In a surprising turn of events, Jeremy Green Eche, a self-proclaimed expert in cybersquatting, sold the domain HarrisWalz.com for $15,000. The domain was purchased four years ago in anticipation of Kamala Harris running for president with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
Key Takeaways
- Jeremy Green Eche, a trademark attorney and domain investor, sold HarrisWalz.com for $15,000.
- Eche had purchased the domain in 2020, anticipating a future Harris-Walz ticket.
- The domain was bought by an anonymous Harris supporter to prevent misuse.
The Man Behind the Domain
Jeremy Green Eche, 36, is a Brooklyn-based trademark attorney who also runs an online marketplace for buying and selling registered trademarks and domains. Eche is better known as a domain investor and freely calls himself a "domain squatter" or "cybersquatter," terms he doesn't mind using despite their negative connotations.
Eche goes on "buying sprees" a couple of times a year on sites like GoDaddy and Name.com, purchasing domain names for various hypothetical presidential tickets. In August 2020, he bought 15 Harris-related domain names, combining them with names of prominent white male politicians like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee.
A History of Success
Eche has a history of making successful domain investments. In 2016, he owned ClintonKaine.com, anticipating Hillary Clinton would choose Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate. He also claimed ClintonBooker.com and ClintonBiden.com, preparing for other potential running mates. Although the Clinton campaign offered him only $2,000 for the domain, he eventually sold it for $15,000 to an anonymous buyer, which turned out to be the Trump campaign.
The Harris-Walz Domain
When Kamala Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate, the HarrisWalz.com domain was already taken, thanks to Eche's foresight. Eche had hoped the Harris campaign would buy the site for $15,000, but they did not respond to his offer. Instead, an anonymous Harris supporter purchased the domain to prevent it from being used against the campaign.
Eche expressed satisfaction with the sale, stating that he feels qualified to call himself "the best political cybersquatter ever." He likened his experience to an athlete who missed out on the Olympics but returned to win a gold medal.
Looking Ahead
Eche is already planning for future elections. He owns 10 different domains for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is expected to run in the future. His hypothetical running mates for her include Colorado Governor Jared Polis, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth. These domains are being offered at $3,400 each.
Eche is also in the process of buying back the Clinton-Kaine domain name for its sentimental value. He continues to invest in Republican domain names as well, with TrumpCotton.com being one of his notable purchases this year.
Eche remains open to all political possibilities, holding onto domains for a potential Walz-led ticket in the future. He plans to buy more domains before this story gains further traction.
Sources
- A cybersquatter sold the Harris-Walz domain name for $15k : NPR, NPR.
- The self-proclaimed GOAT of cybersquatting sold HarrisWalz.com for $15k, MPR News.
- The self-proclaimed GOAT of cybersquatting sold HarrisWalz.com for $15k | WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida, WGCU.
- The self-proclaimed GOAT of cybersquatting sold HarrisWalz.com for $15k | 91.5 KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio, 91.5 KIOS-FM Omaha Public Radio.
- The self-proclaimed GOAT of cybersquatting sold HarrisWalz.com for $15k | Wyoming Public Media, Wyoming Public Media.