Lloyds Auctions has announced an auction for XBT.com, a domain name with strong connections to Bitcoin’s historical identity in traditional finance. Bids start at $2,798,917.
The list represents a unique opportunity to acquire digital assets related to Bitcoin’s official financial ticker, as the auction, which closed on March 28 has already generated considerable media attention and industry speculation.
However, at the time of reporting, only three results for “XBT.com Auction” were found on Google News, but there are no bids on the domain.
Leehams, chief operations officer at Lloyds Auction, noted that the domain means more than just a name, but “the financial future and identity of Bitcoin itself.”
Hems also speculated that notable figures such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos or former President Donald Trump could take part in the bid.
The importance of XBT as a Bitcoin ISO ticker
The domain value comes from a connection to “XBT”, the ISO 4217 currency code for Bitcoin used by institutions, exchanges and traders around the world.
The code positions XBT.com as a potentially strong brand for crypto exchanges, investment companies and fintech companies seeking to bridge traditional and digital finance.
The XBT ticker was introduced around 2013 and adhered to ISO 4217 standards. These standards indicate that currencies not tied to a particular country should start with “X”, similar to gold (XAU) and silver (XAG).
XBT is adopted by institutions and futures markets, including CBOE, as a formal designation of Bitcoin derivatives and financial transactions. However, CBOE abandoned Bitcoin futures in 2019, then revived them in CBOE digital in 2024 using FBT. It also uses CBTX and MBTX to track Bitcoin ETF indexes.
Exchanges like Kraken and Bitmex use XBT for some URLs and API endpoints, but switched to BTC during the last harving cycle of Bitcoin.
It appears that most trading platforms currently use BTC via XBT in 2025.
Still, auctioneers predict that XBT.com can command prices comparable or exceed other notable domain sales, such as Voice.com ($30 million), Crypto.com ($12 million), and BTC.com ($1 million or more).
Factors that contribute to this assessment include the short, memorable, authoritative three-letter structure of the domain, its natural appeal to advanced traffic, and an increased institutional adoption of Bitcoin.
The US regulatory environment as a potential catalyst
The auction also occurs during a period of major regulatory changes in the United States. This could be a catalyst for XBT.com listings and owners’ perceived value.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) aims to promote the wider adoption of Bitcoin, which can create a less restrictive environment and increase the importance of domain names associated with standardized financial identifiers.
While BTC controls most of crypto transactions, XBT is strategically important within financial institutions, API services, and OTC desks.
Lloyds Auctions expects participation from key investors and financial institutions, reflecting the increased consistency of Tradfi’s digital asset markets.
(tagStoTRASSLATE)Bitcoin
