Crypto.com: The $5-10M Domain That Built an $875M Empire
NOTE: Exact price estimated $5-10M based on reports, not officially disclosed. $875M refers to total company deals (UFC + Staples Center), not domain price.
In 2016, a little-known crypto startup called Monaco (Mona.co) was doing what a lot of early crypto companies were doing—issuing crypto debit cards, trying to gain traction, and hoping to catch the wave of digital finance. But then, they made a move that changed everything. They bought the legendary domain Crypto.com.
The Bet That Built A Global Powerhouse
Prior to its sale, Crypto.com belonged to cryptography professor Dr. Matt Blaze, who wasn't exactly itching to sell. For years, he held onto it, seemingly unimpressed by the digital gold rush happening around him.
But then, Monaco showed up with a check. The final price was never officially disclosed, but reports estimate it was somewhere between $5–$10 million—which, at the time, seemed like a ridiculous sum for a domain name.
Except, it wasn't. This wasn't just about owning a cool website—it was about becoming the brand for crypto.
Rebranding, UFC Deals, and a $700M Power Move
With the new domain in hand, Monaco transformed into Crypto.com. It wasn't just a rebrand—it was a complete identity shift. Suddenly, they weren't some scrappy startup selling crypto debit cards. They were the hub for all things crypto.
And they didn't stop there.
By 2021, Crypto.com had pulled off two deals that cemented their place as a global powerhouse:
- A $175 million, 10-year partnership with the UFC—putting their name on fight kits and branding them into the octagon
- A $700 million, 20-year deal to rename the Staples Center—home to the Lakers, Clippers, and countless historic moments
A company that didn't even exist a decade earlier had just slapped its name on one of the most famous arenas in the world. And it all started with a domain name.
The estimated $5-10 million investment in Crypto.com became the foundation for nearly $1 billion in marketing deals, 80+ million users, and a brand that defines an entire industry. Monaco was just another startup. Crypto.com became a global empire.