- ‘.ai’ domain registrations have multiplied by three in three years and revenue has multiplied by two
- The top-level domain (TLD) is exclusive to the Caribbean island of Anguilla
- Anguilla plans to spend revenue on critical infrastructure and sustainable projects
More than one million ‘.ai’ domains have been registered as of early January 2026, largely driven by the ChatGPT-induced global AI boom, and is proving to be a huge source of revenue for Anguilla, according to a new report.
investigation of sherwood discovered that the tiny British Overseas Territory has control over the ‘.ai’ domain as its country code, which has now become a major source of revenue worth an estimated $70 million a year, or the equivalent of around 20-22% of total government revenue.
Compared to 2023, the number of ‘.ai’ domain registrations has almost tripled from 354,000, and revenue has more than doubled from an estimated $32 million.
Anguilla benefits from AI boom, but in a different way
Currently, around 37% of the Caribbean island’s income comes from tourism, marking a considerable dependence on international travel, a factor that has been greatly affected by COVID. However, this additional revenue, which represents about a fifth of government revenue, serves as an important extra to shore up finances.
The average ‘.ai’ domain costs $140 per year, but the most astonishing figure is the 90% domain renewal rate, indicative of long-term stability for Anguilla on this front.
And it’s not just AI startups that are paying for Anguilla domains: Google, x.ai and Perplexity are also cashing in on the brand boost trend.
The International Monetary Fund noted that Anguilla is not the only small island developing state that has benefited from its uniquely positioned domain ownership. Tuvalu previously experienced a surge in the 1990s for its ‘.tv’ domain.
The IMF noted that Anguilla plans to invest its domain-related cash in long-term sustainable projects, such as renewable energy. Key infrastructure such as its airport could also benefit from this stroke of pure luck.
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