Domains of defunct crypto services (eg. Inputs.io) are still being renewed. Why?

[Mt. Gox]

A while back, I decided to check to see if the domain names for defunct services (either ones that went out of business or turned out to be scams) are available or not and each time, without failure, they are still registered. What's even more interesting is that they are constantly being renewed year after year.

Cryptsy.com? Still registered. Gox.com? Registered. Inputs.io? Registered. Bitconnect.com? Registered.

Heck, even the more obscure ones like Altcoinherald.com and Cryptory.com that most people have forgotten about are still registered.

If you typed these addresses in your browser, you'll just see a blank page. At first glance, it seems like they are gone for good. But checking their registration status by doing a WHOIS lookup reveals a different story.

What's the reason for this? Personally, I was interested in registering Altcoinherald.com and using it to set up a Reddit-style website where people could post news articles and press releases on altcoin-related subjects but it looks like I'll have to settle for another domain name instead.

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[LeGaulois]

There can be different reasons.

- Search engine optimization: old domains have usually a domain links profile and you can redirect the juice to your main domain. They still have value for that reason.
Usually, if you check the domain name in some months, it will redirect to another domain name or you will see a blog with a dozen articles posted. Some of them will have a backlink to the main domain targeted.

- To sell the domain later, something usual in the domain selling business.

- For collecting information from the old business. Once you buy an old domain and set up an email server you can still receive emails from the old business. Imagine if it's a domain owned by a lawyer, all the confidential information you can receive... You can also get social media accounts, etc. So many things you can think about

[hugeblack]

Since these domains have not been seized (by police or court ruling), users can reuse them in the future.
Renewing these popular domains does not cost a lot and may generate a lot of income in the future. For example, Bitconnect can pay off part of the money, pledge to pay the rest in the future and you will find some trust them again.

Also, if you have to renew those domains it will give value to similar domains, for example, people will trust a new mixer with bitmixer.org domain.
Do not forget that failure to renew and purchase it from other people may lead to the leakage of some confidential data.

[mk4]

1. To prevent people from using them for criminal purposes. Let's say for example Inputs.io. If the domain was available, someone could snag it and make an announcement on social media that the business reopening, and potentially steal every coins that are deposited there.

2. Because most of these domains have value. Inputs.io, regardless if it's an old business or not, could actually be worth a good sum of money.

3. Renewing domains are mostly cheap anyway.