A remarkable 32-year journey in the digital world has turned Arsyan Ismail, a Malaysian, into one of the biggest domain success stories in internet history. In 1993, at the age of 10, Ismail purchased the domain ai.com for just $100 (approximately ₹300). In April 2025, he sold the domain for $70 million (around ₹634 crore) to Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, marking one of the most expensive publicly reported domain name sales ever.

The Story Behind ai.com

At the time of purchase, Ismail had no awareness of Artificial Intelligence, which the domain now represents. According to Fintech Malaysia, he chose the domain simply because the letters “AI” resembled his initials, not realizing its future significance. Back in 1993, short, clean domain names were rare, but the rise of AI technology over the following decades made ai.com a highly valuable web address.

Record-Breaking Offers

Before finalizing the sale at $70 million, Ismail reportedly received offers up to $100 million, but the deal was completed in cryptocurrency, making headlines in both the tech and financial communities. This sale surpasses the previous record set by CarInsurance.com in 2010, which sold for $49.7 million.

Significance in the Tech Industry

The transaction highlights the meteoric rise of AI in the global tech landscape and underscores the value of strategic domain names. What began as a playful purchase by a 10-year-old has now become a landmark example of foresight and digital asset investment.

Conclusion

From ₹300 to ₹634 crore, Arsyan Ismail’s ai.com deal stands as one of the most extraordinary success stories in the history of the internet, showing how a single decision decades ago can create life-changing wealth in the digital era.