Buying, Selling Domains Called $2 Billion Business

LOS ANGELES — The transaction of Internet domain names along with corresponding pay-per-click advertising has translated into a $2 billion industry, according to the Associated Press. The market is expected to balloon to $4 billion by 2010.

Domain registration data from VeriSign backs up the Associated Press’ claim. 128 million domain names were registered worldwide at the end of this year’s first quarter, which was a 31 percent increase from 2006. Domain buyers are purchasing names at a 90,000-per-day clip.

“It’s like real estate,” Monte Cahn, founder and CEO of Moniker.com, told the AP. “This industry is only about a decade old. People looked at domain names as a commodity. It’s a piece of real estate on the web that can’t be replaced. It’s your stake in the ground, your stake in the Internet.”

Cahn and his company recently presided over a domain auction at the Internext Summer 2007 adult webmaster trade show that hauled in more than $725,000. LatinPussy.com was the biggest money earner, garnering $135,000.

Domain registrar Sedo.com said that it handles more than $3 million of transactions each month. DN Journal, which tracks the buying and selling of domain names, said that five sales of domains have topped $1 million this year — including adult sites Sex.com and Porn.com.

“It is a global, multibillion-dollar industry,” Peter Lamson, senior vice president and general manager of NameMedia, told the International Herald Tribune. “Customers need to find your doorstep. A brick-and-mortar business needs an attractive address, and it’s no different online.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More