.com.
This guest article by Lyle Solomon explains how small businesses can pick a domain name. It recommends listing business phrases, keeping the name short and easy to spell, preparing 10 to 15 alternatives, avoiding hyphens and exact keyword matches, and choosing a fitting extension such as .com, .org or .net.
Part 2 of a four part series for domain investors explains where and how to sell domains. It compares quick flip venues like NamePros with marketplaces such as Sedo and Afternic, which charge 15 to 20 percent, and brokers who charge 10 to 20 percent, require exclusivity and specialize in outbound marketing.
Michael Law recaps the ICA 15th Anniversary Meetup at Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas. He describes the town hall, the work the ICA does for domain owners, and the first full mock UDRP trial at NamesCon. Membership ranges from $300 per year to $25,000 for Platinum.
This four-part series guides domain investors from buying to reinvesting, with one Grit Factor per part. Part one, on proper entry, argues discipline matters most when acquiring domains. It lists five checks, from trademark issues to due diligence, and notes 95% of domain names are not liquid assets.
Grit.org, the parent company of Grit Brokerage, released its mid-year update, and this short post links to the press release. Grit Brokerage says it is very bullish on the trajectory of its mission and purpose. The release is titled Grit.org Off to a Fast Start and Making a Huge Impact.
This post lists 33 domains that changed hands in the first half of 2021, mostly one word .COMs bought as upgrades from two word names or other extensions. Disclosed prices include Angel.com at $2,000,000 and iBox.com at $1,560,000. Grit Brokerage says it brokered more than 15 one word .coms since January 1.
This post argues that successful people think differently about obstacles. Drawing on the book The Obstacle Is the Way, it describes three disciplines: perception, action and will. It then offers five ways to train yourself and others, including embracing emotions, listening before speaking and celebrating grit over accomplishment.
This post compares NFT art with premium domain names as scarce digital assets. Beeple's Everyday sold for $69 million at Christie's, while the highest recorded domain sale, Voice.com at $30 million, is less than half of that. Grit Brokerage argues domains offer lifetime utility and remain undervalued.
Internet.com, sold for $18M in 2009, was relisted with a $35M opening offer and reportedly drew nine opening bids before the auction was suspended. Grit Brokerage explains the value of The+Keyword .coms and is brokering TheInternet.com and TheNetwork.com, registered in 1994 and 1995.
Grit Brokerage announces Maureen Sullivan joining as Senior Domain Consultant and Sabrina Laureola as admin assistant and domain researcher. The post also lists Investing.org for sale exclusively through Grit, notes one word domains such as Clout.com and Whirl.com, and recaps Brian Harbin and Michael Law's Domain Sherpa appearance.
Grit Brokerage founder Brian Harbin shared 2021 domain predictions on a DomainNameWire podcast, and this post summarizes them. Expected trends include higher demand for ultra premium domains, rising value of .ORG, .IO, .CO and .AI one word names, possible fractional ownership, and continued industry consolidation.
This post collects public interviews with founders and executives who acquired a better domain for their brand. Cases include DataRecovery.com for $1,660,000, Ring.com for $1,000,000 in 2016 and Voice.com for $30,000,000 in 2019. Grit Brokerage says the companies it sold premium domains to call the move one of their best decisions.
Grit Brokerage's Michael Law interviews entrepreneur Matt Holmes of Handshaking.com about premium domains versus SEO and local lead generation domains. Holmes explains how geo plus niche exact match .coms generate leads, why he bought Handshaking.com, and how online assets can return around 40% compared with 9.2% on real estate.
Michael Law argues premium domains are scarce, undervalued and still not a formal asset class. Appraisals can be off by orders of magnitude, and there is no Kelley Blue Book for domains. He cites education and liquidity as the two barriers and expects prices to keep rising.
Studies cited in this post show startups are moving away from misspelled and made-up names toward recognized words. A Crunchbase article by Joanna Glasner says straightforward and evocative names are most popular. Grit Brokerage adds that it still sees fast growth in one word .coms being purchased and branded on.
Grit Brokerage explains that past tense one word .com domains ending in -ed are rising in price. They often cost less than singular word .coms. The post lists dozens in use, including Booked.com and Placed.com, and notes -ed sales in the mid five figures, including Versed.com, Installed.com and Unchained.com.
In an 8-1 decision in USPTO v. Booking.com B.V., the Supreme Court held that Booking.com may register a federal trademark even though the term booking is generic. Grit Brokerage sees this as a big win for owners of one word .com domains and expects higher prices and demand.
This Grit Brokerage post lists 11 confirmed domain name upgrades revealed on Twitter within 30 days, plus one bonus corporate acquisition. Examples include Evolution.com, Stash.com and Orchard.com. Grit credits domain trackers Jamie Zoch and James Iles for finding them and recommends following both to watch premium domain moves.
Growing companies are upgrading to exact brand matching .com domains. Discord bought Discord.com and SurpriseHR moved to Surprise.com. Noah Kagan negotiated almost seven years and paid $1.5M for Sumo.com, starting from a $50k offer. Sumo now reports annual revenue over $70M.
Written during stay at home orders, this post says businesses of all sizes should review their online presence. Relying only on social media is risky because you do not own that presence. Grit Brokerage recommends securing the best brand matching .com, even a three or four letter acronym.
Grit Brokerage defines premium domains and gives three reasons prices should keep rising: more people and business moving online, a growing pool of investors paying more, and scarcity, with registered domains near 400 million. It also sees short term opportunities for buyers with cash during economic uncertainty.
Michael Law describes learning that Discount Tire owns tires.com and tire.com, and uses them for fast, misspelling-proof access. The post lists other five letter one word .coms owned by large companies, such as Guard.com and Force.com. It also notes Grit Brokerage sold Knife.com, Doors.com and Throb.com that year.
Domain broker Michael Law explains how Grit Brokerage responds when buyers say a premium domain does not fit their budget. The post argues a premium domain is an appreciating asset with lifetime utility, SEO, security and brand alignment, not a recurring expense like a web hosting bill.
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