Digital El Dorado: How the Tiny Island of Anguilla Hit the 1 Million .ai Domain Jackpot

Anguilla’s .ai ccTLD has experienced explosive growth driven by the AI renaissance, with registrations rising from 354,000 in 2023 to over 1 million by January 2, 2026, and an exceptional 90% renewal rate. The domain commands premium pricing at $70/year versus ~$10 for .com, contributing about $32M (22% of government revenue) in 2023. A vibrant secondary market has emerged, exemplified by You.ai selling for $700,000 and 31 expired .ai domains fetching a combined $1.2M, underscoring sustained demand and asset value.