This Caribbean island is capitalizing on AI-boom to make millions
01 Sep 2025

The Caribbean island of Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory, has been reaping the benefits of its unique internet domain extension.

The island was assigned the ".ai" domain in the 1980s when countries were given their own website addresses.

With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), this domain has become a hot commodity, raking in millions for Anguilla.

Surge in '.ai' websites
Economic diversification

The number of .ai websites has skyrocketed, increasing more than tenfold in five years.

This surge has helped Anguilla diversify its economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism.

In 2024, the island earned 105.5 million East Caribbean dollars (approximately $39 million) from selling domain names, accounting for nearly a quarter of its total revenue.

IMF praises Anguilla's efforts
Economic outlook

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised Anguilla's efforts to diversify its economy through domain name sales.

The island's government expects .ai revenues to rise further in the coming years, with projections of 132 million Eastern Caribbean dollars in 2025 and 138 million in 2026.

This new income stream is crucial for making Anguilla's economy more resilient to natural disasters like hurricanes, which often disrupt its tourism sector.

Deal with US tech firm
Infrastructure improvements

To manage its growing domain name income, Anguilla signed a five-year deal with US tech firm Identity Digital in October 2024.

The company moved all .ai domains to its global server network to prevent disruptions from hurricanes or other infrastructure risks.

Despite not disclosing exact costs, registration prices for .ai addresses start at around $150-$200, with similar renewal fees every two years.

Future investments for Anguillians
Future plans

Anguilla's government receives sales revenue from .ai domains, with Identity Digital taking a 10% cut.

The island hopes to use this income for infrastructure improvements and healthcare access.

As the number of registered .ai domains approaches one million, Anguillians are optimistic about their future investments.