Breaking
Two letters beat every business tax: .ai earns Anguilla US$80 million in seven months
The two letters at the end of every AI startup’s web address are now the biggest earner in Anguilla’s budget. Between January and July 2026, fees from .ai domain registrations brought in EC$217 million, about US$80 million, according to figures Premier Cora Richardson Hodge presented in September and reported by the Jamaica Gleaner on 9 October.
More than all business taxes combined
The comparison that stands out: the island’s entire productive sector paid EC$203 million in taxes over the same seven months. The .ai fees alone came to more. Domain revenue made up 47.5% of all government revenue in the period, and together with taxes the government had collected about three quarters of its full-year budget after only seven months.
For the full year, the government expects EC$253 million from domain fees. Anguilla has fewer than 15,000 residents, so the money goes a long way: the island’s nominal GDP grew from US$261 million in 2020 to US$416 million in 2023.
Why it keeps growing
Every new AI company, product and side project wants a name that says AI, and .ai is the shortest way to say it. The extension passed one million registered names in January 2026, and renewals keep the income recurring: a .ai name has to be renewed at least every two years. The registry is run by Identity Digital under a five-year agreement signed in October 2024, with the revenue flowing to Anguilla.
The IMF has noted that the government expects the share to settle at a lower level as the first rush of registrations slows. Even so, the 2026 figures show that .ai is no passing fashion: it has become the default address of the AI economy.
What it means for .ai buyers
A steady, well-funded registry and a growing base of over a million names make .ai a stable home for a brand. As the extension fills up, the best short and descriptive names become harder to find, which is why premium names keep selling for five and six figures. See the full trend on our .ai domain statistics page.
Premium short .ai names for sale
4ai owns some of the rarest .ai names: three-letter names like FXX.ai, GFN.ai, RLE.ai, NLF.ai and CIU.ai, numbers like 194.ai and 162.ai, and AirMobility.ai. Make an offer on any of them; payment goes through Escrow.com and buyers pay no fees.
See all short .ai domains for sale.
References
- Jamaica Gleaner (9 October 2026). Anguilla’s AI domain registration earns US$80m year-to-date, more than all taxes from productive sector.
- The Caribbean Camera (2026). Anguilla earns US$80 million from AI domain boom.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Anguilla earn from .ai domains in 2026?
EC$217 million, about US$80 million, from January to July 2026, according to the Premier’s figures reported by the Jamaica Gleaner. The government expects EC$253 million for the full year.
How big is .ai compared with Anguilla’s taxes?
The .ai fees were higher than the EC$203 million in taxes from the island’s whole productive sector over the same seven months, and made up 47.5% of government revenue.
Which short .ai domains are for sale?
FXX.ai, GFN.ai, RLE.ai, NLF.ai, CIU.ai, 194.ai, 162.ai and AirMobility.ai are among the premium names for sale on 4ai by offer.
Ask your AI about this page: ChatGPT Claude Perplexity
