The ChatGPT effect: .ai domain registrations grew 10× and now fund 47% of Anguilla’s state budget

This chart shows daily .ai domain registrations (left axis) and government revenue from .ai domains in Anguilla (right axis).

Anguilla’s country code top-level domain is .ai. Growth was slow and relatively flat for years until the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, which marks a clear turning point in the data.

Before ChatGPT (2018 – November 2022):

• Domain registrations: 48,000 (2018) → 107,517 (30 Nov 2022)
• Average daily registrations: 34
• Government revenue from .ai grew slowly, remaining a minor share of the state budget

After ChatGPT (Dec 2022 – Jan 2026):

• Domain registrations: 107,603 (1 Dec 2022) → 1,045,963 (Jan 2026)
• Average daily registrations: 785 (1 Dec 2022 to 2025)
• January 2026: ~2,008 registrations per day
  • If sustained, total registrations could reach ~1.7 million by the end of 2026
• 28 percent of all newly founded tech startups use an .ai domain
• .ai now accounts for ~47% of Anguilla’s total state budget
• One .ai domain was sold for $1.5 million

Following the widespread adoption of AI in 2025, registration data from early 2026 indicates an acceleration in demand for .ai domains. Therefore, revenue from .ai has evolved from a niche income stream into a structural funding source for Anguilla. This revenue supports debt reduction, infrastructure expansion, renewable energy, environmental protection, and social programs, such as tax relief and free healthcare for children and seniors.

Source: Domaintechnik