Umair
Lloyds Auctions has announced the auction of XBT.com, a domain name with strong ties to Bitcoin’s historical identity in traditional finance. Bidding starts at $2,798,917.
The listing claims the auction, closing on March 28, has already generated considerable media attention and industry speculation and represents a unique opportunity to acquire a digital asset associated with Bitcoin’s official financial ticker.
However, as of press time, I found just 3 results for the ‘xbt.com auction’ in Google News, and there are no bids on the domain.
Lloyds Auctions’ Chief Operations Officer, Mr. Lee Hames, noted that the domain signifies more than just a name but rather “the financial future & identity of Bitcoin itself.”
Hames also speculated that prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or even former President Donald Trump might participate in the bidding.
The Significance of XBT as Bitcoin’s ISO Ticker
The domain’s value stems from its connection to “XBT,” the ISO 4217 currency code for Bitcoin, used by institutions, exchanges, and traders globally.
This code positions XBT.com as a potentially strong brand for crypto exchanges, investment firms, and fintech companies seeking to bridge traditional and digital finance.
The XBT ticker was introduced around 2013, adhering to ISO 4217 standards. These standards dictate that currencies not tied to a specific country should begin with “X,” similar to gold (XAU) and silver (XAG).
XBT has been employed by institutions and futures markets, including CBOE, as the formal designation for Bitcoin derivatives and financial transactions. However, CBOE abandoned Bitcoin futures in 2019 before reinstating them under CBOE Digital in 2024 using FBT. It also uses CBTX and MBTX, tracking its Bitcoin ETF index.
Exchanges like Kraken and BitMEX still use XBT for some URLs and API endpoints but switched to BTC during Bitcoin’s last halving cycle.
The majority of trading platforms now appear to use BTC over XBT in 2025.
Still, the auctioneers predict that XBT.com could command a price rivaling or surpassing other prominent domain sales, such as Voice.com ($30 million), Crypto.com ($12 million), and BTC.com ($1 million+).
Factors contributing to this valuation include the domain’s short, memorable, and authoritative three-letter structure, its natural appeal to high-intent traffic, and the increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin.
US Regulatory Environment as a Potential Catalyst
The auction also occurs during a time of major regulatory shifts in the United States, which may have been the catalyst for the listing and the owner’s perceived value of XBT.com.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking to create a less restrictive environment to encourage greater institutional participation and broader adoption of Bitcoin, which could increase the significance of a domain name associated with its standardized financial identifier.
While BTC dominates the majority of crypto trading, XBT has some strategic importance within financial institutions, API services, and OTC desks.
Lloyds Auctions concluded, “The future of Bitcoin’s financial identity is up for auction. How high will the bidding go?” It anticipates participation from major investors and financial entities, reflecting TradFi’s increasing alignment with digital asset markets.
