Chinese domain investors have traditionally focused on names with local cultural significance — numeric combinations like 15.com and 123.com, letter pairs like TR.com, and newer extensions like .club, .top, and .wang. While this strategy generates quick-flip liquidity, Joe Uddeme argues that limiting investments to domains meaningful only in mainland China constrains long-term growth potential. With 78% of China’s population online and thousands of startups launching daily, substantial capital exists for acquiring short, generic .com domains with global appeal. This article makes the case for portfolio diversification into Western premium domains that offer broader commercial applicability and stronger long-term investment fundamentals.
Memo to Chinese domain name investors: NameExperts.com Director Joe Uddeme thinks you’re missing a trick if you limit your portfolio to local names.
Most Chinese investors tend to shy away from Western-type domain names as they don’t have meaning in mainland China – names that contain vowels and the letter “v” in particular.
Are they limiting their long-term growth potential? Some would say sticking with Chinese domains is a safer investment. As seasoned domain name brokers, however, we disagree. Here’s why…
Key Takeaways
- New TLDs are not a good long-term play
- Aftermarket prices for .com names remain high
- Work with a broker if you need help with domain portfolio management
Background – understanding the Chinese domain name marketplace
For those of you that follow the domain investor market, specifically in China, you can see all types of newly minted investors looking for the next great domain name investment. Most Chinese investors are focused on the domain names that have relevance inside of mainland China.
The most popular investments in China are the short acronym domain, or simple numeric domain names as they translate to meaning to the Chinese culture. Some examples include the following (N = number; L = letter):
15.com (NN.com)
123.com (NNN.com)
TR.com (LL.com)
TYPL.com (LLLL.com)
6N.com (LN.com)
N6.com (NL.com
Chinese domain investment trends
As domain investments continue to increase in China, we are seeing many investors branching out into some of the newer GTLD extensions as alternative investments including; .club, .top, .wang.
They are acquiring these names for much lower costs than the typical .com investment. Is that a solid investment? We say: no.
The Chinese investor is savvy, but they are limiting their investment opportunity. In most instances, domain investors in China are only focused on these types of names because they create liquidity and are very attractive to the Chinese on a quick-flip model (check out our guide to domain name investing).
Additionally, the Chinese investor should look at the plethora of available .com domain name inventory on the aftermarket. Tons of fantastic domain inventory is readily available. Short, generic and easy to spell English words that are solid investments.
The saturation of the internet continues to precipitously grow year-over-year, with 78% of the Chinese population now online. When you do the math, it’s easy to see the longer-term opportunity.
Should you limit yourself as an investor? Not with the .com market stronger than ever – with fantastic acquisition opportunities and names that ultimately have a global appeal and market reach.
We believe domain investors in China will start to acquire short, generic .com domains as trillions of dollars are available for private Chinese investors. Way back in 2017, George Kirikos had a fantastic post on Twitter, referencing 12,000 startups being created every day in China.
The domain investor continues to evolve and grow. Investors should look at the longer-term investment opportunity and acquire names that are globally acceptable and not limited to mainland China.
How a domain broker can help
Friends in the right places are always good to have, and most international domain brokers would gladly help Chinese companies and individuals who want to buy domain names. Domain brokers help buyers of any nationality to understand current market trends and navigate the sometimes complex world of domain acquisitions.
NameExperts.com is one of the world’s best-known brokerages, offering personalized boutique services that include domain name strategy, portfolio management, negotiation and stealth acquisitions.
About the author
Joe Uddeme is Director and Principal of Name Experts, one of the world’s leading domain name brokerage services. He has overseen domain name sales and acquisitions totaling more than $150 million and is renowned worldwide as a go-to expert in buying and selling premium domains. He advises clients globally. Contact us at: [email protected]
Subscribe for More Domain Buying & Selling Advice
Acquiring Premium Domains Across Global Markets
Name Experts facilitates domain transactions worldwide, helping investors and businesses acquire premium names across markets. Our 16+ years of international brokerage experience ensures you get the best domains at the right price.
Global Acquisitions
Frequently Asked Questions
Numeric domains hold special cultural significance in China where specific numbers carry meaning (8 = prosperity, 6 = luck). Short numeric .com domains like 15.com and 123.com command premium prices within the Chinese market. Additionally, numeric domains transcend language barriers, making them instantly recognizable to Chinese consumers. However, this cultural specificity also limits their global resale market, as Western buyers typically prefer alphabetic, keyword-rich domain names.
Yes. Concentrating domain investments in a single geographic or cultural market creates unnecessary risk. Western premium .com domains offer broader commercial appeal across global markets, stronger long-term appreciation potential, and a much larger pool of potential buyers when it's time to sell. The ideal strategy combines locally-relevant domains for near-term returns with globally-appealing premium .com names for long-term portfolio growth.
Western premium .com domains offer several advantages for international investors: universal recognition across all markets, the largest potential buyer pool for resale, proven long-term appreciation history, low holding costs relative to potential returns, and direct commercial applicability for businesses entering Western markets. As Chinese companies increasingly expand internationally, demand for quality English-language .com domains continues rising.
