In the early days of the internet, Anguilla—a small Caribbean island—was assigned the country code top-level domain .ai, never imagining it would one day become a digital goldmine.
Now, with artificial intelligence dominating global tech, .ai domains are in hot demand. More than 850,000 have been registered—up from under 50,000 in 2020—as companies and entrepreneurs race to secure AI-branded websites. High-profile tech figures like Dharmesh Shah have spent hundreds of thousands, with Shah reportedly paying $700,000 for you.ai.
In 2024, Anguilla earned $39 million from .ai domain sales—nearly 23% of its total revenue. The government projects earnings will rise to 132 million Eastern Caribbean dollars in 2025. For a nation vulnerable to hurricanes and reliant on tourism, domain income offers crucial economic diversification.
The government has partnered with US-based Identity Digital to manage domain operations, ensuring resilience against power outages and storms. Prices start around $150–$200, with premium names auctioned for six figures.
Unlike fixed-fee deals in other nations, Anguilla uses a revenue-sharing model. The hope is to reinvest this unexpected windfall into infrastructure, healthcare, and tourism development—securing a more stable future for the island’s 16,000 residents.
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