Jakarta, Market.id – One of the most effective ways to sharpen our own domain investment strategy is by studying the buying behavior of proven domainers. When experienced investors publicly share the domain names they acquired, it gives us a rare window into how they assess value, trends, risk, and long-term opportunity.
In 2025, two highly respected figures in the domain industry — Rick Schwartz and Elliot Silver — shared lists of domain names they acquired during the year. While their styles differ, both lists reveal clear patterns that can help domain investors at any level improve their acquisition strategy.
Rick Schwartz: Fewer Names, Maximum Intent
Rick Schwartz, often referred to as The Godfather of Domaining, is known for his disciplined and highly intentional acquisition strategy. He typically acquires only 30–40 domain names per year, and 2025 was no exception.
What stands out immediately is that every name has a purpose. Some are obvious category killers, while others are subtle brand plays or long-term bets on technology and culture.
Rick Schwartz’s 2025 Acquisitions
- TheGlobe.com
- AiToolbox.com
- 4Art.com
- Juanita.ai
- Ernesto.ai
- Nadine.ai
- AiBetty.com
- PoolRepair.com
- iCombinator.com
- LuxuryCarRentals.com
- AgentGenerator.com
- RocketTech.com
- DomainProfessor.com
- KingsKastle.com
- Cintex.com
- TryHard.com
- HumanCloning.com
- DIYAgents.com
- GoStraight.com
- Dare.tv
- NXPC.com
Key Observations
1. Strong .COM Preference
The majority of Rick’s acquisitions are .com domains — reinforcing his long-held belief that .com remains the most valuable and liquid extension.
2. Selective Use of .AI
Instead of chasing hundreds of AI-related domains, he chose a handful of personal-name .AI domains (Juanita.ai, Ernesto.ai, Nadine.ai), suggesting a branding or assistant-based future use case.
3. Category & Industry Keywords
Domains like PoolRepair.com, LuxuryCarRentals.com, and HumanCloning.com reflect high-intent commercial or informational markets.
4. Short, Brandable Assets
Names like Cintex.com, NXPC.com, and 4Art.com show continued interest in short, flexible branding domains.
Rick’s approach emphasizes quality over quantity, patience, and conviction.
Elliot Silver: Volume, Trends, and Pattern Recognition
Elliot Silver of DomainInvesting.com (formerly Domaining.com) took a very different approach in 2025. He acquired over 600 domain names, making it his most active acquisition year ever.
More than 90% were .com domains, but he also selectively invested in emerging and alternative extensions like .AI, .CO, .IO, .XYZ, and a few others.
Elliot Silver’s Top 10 Acquisitions of 2025
(Alphabetical order, not by price)
- Chickadee.com
- GreenMountains.com
- Flashpoints.com
- Heartthrob.com
- Luminous.com
- Magenta.xyz
- Navigator.ai
- Pinwheel.ai
- Talons.com
- WalnutTree.com
These names lean heavily toward dictionary words, strong imagery, and broad brand appeal.
Additional Acquisitions (Selected)
- AgentRevolution.com
- Bolts.io
- ChainStrategy.com
- Chit.ai
- CuriousSquirrel.com
- DroughtManagement.com
- Emir.ai
- Firepit.io
- Invitations.ai
- Jackrabbit.ai
- Mbrace.com
- OrchidBlossom.com
- Royals.io
- Sidebar.co
- Sublet.co
- TennisSupply.com
Key Observations
1. Pattern-Based Buying
Many names are similar to domains Elliot previously sold, indicating a strategy based on historical success patterns.
2. Trend Awareness
AI-related domains (Navigator.ai, Pinwheel.ai, Chit.ai) reflect awareness of market demand — but without overexposure.
3. Brandable + Practical Mix
He balances poetic brandables (Heartthrob.com, Luminous.com) with functional domains (TennisSupply.com, DroughtManagement.com).
4. Smart Use of Non-.COM Extensions
While .com dominates, his selective use of .AI, .IO, .CO, and .XYZ shows calculated diversification rather than speculation.
What Domain Investors Can Learn
Studying both lists side-by-side reveals several important lessons:
1. There Is No Single “Correct” Strategy
Rick focuses on precision and long-term conviction.
Elliot leverages volume, data, and trend recognition.
Both are successful — because their strategies are consistent and intentional.
2. .COM Still Dominates
Despite the rise of new extensions, .com remains the backbone of serious domain portfolios.
3. AI Is a Category, Not a Shortcut
Both investors buy AI-related domains — but selectively. The key is meaningful relevance, not hype.
4. Intentionality Matters More Than Quantity
Whether you buy 30 domains or 600, each acquisition should have a clear rationale.
Final Thoughts
Public acquisition lists like these are incredibly valuable — not because we should copy the names, but because they reveal how elite domainers think.
By analyzing their choices, patterns, and discipline, we can refine our own acquisition strategies, avoid emotional buying, and focus on domains with real long-term potential.
For domain investors, the real asset isn’t just the domain name — it’s the mindset behind acquiring it.
Published on Market.id — Insights for Digital Asset Investors
