The final week of January 2026 closed with healthy aftermarket liquidity and several important industry developments shaping buyer behavior. While ultra-premium seven-figure sales remained limited, the market showed strong consistency in the mid-tier ($2,000–$100,000) range, which continues to be the most dependable segment for domain investors.
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Alongside steady sales activity, broader domain industry news highlighted growing AI influence, registry-level security improvements, and renewed attention on premium digital assets.
📊 Reported Domain Sales Summary (Jan 25–31, 2026)
Total reported sales: 133+ domains
Total disclosed value: $1,391,345+
These figures represent publicly reported and verified aftermarket transactions for the week. Private deals and low-value micro sales are not included.
🔹 Top Reported Sales
- Certify.ai — $110,000
A standout AI sale reinforcing premium valuation for trust-oriented keywords in the artificial intelligence sector. - Execute.co — $27,000
Demonstrates continued buyer acceptance of strong, action-based brands on alternative extensions. - ens.ai — $9,700
Reflects sustained interest in short, acronym-style AI domains among startups and speculators.
🔎 Marketplace & Extension Breakdown
Sales by Marketplace (Reported)
- Afternic: 73 sales
- Spaceship: 16 sales
- Namecheap: 15 sales
- Atom: 12 sales
- Other platforms: 17+ sales
Afternic maintained its position as the primary liquidity hub, while brand-focused marketplaces continued to deliver consistent mid-range exits.
TLD Performance
- .com — 77 sales
- .ai — 20 sales
- Other TLDs (.co, .net, .org, etc.) — 36+ sales
Key insight:
.com dominates by volume, but .ai continues to outperform on average sale price, driven by AI startup branding and investor demand.
📰 Domain Industry News – Key Developments This Week
1. Multi-Million Dollar Premium Domain Transaction
One of the most notable industry events was the reported sale of the Tokens.com domain asset for $2.245 million. The transaction reaffirmed that category-defining, premium .com domains remain strategic digital assets for corporations and long-term investors.
2. .ai Domain Registrations Cross One Million
Global .ai domain registrations officially surpassed 1 million, highlighting AI’s growing dominance in digital branding. The extension continues to attract startups seeking instant relevance, while also generating significant registry-level revenue.
3. Increased Focus on Domain Security and Abuse Prevention
Registries and DNS operators rolled out AI-assisted screening systems aimed at reducing malicious and fraudulent domain registrations. Early data suggests measurable reductions in abusive registrations, signaling stronger long-term trust in the domain ecosystem.
4. Continued UDRP and Legal Activity
Several domain dispute decisions during the week reinforced a key industry principle: ownership history, usage intent, and proof of bad faith remain critical. Even well-known trademarks failed to secure transfers where evidence thresholds were not met.
5. Registrar Market Reports Signal Stable Demand
Registrar data released during the week showed stable global registration levels, with .com retaining its leadership position while AI-related extensions gained incremental share.
🔥 Investor Takeaways
- Mid-tier liquidity remains strong and predictable
- Trust-based AI keywords command premium pricing
- Alternative TLDs sell selectively, not broadly
- Premium one-word .com domains remain long-term stores of value
- Legal clarity and clean ownership records are increasingly important
🔮 Outlook for Early February 2026
With Q1 startup launches underway and marketing budgets activating, buyer inquiries are expected to increase modestly in February. Domains priced realistically within the mid-four to low-five-figure range are best positioned for faster exits.
Short holding periods of 3–9 months remain achievable for domains aligned with active sectors such as AI, fintech, SaaS, legal services, and automation.
Sources
- NamePros weekly unreported domain sales reports
- DN.com marketplace sales summaries
- Namecheap aftermarket sales data
- Registrar and registry public disclosures
- BusinessWire domain transaction reports
- Tech industry domain registration coverage
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