New Delhi: What began as a casual domain registration by a 10-year-old in the early days of the internet has culminated in one of the world’s biggest domain deals, with AI.com selling for nearly $70 million — over ₹600 crore — underscoring how digital real estate is rapidly becoming as valuable as physical property.
Back in 1993, when artificial intelligence was far from mainstream and the web itself was in its infancy, Malaysian tech entrepreneur Arsyan Ismail registered AI.com for what would today amount to just a few hundred rupees. At the time, it was merely a short, generic internet address with no obvious commercial value.
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Three decades later, as AI dominates global business, technology and consumer trends, that same two-letter domain has emerged as a prized digital asset.
Industry sources say the sale marks one of the largest publicly known domain transactions to date.
From hobby purchase to strategic asset
Ismail reportedly registered AI.com out of curiosity during the early internet boom. Over the years, the domain was leased to multiple companies, but ownership remained with him.
The turning point came in 2025, when AI.com briefly slipped out of his control. To reclaim the domain, Ismail is said to have paid close to $10 million — roughly ₹80 crore.
By then, artificial intelligence had become a defining force across industries, powering everything from content creation and customer service to finance and healthcare. Recognising the long-term value of the name, Ismail held on to the domain until market demand peaked.
In early 2026, AI.com was sold to the CEO of Crypto.com for approximately $70 million, translating to more than ₹600 crore.
Crypto.com is already a major player in digital finance, and the acquisition is widely seen as a strategic move as the company prepares to expand deeper into AI-driven services. Sources indicate AI.com may be developed into a standalone AI platform or brand-led product ecosystem.
Why AI.com commands such a premium
Over the past two years, AI has shifted from a niche technology to a global phenomenon. Consumers now routinely use AI tools for images, videos, office work and automation. Corporates are racing to integrate AI into products, while startups are building entire businesses around it.
In this environment, ultra-short, category-defining domains like AI.com offer instant credibility, recall value and global branding power.
Digital branding experts say such domains function like prime real estate on the internet — rare, highly visible and increasingly expensive.
“Companies today don’t just buy domains, they buy trust and recognition,” said a technology branding consultant. “A name like AI.com immediately signals authority in the space.”
A glimpse into the future of digital assets
The deal also highlights a broader shift in how value is created online. Just as land and property appreciate over time, premium digital identifiers — domain names, handles and virtual assets — are now commanding eye-watering prices.
What once seemed like ordinary web addresses are fast becoming strategic investments.
Analysts believe similar appreciation could be seen in other short, category-specific domains tied to emerging technologies such as robotics, quantum computing and virtual reality.
For Ismail, the journey from a ₹300 registration to a ₹600-crore exit is not merely a story of luck — it reflects foresight, patience and the accelerating importance of digital branding in a tech-first world.
As businesses increasingly compete for online identity, the AI.com transaction serves as a powerful reminder: in the modern economy, even a name can be worth hundreds of crores.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
