Michael Blend and Josh Jones Team Up on New Top-Level Domains as Yono.com Sells for $149,888
This edition covers Michael Blend and Josh Jones' new top-level domain venture, GoDaddy's $149,888 yono.com sale, and this weekend's DSAD auction recaps.[2][3][1]
- $149,888Top domain sale priceyono.com, GoDaddy expired auction
- 60Domains sold over $1,000Weekly GoDaddy expired-auction roundup
- $1,675Sale priceimki.com, Aug 15 auction recap
- $440Sale priceilago.com, Aug 15 auction recap
Key takeaways
- Michael Blend and Josh Jones announced a new venture to launch fresh top-level domains, signaling continued industry interest in nTLDs.[2]
- GoDaddy's weekly expired-auction roundup crowned yono.com the top sale at $149,888.[3]
- Sixty domains cleared $1,000 in this week's GoDaddy expired inventory, a broad read on aftermarket depth.[3]
- Saturday's auction recap logged imki.com at $1,675, with niche TLD lots like bitcoin.watch and pump.trading also active.[1]
- ilago.com closed at $440 in the same recap, illustrating the wide price spread across daily closeouts.[1]
Today in domains
While Michael Blend and Josh Jones prepare a new top-level domain venture, this week's aftermarket activity shows steady four- and five-figure churn led by yono.com's $149,888 sale.[2][3]
Blend and Jones Enter the New TLD Race
Domain Name Wire reported that industry figures Michael Blend and Josh Jones are teaming up to launch new top-level domain names, though the report gave no specifics on which strings, backend registry or funding structure the venture will pursue, nor a target launch date. For portfolio operators and registrants, a fresh operator entering the gTLD business is worth tracking regardless of scale, since new strings can shift registrant attention and renewal economics once concrete details on positioning and pricing become available. Until Blend and Jones disclose more, the practical impact on existing TLD holders and buyers remains an open question.[2]
Weekly Auction Roundup: Yono.com Tops the List
Domain Shane's weekly DSAD roundup for August 16 catalogued the top 60 domains that sold above $1,000 in GoDaddy's expired-domain auctions, with yono.com leading at $149,888. The roundup also tracked closeouts across Dynadot, Namejet, Sedo, Catched, NamePros and GoDaddy, giving a cross-platform read on where four- and five-figure demand concentrated this week.[3]
| yono.com | $149,888 |
Top sale from the weekly GoDaddy expired-domain auction roundup
Saturday's Daily Auction Recap
The August 15 DSAD closeout summary recorded ilago.com selling for $440 and imki.com for $1,675 across Dynadot, Catched and GoDaddy closeouts. The same recap tracked active bidding on niche TLD names bitcoin.watch and pump.trading, extending interest beyond legacy dot-com strings into topical extensions.[1]
| ilago.com | $440 |
| imki.com | $1,675 |
Selected closeout sale prices from the August 15 DSAD auction recap
What to watch
Blend-Jones TLD details pending Further announcements are expected to reveal which strings, backend registry and launch timeline the new Blend-Jones venture will pursue.[2]
Next weekly DSAD roundup Upcoming DSAD roundups will show whether five-figure sales like yono.com's persist or the market reverts to steadier four-figure clearing prices.[3]
Niche TLD auction outcomes Bidding on bitcoin.watch and pump.trading remained open as of the August 15 recap; final sale prices will indicate demand for topical non-.com strings.[1]
Questions investors are asking
Who are Michael Blend and Josh Jones and what did they announce?
Domain Name Wire reported that Michael Blend and Josh Jones are teaming up to launch new top-level domain names; the report did not specify which strings, backend provider or a launch date.[2]
What was the top domain sale this week?
yono.com sold for $149,888, the highest price in Domain Shane's weekly DSAD roundup of GoDaddy expired-domain auctions covering sales over $1,000.[3]
How many domains sold for over $1,000 in this week's GoDaddy expired auctions?
DSAD's weekly recap listed 60 domains that sold above $1,000 across GoDaddy's expired-domain inventory, led by yono.com at $149,888.[3]
What did Saturday's DSAD auction recap show?
The August 15 recap logged ilago.com at $440 and imki.com at $1,675 across Dynadot, Catched and GoDaddy closeouts, alongside active bidding on niche TLD names bitcoin.watch and pump.trading.[1]
Does the Blend-Jones venture affect existing new gTLD operators?
The report gives no detail on competitive impact; specifics on strings, backend registry or funding were not disclosed, so effects on existing operators remain unclear pending further news.[2]
Sources and citations
- Domain Shane / DSADAUCTION RECAP OF AUGUST 15, 2026Travis M. · August 16, 2026
- Domain Name WireMichael Blend, Josh Jones team up for new top level domain namesAndrew Allemann · August 16, 2026
- Domain Shane / DSADTrav’s List of Domains at Auction for Sunday, August 16, 2026Travis M. · August 16, 2026
Each source opens the original publisher. Unique Domains summarizes and attributes this reporting without republishing the source article.