Bankman-Fried Purchased Uniswap Domain for Millions
Uniswap Labs founder claims Sam Bankman-Fried acquired the domain Uniswap.com for a seven-figure sum in 2021.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Hayden Adams claimed on September 21, 2026, that Sam Bankman-Fried spent a seven-figure sum to purchase the Uniswap.com domain in 2021. The domain was subsequently used to redirect users toward the SushiSwap project.
Why it matters
The disclosure highlights the extent of the actions taken by Sam Bankman-Fried to leverage competitor brands for the SushiSwap project. A World Intellectual Property Organization ruling later determined the domain acquisition was made in bad faith.
A WIPO panel formally ordered the transfer of Uniswap.com to Uniswap Labs on September 3, 2021, citing trademark infringement. The legal action followed a 2021 investigation into bad-faith registrations.
The players
Hayden Adams
He is the founder of Uniswap Labs and the primary voice behind the claims regarding the 2021 domain purchase.
Sam Bankman-Fried
He is a disgraced crypto executive whose fraud conviction was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 2026.
World Intellectual Property Organization
This international agency manages domain name disputes and ruled that the domain in question was registered in bad faith.
Uniswap Labs
This organization operates the decentralized exchange platform Uniswap and successfully reclaimed its domain via legal action.
The details
Uniswap Labs filed a formal complaint after Uniswap.com began redirecting traffic to the SushiSwap website in May 2021. The WIPO panel concluded the acquisition of the domain by a Hong Kong-based respondent created a high risk of implied affiliation with Uniswap Labs.
Timeline
July 30, 2000: Uniswap.com was first registered.
September 2020: Sam Bankman-Fried assumed control of SushiSwap.
April 7, 2021: The respondent acquired Uniswap.com.
May 2021: Uniswap.com redirected users to SushiSwap.
September 3, 2021: WIPO ordered the domain transfer to Uniswap Labs.
Legal Context
The revelation follows the June 12, 2026, decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to affirm the fraud conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried. This legal outcome solidified the documentation of his various business activities and domain-related conduct.
The incident serves as a reminder for users to verify the URLs of decentralized finance platforms before connecting wallets. It underscores the risks associated with domain squatting and potential phishing attempts in the crypto space.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the importance of trademark protection for digital assets in the rapidly evolving decentralized finance industry. Users should remain cautious of domain redirects that attempt to mimic established platforms to gain illicit traffic.
Further reading
For additional context on regulatory actions in the sector, see Financial Crime.
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