Investor interest in AI, crypto, and Web3 is accelerating as the AI.com domain purchase by a major exchange founder shines a spotlight on emerging creator platforms.
Crypto.com founder secures AI.com for $70 million
According to the Financial Times, Kris Marszalek, founder of Crypto.com, has bought the premium domain AI.com for about $70 million. The report notes that other bidders for the address reportedly included OpenAI and X.ai, underscoring how strategic AI-related web properties have become.
However, the acquisition is drawing attention not only because of its price tag, but also due to what it signals about the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain ecosystems. Major brands are increasingly positioning themselves at this crossroads.
AI and blockchain converge in the content-creation economy
The article places the move within the fast-growing content-creation economy, estimated at roughly $85 billion. In this market, legacy platforms still dominate distribution and take sizable fees while maintaining tight centralized control over creators’ audiences and revenues.
Moreover, a new wave of Web3 projects is targeting these frictions by combining smart contracts, tokenized incentives, and AI-driven automation. Backers argue that such designs could support lower fees, greater creator ownership, and programmable revenue sharing across communities.
SUBBD protocol: AI tools with on-chain creator controls
Within this context, the report highlights SUBBD, a protocol built on an Ethereum-based architecture that blends generative AI features with decentralized controls for creators. The project is positioned as an example of how AI and blockchain can be fused into a single product experience.
SUBBD’s platform reportedly includes an AI Personal Assistant designed to help automate repetitive engagement tasks, such as responding to fan queries or scheduling content. In addition, the protocol offers voice-cloning capabilities to help creators scale branded audio and video output while maintaining a consistent personal style.
That said, supporters argue that the full primary_keyword of ai domain purchase and similar moves are creating a halo effect around AI-powered creator tools that can be integrated directly with on-chain payment rails.
SUBBD token presale and economic design
Presale data cited in the article indicates that SUBBD had already raised more than $1.4 million, pointing to early investor interest. During this phase, the SUBBD token was listed at a price of $0.057495, setting the initial valuation parameters for the ecosystem.
Moreover, the protocol reportedly features a staking program that offers a fixed 20% APY for the first year to users who lock their tokens. This is framed as an incentive mechanism intended to reward long-term participation and stabilize token circulation during the platform’s growth phase.
HoneyHive governance and creator-focused features
Beyond staking, SUBBD is said to integrate an on-chain governance module called HoneyHive. Through this framework, token holders can vote on significant platform decisions, including which creators are onboarded, what platform themes are prioritized, and how new features are rolled out.
However, the emphasis on governance also reflects a broader trend in Web3, where projects attempt to align the interests of users, investors, and developers via tokenized voting systems. In theory, this can provide creators with a more direct say in the rules and economics that shape their work environment.
Investor sentiment around AI-blockchain utility protocols
The high-profile AI.com deal, combined with growing coverage of creator-focused protocols like SUBBD, is being interpreted as evidence of deepening ties between AI systems and blockchain infrastructure. Market participants see potential in products that merge automated content tools with transparent payment and governance rails.
Overall, the reported domain acquisition and subsequent attention suggest that investors are increasingly focused on utility-driven protocols, where AI capabilities, staking incentives, and token-holder governance converge to challenge incumbent platforms within the rapidly expanding digital creator economy.
Source: https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2026/02/09/ai-domain-purchase/
