AI.com is the largest domain sale ever recorded. It is also a clear case of how a stealth acquisition works. We were not part of this deal. We are writing about it because the method is one that buyers of any size can use.
Who bought AI.com and how much did it cost?
The owners of Crypto.com bought AI.com for $70 million, according to DNJournal. The Financial Times broke the story. On Friday, February 6, 2026, Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek announced that his company was the buyer. He said it would launch a new business on the domain with a Super Bowl commercial two days later.
DNJournal reports that the seller originally bought the name because his own initials were A.I., not because of artificial intelligence. Larry Fischer brokered the sale for the seller.
What was the previous record domain sale?
Voice.com, at $30 million in 2019. DNJournal says the AI.com price is more than double that. DNJournal’s year-to-date chart for 2026 lists AI.com at number one, ahead of Club.com at $10 million.
| Rank | Domain | Price | Year reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AI.com | $70,000,000 | 2026 (closed April 2025) |
| Previous record | Voice.com | $30,000,000 | 2019 |
Why did the buyer use a stealth broker?
Public reports do not state the buyer’s reasons. DNJournal does report that John Mauriello of DomainAssets.com represented the buyer. It describes him as a broker who specializes in stealth acquisitions and says he also helped Marszalek acquire XBT.com.
Here is why buyers generally choose this route. This is our view as brokers, not a claim about this deal.
- The owner cannot see the buyer. A name like Crypto.com tells a seller that money is no object. That fact alone can raise an asking price.
- Rumors stay out. News that a company wants a name can reach competitors and trademark holders.
- The buyer keeps the option to walk away. Without a name attached, the buyer can drop out of talks with no public record.
Why was the sale kept quiet for almost a year?
DNJournal says the deal closed in April 2025. The public learned the buyer and price on February 6, 2026. DNJournal did not give a reason. DNJournal also noted in July 2026 that most of the biggest sales are under non-disclosure agreements.
Silence has a practical use. A buyer that keeps a deal quiet until it is ready to launch protects its plans. See NDA sale and reported sale for how the industry tracks deals that are private.
How does a stealth acquisition work?
A stealth acquisition means a broker approaches the owner for you, without naming you. The buy-side broker finds the owner, makes contact, learns what the owner wants and negotiates. The steps below are the general pattern.
- Set a budget and a walk-away number before any contact.
- Sign a written agreement with the broker that says what they may and may not disclose.
- Find the real owner. Public records are often hidden, so researchers trace the owner another way.
- Make anonymous contact. The broker introduces the inquiry without naming the buyer.
- Negotiate in steps. The first offer rarely settles it.
- Close through a third-party escrow service. The buyer’s money is held until the name transfers. See our guide to domain escrow.
- Keep it quiet until the buyer is ready to go public, if the contract says so.
Seller-side brokers use the same discipline. A sell-side broker represents the owner and tries to get the best price. DNJournal names a broker on each side of the AI.com deal.
What does a stealth broker do that a buyer cannot?
A broker does three things that are hard to do alone. First, the broker finds the person who really owns the name. Second, the broker speaks to owners daily and knows what a fair deal looks like. Third, the broker keeps the buyer’s identity out of the conversation.
| Task | Buyer alone | With a stealth broker |
|---|---|---|
| Find the owner | Hidden records can stall the search | Researchers trace the owner |
| First contact | Owner sees who is asking | Owner sees only the broker |
| Price talks | Emotion can drive offers | A neutral party negotiates |
| Closing | Easy to get wrong | Third-party escrow holds the money |
A broker is not magic. Some owners will not sell at any price. A good broker tells you that early, so you do not spend months on a dead end.
How can a smaller company run the same playbook?
Use the same steps with a smaller budget, and expect a smaller name. Set a firm limit and stay patient. You do not need $70 million. You need a name worth the price, a clear limit and someone who does this work every day. Our post on why you should use a domain brokerage explains the case.
A related read: our guide on how to buy a domain that is taken covers the do-it-yourself route, and where it goes wrong.
Next step
Our firm runs a stealth acquisition service. A broker finds the owner, reaches out for you without revealing who you are, and negotiates the best price we can. Every purchase closes through a third-party escrow company. Read the details at buying domains, or start a conversation.
Questions this post answers
Who bought AI.com and how much did it cost?
DNJournal reports that the owners of Crypto.com bought AI.com for $70 million. Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek announced on February 6, 2026 that his company was the buyer and was launching a new AI business on the domain.
What was the previous record domain sale?
The previous record was Voice.com at $30 million in 2019, according to DNJournal. The AI.com price is more than double that figure. DNJournal called it the biggest domain name sale ever recorded.
Why did the buyer use a stealth broker?
Public reporting does not give the buyer's reasons. In general, buyers use stealth brokers so the seller does not learn who is asking. A seller who sees a famous name or a rich buyer will often raise the price.
Why was the sale kept quiet for almost a year?
DNJournal says the deal closed in April 2025, and the buyer and price were revealed in February 2026. DNJournal did not state the reason. Large buyers often stay quiet until their product launches, and many big sales are covered by non-disclosure agreements.
Can a smaller company use the same approach?
Yes, at a smaller scale. A broker approaches the owner without naming you, learns what the owner wants, negotiates a price and closes through escrow. The method works for a $5,000 name as well as a seven-figure one. Price and terms differ, but the steps do not.