Anguilla, a small British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, has unexpectedly struck digital gold. In 2024, the island earned approximately 105.5 million East Caribbean dollars (about US $39 million) by licensing the .ai domain—a suffix hugely popular among AI-related companies and organizations. This figure represented nearly 23% of the island’s total government revenue, while tourism accounted for around 37% FacebookThreads.

The value of the .ai domain has soared: the number of websites using it has increased more than tenfold over the past five years, doubling just within the last 12 months Facebook. To safeguard against natural disasters like hurricanes or local power disruptions, a company called Identity Digital moved hosting of all .ai domains off Anguilla to a global server network earlier this year Facebook.

While Anguilla enjoys this newfound digital boon, it’s worth noting a parallel in the Pacific: Tuvalu, another small island, licensed its .tv domain in the 1990s and received around US $2 million per year, later rising to US $5 million annually Facebook.

Local Takeaway

• Despite its small size, Anguilla has capitalized on a digital asset that’s become increasingly valuable globally.
• The island’s earnings from .ai domains underscore how even non-traditional industries—like internet governance—can bring significant economic benefit.
• This success story highlights the potential of digital assets for Caribbean economies, especially when carefully managed and protected.