According to MalayMail, Malaysian tech entrepreneur Arsyan Ismail successfully sold the ai.com domain in April 2025 for a staggering $70 million, making it one of the most notable domain sales in recent years.
A 10-Year-Old's Visionary Move
Now 32, Arsyan showed incredible business foresight back in 1993 when he used his mother’s credit card to purchase the ai.com domain for just $100 (around RM256 at the time).
Back then, the decision seemed bizarre. He didn’t spend money on toys or games but instead placed a bet on the future of the internet.
A Confused Mother
The transaction barely raised eyebrows at the time, except for Arsyan’s mother, who was baffled when she saw the charge on her credit card statement. She had no idea what a domain name was and simply noticed a mysterious deduction from her account.
Domain Value Explodes Over 20 Years
- Purchase price in 1993: $100
- Sale price in 2025: $70 million
- Return on investment: 70,000%
This deal once again highlights the long-term value of premium domain names. As the field of artificial intelligence rapidly expands, short domains like ai.com have become increasingly rare and valuable, leading to this extraordinary transaction.