Users buy domains from China — Western end

China sucked up a lot of domains, and now Western end users are bringing some of them back.

China is known for buying domains from the west. Examples such as 360.com, JD.com, and OFO.com are readily found. It’s a trend we all know. Still, isn’t it reasonable to expect the opposite to also occur following so many good domains have gone to China? Two recent transactions remind me of such a possibility.

In September last year, Chinese domain firm 62.com noted that it facilitated the sale of MPT.com. The buyer is the American public firm Medical Property Trust. The exact price was not disclosed but reportedly more than 7-figure yuan (more than $150,000). Medical Property Trust’s corporate domain is Medicalpropertiestrust.com so MPT.com is the perfect upgrade. The firm also owns MPT.net. Right now, MPT.com redirects to Medicalpropertiestrust.com.

In November last year, Chinese domain firm West.cn disclosed the sale of Viafintech.com from its marketplace. The buyer is Barzahlen Cash Payment Solutions GmbH in Germany. The domain was sold for 46,980 yuan (regarding $7,000). The fintech startup owns the Viafintech and Viacash brands. It also owns Via-fintech.com, so Viafintech.com is a nice upgrade. Right now, Viafintech.com redirects to Viacash.com. The seller was Lu Chen, located in China, as stated by the Whois record.

These two sales may be a sign of what is to come. If it does become a trend and we see end users in the west buying domains from China, is there any implication for domain investors? That will mean you can find good domains in China for sale to end users in the west. This further means that you need to spend time watching the Chinese domain market. Reading my articles as well as my daily posts on LinkedIn may help.