Facebook’s announcement of the Libra cryptocurrency and the Calibra wallet is bound to propel crypto use globally.
Although the launch is slated for 2020, the Libra foundation is based in Switzerland, supported by a consortium of banks and finance giants.
When Facebook acquired the domain Calibra.com from GoDaddy, it paid only $7,550 dollars.
Here are some fun facts about that domain, courtesy of Dale G., who believes that the seller left about $500k dollars on the proverbial table:
Calibra.com
- Facebook is incorporating the Libra Network in other countries, with trademark applications outside of the US. Still, it’s important to check the USPTO for new trademark applications, before accepting an offer on a domain, as you never know who the buyer may be. In the case of Calibra.com, research would include international trademark databases, which is not always easy, if not impossible.
- Another piece of advice: Check to see if the .net, was just registered by a major entity. If not just registered, check recent sales in .net or .org. In the case of Calibra.com, there were no such clues.
- Do a google search, using a custom range of 2-3 months before you received the offer on a domain. Nothing comes up for Calibra or Libra, except for this clue. It appears that the only thing that could have saved the guy would have been an experienced domain broker, or a service like Uniregistry.
It seems that a stealth domain buyer such as one used by Facebook for the acquisition of Libra.org and Calibra.com, managed to fly under the radar.
And another fun fact, courtesy of Krista Gable: The choice of “Libra” by Facebook seems to be antagonizing the Gemini exchange, created by the Winklevoss brothers. The entrepreneurial twins sued Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, alleging that he stole their idea that he was hired to create, subsequently founding Facebook with it.
Hasn’t Facebook notoriously overpaid for domains is the past?
Don – Overpaid? They spent $8.5 million for Fb.com.