Monaco, the startup behind a cryptocurrency Visa debit card, has rebranded after forking out millions of dollars on the Crypto.com domain name.
Crypto.com was registered in 1993 by Matt Blaze, a University of Pennsylvania professor of computer and information science.
With the crypto craze gathering momentum in recent years, Blaze has reportedly knocked back numerous offers for the domain. In January, he told the Verge that Crypto.com was "not for sale", despite the fact that experts estimate it could be worth $10 million.
Now, he has sold up to Hong Kong-based Monaco for an undisclosed price. Monaco is rebranding as Crypto.com, "reflecting its mission to accelerate the global development, adoption, and transition to cryptocurrency," says a statement.
The firm's products - including the Visa card and a wallet app - will be rebranded as MCO to align with its token. The card is currently in testing, with an Asian and European launch slated for later in the summer.
Kris Marszalek, CEO , Crypto.com, says: “Crypto.com gives us a powerful new identity in line with our original vision to put cryptocurrency in every wallet. As the name we are taking on is also representative of the entire space, it comes with a huge responsibility to carry the torch.
"We will strive to deliver impact worthy of the name and build infrastructure that enables growth of the ecosystem, delivering on the promise of a decentralised future."