Malaysian entrepreneur Arsyan Ismail sells AI.com for $70 million in historic domain deal

Malaysian tech entrepreneur Arsyan Ismail has reportedly sold the premium domain AI.com for approximately $70 million (around Rs 634–643 crore), marking one of the most significant domain transactions in internet history. The buyer is Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, with the deal said to have been finalized in April 2025.

While social media reports claimed that Ismail had purchased the domain for as little as Rs 300 back in 1993, multiple reports clarify that this is inaccurate. Instead, the entrepreneur acquired the two-letter domain much later, around 2021, through a domain broker for an undisclosed but significantly lower amount, before the global artificial intelligence boom dramatically increased its value.

The timing proved crucial. As interest in AI technologies surged worldwide, ultra-premium digital assets such as short, category-defining domains saw exponential valuation growth.

The sale is being described as one of the most remarkable domain flips in recent internet history. Two-letter “.com” domains are extremely rare and highly coveted due to their scarcity, branding power, and global recognition.

The domain was officially launched during Super Bowl LX, where it was positioned to support a new platform focused on agentic AI technology.

Industry experts note that the deal highlights the growing intersection of artificial intelligence, branding strategy, and digital asset investment. It also underscores how early acquisition of overlooked digital properties can lead to extraordinary returns when aligned with technological trends.

With AI continuing to dominate global investment and innovation conversations, the AI.com sale is likely to remain one of the defining tech asset transactions of the decade.