New Club Benefit: cashback on card deposits

Ready for amazing news? With the new benefit, fees on card deposits, Apple Pay and Google Pay will be just a distant memory!

Cards are definitely the fastest way to deposit funds, without having to use complicated IBAN codes or other banking information. Simply enter your card details or use Apple Pay or Google Pay and you’re done!

Thanks to the new benefit, it will also become the most convenient method! 

Every Club gets its Bonus

Depending on your club membership you are entitled to:

  • Bronze: 1 €5 bonus
  • Silver: 1 €5 bonus
  • Gold: 2 €5 bonuses
  • Platinum: 3 €5 bonuses

Bonuses will be credited automatically on the first day of each month. They will be applied to card deposits made during the current month. 

Each bonus is valid for only one deposit, which means that anyone who has three bonuses will be credited back the fees for three deposits.

To make the most of this benefit, consider a few things:

  • Set up a recurring purchase with your card, Apple Pay or Google Pay: this way you can avoid paying fees every time you set aside your crypto;
  • Make a deposit for an amount that is not too low: if you are going to make a deposit, consider depositing a higher amount to take advantage of the full value of the bonus;
  • Pay attention to the first (1, 2 or 3) deposits you make in the current month: the bonus will be applied to that, so make sure you take full advantage of it.

We are happy to offer this new benefit to our Club members and hope you will make the most of it to get the most out of your operations.

Frequently Asked Questions 

When will I receive the bonus?

If you are already a member of a Club, you will receive your bonus on the first day of each calendar month. This month of March will be an exception, with the bonus being credited today! 

New members will receive it upon registration and on the first day of the month thereafter. 

Where will I receive the bonus?

In the Bonus Wallet, the section of Young Platform where you can view all the bonuses you have. In the details you can see their status, value, expiry date and for which transactions they are valid. 

For how many deposits is the bonus valid?

Each bonus is valid for only one deposit, which means that those in the Platinum Club will be able to have their fees credited back for three deposits, while those in the Gold Club for two deposits.

For which transactions is the bonus valid?

The deposit methods covered by the promotion are:

  • Deposit by payment card
  • Deposit with Google Pay
  • Deposit with Apple Pay

Also included are card deposit fees associated with recurring purchases.  

How is the bonus used?

The bonus is applied during the deposit operation automatically. On the transaction summary screen, before confirmation, you will see a banner alerting you to the refund of fees paid. 

The refund will be made as soon as you complete the operation. 

If you have set up a recurring purchase with a card, you will not receive a notification. Deposit fees will be credited automatically to your Euro Wallet. 

How are fees refunded?

As soon as you complete a deposit, the amount of fees paid will be transferred from the Bonus Wallet to the Euro Wallet via cashback. 

You can view the refund in the transaction history. 

Will I be refunded all the fees I paid for my card deposit? 

You will be credited the amount paid up to a maximum of €5, i.e. the value of a bonus. 

If I do not use up the entire bonus with a deposit, can I reuse it?

No, each bonus is only valid for one deposit. So if you do not use the full amount, you cannot recover the excess. 

Can I decide on which deposit to use the bonus?

No, the bonus is automatically applied to the first deposit (or first deposits in the case of Gold and Platinum Clubs) you make during the month. If you want to use it on a recurring purchase, we recommend that you set it up so that it is made on the first few days of the month. To do so, simply cancel the current recurring purchase and reset it on the first few days of April. 

If I make a transfer but it is rejected or not credited, how does that work for the bonus?

The bonus does not work for deposits by bank transfer, but with deposits made by credit, debit, prepaid, Apple and Google Pay cards. 

If I change Club, how does it work?

In the case of an upgrade, you will be credited the difference that you did not receive at the previous club. So if you upgrade from Silver to Gold, you will get an extra bonus, but if you upgrade from Bronze to Silver, you will not be credited anything, because both involve receiving only one bonus. 

If I have already used the card in the past, will I still be entitled to this bonus? 

The bonus is not retroactive, it will be applied to card deposits you make from today onwards. 

General Terms and Conditions – Young Platform Currency Exchange

Young Platform launches the ‘pay-to-card’, fiat currency withdrawal service on credit and debit cards

The partnership between Young Platform, Checkout.com and Visa to bring card withdrawal service from a cryptocurrency exchange to Italy kicks off

Turin, 02/03/2023 – Italy’s leading regulated cryptocurrency exchange Young Platform, in partnership with Checkout.com and Visa, launches a pay-to-card service that will allow its customers to make instant withdrawals from the exchange platform to their credit or debit card. Young Platform thus becomes one of the only two exchanges in Europe able to provide this feature to holders of cryptocurrencies on its platform. This is a major milestone among the services offered by the crypto company, resulting from its partnership with leading players on the global fintech scene.

Checkout.com is the only payment service provider to have created an entirely new infrastructure covering the full payment value chain. Visa Direct‘s recent expansion into Italy will enable consumers to make instant financial transfers to payment cards worldwide.

The joint initiative between Young Platform, Checkout.com and Visa will therefore enable Young Platform customers to use Visa Direct integration for real-time transfers to Visa credit, debit or prepaid cards. This will ensure a secure, simple and accessible customer experience, at a time of significant growth for the real-time payments industry globally. 

According to an international survey conducted by Visa (The Crypto Phenomenon: 2022 Consumer Attitudes & Usage), public awareness of cryptocurrencies remained almost universal between 2021 and 2022, and crypto ownership even increased by 2 percentage points among respondents (to 34%). Motivations driving adoption include- among the others – the desire to participate in a financial and cultural movement And the increased awareness on how to buy and store crypto.  

According to a Visa Study on digital payments trends (https://www.visaitalia.com/visa/sala-stampa-visa/press-releases.3193090.html), the knowledge of cryptocurrencies is widespread (57% of Italians interviewed know cryptocurrencies), with 10% of Italians questioned currently owning them; 13% of the Italians involved in the research are interested in cryptocurrencies, but this rises to 2 out of 10 of those questioned among the very young Gen. Z.

As part of this backdrop, Young Platform aims to develop an entire ecosystem of applications around its exchange, with a single goal since its launch in 2018 – to make cryptocurrencies accessible to all the people who want to use them. Partly as a result of this approach, the young fintech has established itself as one of Italy’s most promising startups, garnering a large community of more than 1 million users and a €16 million first funding round led by Azimut in June 2022. Just six months later, Young Platform was granted certification by the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) in France (Europe’s third-largest crypto market according to Chainalysis). AMF granted Young Platform the Issuer Identification Number (Psan) reserved for financial services providers operating across the Alps.

“Young Platform’s work with digital currencies is based on its mission to create services increasingly tailored to everyday use that give people peace of mind and full freedom in managing their money,” recalls Andrea Ferrero, CEO of Young Platform. For Young Platform and its 2 million customers, pay-to-card represents another step towards opening up this exciting new world to a wider audience, securely and reliably. We are convinced that blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies represent a great opportunity to create a fairer and more sustainable future. We will continue to work with passion and dedication to realise this vision with the help of prominent partners such as Checkout.com and Visa”.

Euro withdrawal to payment cards now available

From today you can withdraw Euros from Young Platform to your enabled credit and debit cards. Find out how!

Is the card your favourite deposit method, with its immediacy and flexibility? Then this is the moment you have been waiting for.

You can now withdraw funds from your Euro wallet and transfer them to the card you already use for deposits. 

What’s more, Young Platform is the second exchange in Europe to integrate withdrawals to credit or debit cards. Not bad, right? 

How does withdrawal work?

The ability to use this withdrawal method, the amounts allowed and the timing of the transaction depend on the type of card you have and your past activity.

Supported cards

Cards that support this functionality are only those enabled with Mastercard Send or Visa Direct.

Users who can use the functionality

You can only use this withdrawal method if:

  • You have already used a Mastercard Send or Visa Direct card to make deposits.

And 

  • You have entered your telephone number during sign up.

If you have not performed these two actions, you can complete them at any time and thus activate the card withdrawal. How?

When you attempt the withdrawal, you will automatically be asked to provide your telephone number. This number is only needed to receive the security code to confirm the withdrawal and guarantee that it was you who made the withdrawal.

Maximum withdrawal amount

The maximum withdrawal amount is calculated based on your past deposits, as follows:

Limit = Sum of the amounts of all deposits made with one card – sum of the amounts of all withdrawals made with one card.

Let’s take some examples:

  • If I have deposited a total of €50 with my Visa Direct since I added it, and I have never made a card withdrawal, I can withdraw up to €50 (Limit = 50 – 0)
  • If I have deposited a total of €50 with my Visa Direct since I added it, and I have withdrawn a total of €20, I can withdraw up to €30 (Limit = 50 – 20)

Please note: If you remove your card and add it again, your total deposit and withdrawal account will be reset to zero and consequently withdrawal will be disabled. You will have to deposit again to be able to withdraw.

Timing and fees

If your Mastercard Send or Visa Direct card does not support fast funds, withdrawal may take up to 48 hours.

If your card supports fast funds, withdrawal may take up to 30 minutes/1 hour. The fees charged are the same as for a card deposit: 2.2% + €0.25.

If you have any questions, please contact support!

Young Platform launches partnership with Freename.io for Web3

freename partnership

Turin 1st March 2023 – Young Platform is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Freename.io, a leader in Web3 domain services.

Freename.io is an innovative platform that makes it possible to purchase, manage and use Web3 top and second level domains in an advantageous manner, also thanks to the possibility of obtaining royalties. To clarify the difference between top-level and second-level domains, let us take the example of freename.io: the “.io” is the top-level domain (TLD) while “freename” is the second-level domain (SLD). Whenever a new user buys a domain on a given Top Level Domain, the owner of the TLD earns 50 per cent of the value of that domain, effectively becoming a Registrar capable of generating profits. 

From a technical point of view, Freename.io’s Web3 domains are NFTs, non-fungible tokens, compliant with the ERC-721 standard and thus compatible with the entire landscape of existing crypto services and applications. Currently, Freename.io supports the Polygon, Binance, Aurora and Cronos blockchains. 

The integration resulting from this partnership will allow our users to search for a Freename.io domain directly on the Young Platform Web, evaluate its price and decide whether to purchase it. Freename.io domains can be used to send your tokens to a crypto wallet: in fact, the domain contains the information needed to tell the blockchain which wallet to send the tokens to. Therefore, thanks to the integration, it will be possible to send and receive your cryptocurrencies from Young Platform wallets via domains instead of wallet addresses.

Web3 domains are essential for exploring the potential of the Web3. These have numerous functions such as that of a readable and easily shareable wallet address, resolver of traditional websites, domain to create and display a decentralised website and to send blockchain-based emails and messages. Precisely because of these and other functionalities, Web3 domains are used to manage one’s identity on the Web3 and bring together all one’s online profiles in a simple and straightforward tool.

Freename.io fits into this context and aims to make it easier for users to enter the new decentralised phase of the Internet. A mission in line with that of Young Platform, which aims at the dissemination of these topics in order to bring greater awareness.

The blockchain and cryptocurrencies will be the beating heart of Web3, a decentralised, transparent version of the internet that enhances artists and content creators. We are witnessing a real paradigm shift in which all the benefits of blockchain will be applied to the internet in all its aspects, from information sharing, to payments, to virtual socialising opportunities.

Davide Vicini said: “We are delighted to partner with Young Platform, a leading crypto exchange in Europe and at the forefront of the Web3 world. The integration of Web3 domains will allow Young Platform’s customers to be able to use their own domain as a payment address, send and receive Web3 emails and browse the Internet normally with Freename domains.

Young Platform CEO Andrea Ferrero concluded: “We are happy to welcome Freename.io to our platform, offering our customers the opportunity to buy and exchange Web3 domains. This partnership represents a step forward for us in making the use of cryptocurrencies and Web3 domains more accessible and user-friendly for our users.”

The 3 big advantages of choosing Freename

Why choose Freename? The 3 advantages

If crypto domains are the watchword for Web3, TLDs are the passepartout. But only with Freename.

Freename is a service that simplifies the adoption and integration of Web3 domains on the Internet. The project starts in Switzerland, the historical crypto valley, and builds its approach around three industry pillars: interoperability, entrepreneurship and transparency.

The interoperability of Freename domains

Crypto domains are not just websites: in Web3 they become the keystone, facilitating the whole online experience. Domains thus become our online identity, declined in its various applications: an alias for social networking, a professional email, a wallet, the username in a game – all collected under the same domain. This requires a high level of interoperability with decentralised applications (Dapps) and also with Web 2.0 applications, in order to speed up adoption.

However, it is important not to underestimate the basic level of interoperability needed, which is not yet an effective industry standard. Dapps, exchanges, wallets, NFTs and blockchains should be usable together, seamlessly.

Each project develops different solutions to achieve this vision. Freename, for its part, started by developing compatibility with numerous blockchains, of which four are already available.

The most interesting feature in this regard, however, is the Freename Web3 Browser Extension, available for Chrome, Firefox and Brave. This browser extension acts as a bridge between Web 2.0 and Web3 through five different functionalities:

  • Registrar, a direct link to the site for creating domains and TLDs on Freename
  • Browse, an address bar where you can enter a Web3 domain and also find its associated content on Web2.
  • Web3 WHOIS, the explorer for all Web3 domains even beyond Freename
  • Web3 Email, an interface to use your own crypto domain as an email address and communicate with other domain owners
  • Payments, still under development.

Thanks to the Young Platform integration, it is also possible to withdraw cryptocurrencies from the exchange to a Freename domain. To send crypto, it is then sufficient to type in the domain name instead of the wallet address.

The perfect solution for a Web3 enterprise

The freedom to create your own TLD is certainly one of the aspects that most distinguishes Freename from other Web3 registrars.

If you are a crypto artist, a content creator, or have a Web3 company, Freename has thought of you too. What better way to promote your business than through a dedicated TLD?

Imagine if your company name became the next “.com”. With Freename, every time someone buys a domain with your TLD you get royalties.

That’s not all: you can make your brand’s TLD a registered trademark under Swiss law, so that it is also legally protected against counterfeiting and fraud.

For particularly high-profile brands and public figures, there is also a domain and TLD protection service called ‘protected domains‘. Simply contact the Freename team to take advantage of this service.

Security and transparency starting with technology

We have already talked about the Web3 WHOIS explorer designed by the Freename team. This is crucial to give users control, as it allows them to check the ownership and operations of domains directly on the blockchain. The ability to verify the existence or authenticity of a Web3 domain also protects against phishing attempts.

The development roadmap is completely transparent: you can always see the stage of development of the service and also propose updates via the dedicated section, as well as vote on those already proposed.

In short, with Freename your Web3 site will be completely under your domain. Discover the unique opportunity to access it at a bargain price with the Young Platform Clubs.

New Club Benefit: Get a coupon for Freename

Join a Club and get a Freename domain: together we will dominate the Web3!

Freename is a platform where you can create, buy and sell not only Web3 domains, but also TLDs. We have talked about all its innovative features on Academy, but here’s a little spoiler: it is a Web3 swiss made entity.

Web3 domains are now a must-have for every Web3 citizen, and if you are in a Club, you can get one even for free! But what are the pros of having a Freename domain?

Let’s get to it and find out all the details of this new benefit reserved for Clubs on Young Platform.

How does the benefit work?

If you are a member of a Club, from today 1st March you can get a coupon on Freename for a variable value depending on the level you belong to.

This is also valid for those who join the Clubs after 1st March!

freename web3 domain coupon

Here are 5 things to keep in mind before you start:

  1. The application of the coupon on Freename is automatic only if you start the purchase from Young Platform Web.
  2. The coupon can only be used once. Any credit not used at the first purchase will therefore be lost.
    Example: my chosen domain costs $85. I have a coupon of $110. I add the domain to the basket and proceed to the purchase. Once the purchase is confirmed, I will not have spent anything, but I will have lost $25 in coupon credits.
  3. You can purchase several domains at a time by adding them to the same shopping cart and using the same coupon for the total spend.
  4. Both the possibility of obtaining the coupon and the benefit expire on 16/08/2023.
  5. In addition to second-level domains, the coupon is only valid for the following TLDs:
    • “metaverse”,
    • “hodl”,
    • “moon”,
    • “lambo”,
    • “token”,
    • “airdrop”,
    • “chain”,
    • “layer”,
    • “satoshi”,
    • “genesis”.

Now is the time to take action and dominate the Web3!

How to buy a Freename domain on Young Platform Web

Thanks to the integration of Freename on Young Platform Web, you can search for available domains directly from your desktop account.

So here is how to make a purchase.

  • Log in to Young Platform from the desktop version
  • Go to the Wallet section
  • You will see a box dedicated to Freename, click on the button
  • Look for the Web3 domain or TLD you want in the search bar
  • Select it
  • You will be redirected to the Freename site
  • Add the domain to the cart
  • Create a Freename account
  • Add your details to the cart and accept the Terms and Conditions
  • If it is a TLD, you can choose to tick the Royalties option, which will require you to pay $50 in order to obtain royalties every time someone uses your TLD.
  • You will see the coupon applied to your cart automatically

If you are unable to apply the coupon to a domain or TLD on Freename or to purchase a domain or TLD from Young Platform Web, it means that this domain is not covered by the Clubs promotion and is therefore not compatible with the coupon or not available, but you can still purchase it by accessing Freename directly and proceeding independently of Young Platform.

  • If the credit does not cover the entire spend, add a payment method, either Metamask or credit or debit cards are accepted.
  • Confirm the purchase
  • View the purchase in ‘Portfolio and Incomes’, under ‘Domains’.

Now the domain is yours, but the ownership is not yet registered on blockchain: you need to mint it first:

  • Click on ‘Mint Domain’ next to the purchased domain
  • Choose the blockchain you want to mint it on, based on the ones supported by your wallet and that you use the most
  • Select the destination wallet by clicking on “Add a new address”.
  • Click on ‘Connect wallet’
  • Choose Metamask (if you do not know how to create a Metamask wallet, here is the guide)
  • Give Metamask permission to connect the wallet with Freename by clicking ‘Next’ and then ‘Connect’.
  • Click on “sign new address” on Freename
  • Signature on Metamask
  • Click on “Save changes” on Freename
  • Click on “Confirm mint” on Freename

Your domain is now inviolable: being indelibly associated with your wallet, no one can take it away from you until you put it up for sale.

Turkey and Syria emergency. Donate now for children affected by the earthquake

turkey earthquake

After the earthquake in Turkey, Young Platform renews its collaboration with Save the Children to send crypto donations

The earthquake in Turkey in February mobilised donations and solidarity from all over the world, united in the face of a natural disaster. 

As now well known, on the night of 5-6 February, the area bordering Syria was the epicentre of a strong earthquake (magnitude 7.8 and 7.5). The two tremors resounded as far as Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel. The phenomenon returned on 20 February with the epicentre in the town of Hatay in south-west Turkey, with a magnitude of 6.4 and 5.8.

The main victims of the earthquake in Turkey: children

After the first earthquake, Turkey declared over 41,000 dead, thousands injured and buildings collapsed. In all, 1.4 million children are suffering the damage of this catastrophe. The survivors among them are now without shelter.

These territories and especially their most disadvantaged inhabitants must receive as much aid as possible, international contributions are not enough, and it will take a long time to heal just one of the many wounds of these countries.

Save the Children with the Emergency Fund ensures that the children affected by the earthquake receive all kinds of help.

You can also make donations in cryptocurrencies, as was already possible this Christmas.

How to send donations for the earthquake in Turkey

Below are instructions on how to send cryptocurrencies to the Emergency Fund.

  1. Start from this page;
  2. Choose the crypto to donate;
  3. Choose whether to make an anonymous donation or enter your details;
  4. Click on ‘Donate now’;
  5. You will see the address of the destination wallet in the form of an alphanumeric code and as a QR code. Copy it to the clipboard;
  6. Open the Young Platform app in the Wallet section;
  7. Select the cryptocurrency you have decided to use;
  8. Click on “Withdraw”;
  9. Enter the amount and click on ‘Continue’; 
  10. Paste the Save the Children wallet address you copied from the link provided or scan the QR code. We advise you not to write the address manually to avoid typos;
  11. Definitively confirm the withdrawal via the email you will receive at your address. 

If you want to view the status of your transaction on the blockchain, you can paste the TxID into the search bar of a blockchain explorer such as Blockchair

This way you can track your crypto donations and make sure they reach Save the Children, who will use them to help the children victims of the earthquake in Turkey. 

New Club benefit: the monthly Market Report

New Club benefit: the monthly Market Report

For Silver, Gold and Platinum Clubs a monthly Market Report created by our trading team

When your friends ask you how the market is doing, do you only answer with “Up” or “Down”? Do you get by on “hearsay”? 

No problem! Finding reliable and timely information today is not easy. That’s why we do it for you, with the Market Report

If you are a member of a Club, you will have already received the first two Young Platform Reports by email, with which we collected your feedback, but the time has come to make this benefit official. 

From now on, the benefit is reserved for Silver, Gold and Platinum Clubs: these members will receive an in-depth market analysis at the beginning of each month, covering the previous month

For those who are not yet members of the Clubs, here are the main points covered by the report: 

  • Market Capitalisation Analysis
  • Bitcoin Dominance and Price Action
  • Price action of Ethereum and the ETH-BTC pair
  • Price action of the monthly crypto
  • US monetary policies
  • Monthly news
  • On-chain data for Bitcoin, Ethereum and the monthly crypto

Is there any data or topic you would like to see covered monthly in this report? Post a suggestion on the Discord channel and we will adapt the report with the most requested additions.

Staying abreast of the market is essential to be in control of your resources and make the best use of them. With the Market Report you have a tool created by professional traders that sums up everything you need to pay attention to in order to have a thorough understanding of the current situation. 

The Unusual World of Web Domains: Tales and Trivia

Have you ever wondered what ‘Google’ means or what the longest domain on the web is? Get ready for 90s revival-themed trivia

Digging deep into the history of internet domains and beyond, we have uncovered these 5 curiosities and trivia. Among mysterious characters only forums talk about, beyond the most ridiculous and useless websites, in the depths of vintage web archives, absurd and unexpected facts have emerged. Let’s get to it.

1. In 2015, someone bought Google.com for $12

The history of the Google domain is full of oversights, starting from its inception. Can you imagine typing Googol.com instead of Google.com? It would be ironic, since Googol was originally supposed to be the name of the famous search engine. 

The term means ‘10 to the power of 100’ (1 plus 100 zeros) and it was Larry Page‘s university friend Sean who suggested it to him in 1997. Larry approved the name and Sean registered it for him, but without knowing the correct spelling of the word, so he purchased the name we know today.

Google’s second slip-up happened in 2015, when in the middle of the night a former employee of the giant, Sanmay Ved, managed to buy Google.com.

Sanmay did not expect to be able to get the domain, and for only $12 moreover, yet he even received the invoice. Google, however, did not take too long to regain possession of his domain on the web: in just one minute, Sanmay saw the world’s most powerful URL slip out of his hands.

The trilogy ends in 2021 in Buenos Aires: it is evening and a young designer, while working, notices that Google is not working. So he checks the site responsible for internet domains in Argentina and sees that Google Argentina is for sale. Someone in his place would perhaps have thought it was an error or a bug and would have ignored the anomaly. Instead, Nicolas, our champ, decides to click and the purchase goes through for the equivalent of just €2.30. For a few hours, this time, the domain was in Nicolas’s possession, yet Google did not clarify why the domain was available, nor how it brought it back under its control. 

2. Cancelled web domains: a geopolitical ghost story

There are 5 ccTLDs that have been deleted due to geopolitical changes. Yes, Risk is also played out on the WWW and it can be fascinating to discover how these events are handled in different ways by ICANN and the entities involved, as well as being a dropcatching opportunity for the domainers of these countries.

The process of removing a ccTLD from a country that no longer exists or has a new name is not always immediate. In the case of the former Soviet countries and the USSR itself, there are many examples of transitions that dragged on for years. The .su (Soviet Union) domain itself is still usable, so much so that it still has about 100,000 registered domains and seems to be very popular with cyber criminals.

Some, on the other hand, actually disappeared:

  • .an: the Netherlands Antilles dissolved in 2010, since then ICANN accepted the domains .bq (Caribbean Netherlands), .cw (Curaçao) and .sx (Sint Maarten) as replacements.
  • .dd: the domain was originally intended for the GDR (German Democratic Republic), but was only used internally between two East German universities.
  • .um: this TLD referring to the US Minor Islands was removed in 2007. It used to be managed by the University of Southern California, but the islands have been virtually uninhabited for decades and the institute asked to be relieved of this responsibility.
  • .yu: the ccTLD of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, which was permanently dissolved in 2006, was only removed in 2010 after .yu website owners managed to move to the .rs (Serbia) and .me (Montenegro) top-level domains.
  • .zr: shortly after the introduction of the ccTLD for the Republic of Zaire, the African state changed its name to Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997 and was given the extension .cd. The .zr domain was finally deleted by ICANN in 2001.

To the domainers out there, keep your eyes peeled for geographical shifts.

3. Get the longest possible domain? Challenge accepted!

The Internet really is a wonderful place, and just as self-referential. If you’ve already got lost among the photos and wiki pages of very long place names, you won’t help but LoL about this next geographical trivia.

The world’s first longest domain is actually the name of a village in Wales. In 2002, llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllllantysiliogogogoch.co.uk was registered and entered the Guinness Book of Records with 58 characters excluding the TLD. However, consider that the maximum length allowed for any part of the domain is 63 characters.

In fact, someone in 2007, challenged this record by registering llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndwllllantysiliogogogochuchaf.eu, with 60 characters excluding the TLD. “uchaf” means the ‘old’ or ‘high’ part of the village. I challenge you to pronounce it in one breath, that would be a real record.

In those years, however, two other domains actually reached 63 characters. The first contains a blog dedicated to Pi, by a German mathematician so passionate that he memorised the whole domain name:

3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592.eu.

If, however, the requirement for the world record is to create a domain consisting of letters, thisisthelongesteuropeandomainnameallovertheworldandnowitismine.eu wins it

4. Coca cola made a marketing campaign using 61 domains

Coca Cola’s strategy wasn’t too different, its marketing department took domains so seriously that they made a promotional campaign out of them. You know those commercials for Santa’s favourite drink? At some point you hear an opening ‘click’ or a thirst-quenching ‘ahh‘. This is like a slogan for the scarlet brand. 

Thus in 2013 as many as 61 domain names appeared, starting with “ahh.com” and the rest was with an increasing number of ‘h’s. Today, these sites are mostly for sale or inactive, but at the time the intention was to impress millennials who were indifferent to classic promotional means.

5. One man in 2012 bought 14,692 domains in one day

If you think Nicolas or Sanmay were heroes, you haven’t met Mike Mann yet. Mike is not one of those dropcatching vultures, he creates domains. If you ask him why, he replies that it is out of greed: Mike simply wants to own the world. But who is this mysterious character with such a common name?

This greedy domainer is now 56 years old and has been in the domain scene since the beginning. In the 1990s, he founded an Internet Service Provider company, but one day someone offered him $25,000 for a domain he owned, and the next day they offered him twice as much. Realising the opportunity, having paid only $70 for that domain, he immediately dove into the at-the-time wild domain market.

Mike thus began creating and selling hundreds of domains a day, but in 2012 he outdid himself by purchasing 14,692 in just 24 hours. 

Today, the entrepreneur still owns a few domains, on which he has founded companies and organisations. He owns none other than SEO.com and Phone.com, an SEO agency and a phone service company respectively. He then founded DomainMarket.com and AccurateAppraisals.com dedicated to the Internet domain market. But he also got involved in social work, creating the educational project FearlessLeaders.com and MakeChange.com, a charity organisation. Makemillions.com, on the other hand, is the site dedicated to his book, and of course he owns MikeMann.com.

Hopefully these 5 interesting facts about internet domains made you go “ah!” at least once, like in a Coca Cola commercial. And if you’re still thirsty, discover more facts in the history of internet domains.

The 10 most expensive internet domains in history

Internet domains: the 10 most expensive in history

Who is ready to shell out millions for a name on the Internet? Here are the most expensive domains ever and their owners

How is it possible that Internet domains, virtual properties that can be bought for as little as a few dozen dollars, come to cost millions and millions? Some are more valuable than others, and despite the fact that more than twenty years have passed since they were first traded, this market is still very active today. The rarest, and therefore most desirable, domains are those defined by unique, meaningful words. Those words that can describe a precise field or sector such as “cars”, “internet” or “sex” (as in the case of Sex.com, the domain that took everyone to court). The ranking of the most expensive domains in history is all made up of the TDL .com, the one with the most international scope.

1.    Cars.com – 872 million

The most expensive internet domain in history? Cars.com, which had a valuation of $872,000,000 in 2017. It is currently owned by the Chicago-based car company of the same name. Its value was estimated on the basis of balance sheet documents of parent company Gannet Co., Inc. 

2.    LasVegas.com – 90 million

This domain was purchased by Vegas.com, a travel, tourism and entertainment site linked to the city in Nevada. The agreement, which came in 2005, provided for a payment of $12,000,000 at the time of signing and monthly payments scheduled until 2040, when the domain will be officially transferred to Vegas.com (assuming it does not want to terminate the contract).

3.    CarInsurance.com – 49.7 million

CarInsurance.com hosts a car insurance website and since 2010 it has been owned by QuinStreet, a marketing and advertising company that is very active in domain, website and media buying and selling.

4.    Insurance.com – 35.6 million

Prior to CarInsurance.com, QuinStreet had already purchased Insure.com (for $16 million) and Insurance.com in 2009 to strengthen its online presence and identity in the field of insurance. The former was owned by a broker, while Insurance.com was bought for $35.6 million by an insurance agency.

5.    VacationRentals.com – 35 million

In fifth place in the ranking of the most expensive internet domains ever is VacationRentals.com. In 2013 it was bought for $35 million by Brian Sharples, CEO of HomeAway (now Vrbo, Vacation Rentals by Owner), a company that offers holiday rental accommodation. The purchase had a ‘defensive’ purpose at the time, Sharples explained: ‘the only reason we bought it was because Expedia couldn’t have that url’. Fun fact: marking territory did not help, Expedia acquired Vrbo in 2015.

6.    PrivateJet.com – 30.2 million

PrivateJet.com since 2012 has been owned by Nations, a platform that offers private aviation services such as buying and selling jets around the world. Nations purchased the domain from Don’t Look Media for $30.2 million.

7.    Voice.com – 30 million

You may not know that Micheal Saylor‘s MicroStrategy is also involved in trading valuable internet domains. On 30 May 2019, it sold the Voice.com domain to Block.one for $30 million to launch its blockchain-based social media platform called Voice. The word ‘voice’ in English is clear and recognisable, it immediately links to a project and the associated domain is worth so much.

8.    Internet.com – 18 million

Internet.com was bought in 2009 for $18 million by QuinStreet. However, it may have secretly climbed the ranking of the most expensive internet domains ever… In fact, an auction was organised in 2021 with a minimum auction base of 35 million. Unfortunately, there is no information on the outcome and the eventual new owner.

9.    360.com – 17 million

The owner of 360.com is Qihoo 360, a Chinese company specialising in security software. The domain, which previously belonged to Vodafone, was acquired to improve brand perception. Compared to ‘qihoo’, ‘360’ is a more immediate and easy-to-remember name due to the technical term ‘360 degree’.

10. NFTs.com – 15 million

This crypto-themed domain closes the top 10, NFTs.com was bought for $15 million on 3 August 2022. Although the buyer has remained anonymous, it is known to have links to Web3 projects such as the Digital Artist platform. It is one of the most expensive crypto word domains (Eth.com was sold for ‘only’ 2 million).

Crypto.com, Stake.com and Bitcoin.com also seem to fall into the category of the most expensive internet domains in history. In these cases, however, negotiations remained confidential.