Did Arsyan Ismail’s initials become a RM276 million domain?

THE global tech world did a double take when the ultra-premium domain AI.com was sold for a staggering USD$70 million (about RM276 million), setting a new benchmark as the most expensive publicly disclosed domain sale in history.

What made the deal even more remarkable was its Malaysian connection. Before artificial intelligence became a global obsession, the domain was owned by Malaysian tech entrepreneur Arsyan Ismail and at the time, AI.com carried a meaning that was far more personal than prophetic.

The two-letter domain matched his initials, turning what began as a simple personal acronym into a digital asset that would later come to symbolise one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era.

A personal acronym that beat the AI boom

Known in tech circles and online communities for his enthusiasm for high-end gadgets and emerging technology, Arsyan held on to the short, category-defining domain years before artificial intelligence entered the mainstream.

As AI began reshaping industries worldwide, interest in the term and the value of AI.com soared. Today, the sale has placed Arsyan among a small and exclusive group globally who have successfully monetised a single internet domain at an extraordinary scale, widely seen as a masterclass in digital foresight.

A record-breaking deal

At USD$70 million, the transaction comfortably surpassed previous domain sale records, including CarInsurance.com, which sold for USD$49.7 million in 2010 and Voice.com, which fetched USD$30 million in 2019.

Industry observers say the price reflects not just the rarity of short, category-defining domains, but also the explosive growth of artificial intelligence as a defining technology of this decade.

Bought by the CEO of Crypto.com

The domain was acquired by Kris Marszalek, co-founder and chief executive officer of Crypto.com, who announced the purchase on his personal X account earlier this year.

The deal was reportedly finalised in April through broker Larry Fischer, with Marszalek now serving as CEO of both Crypto.com and AI.com. He has said owning a “primary category” domain like AI.com is essential to avoiding brand commoditisation in an increasingly crowded tech market.

Paid entirely in cryptocurrency

In a sign of how far digital finance has evolved, the entire USD$70 million transaction was reportedly settled fully in cryptocurrency, marking one of the largest crypto-denominated purchases of a digital asset to date.

AI.com to launch consumer AI platform

Marszalek reportedly plans to roll out a consumer-facing artificial intelligence platform under the AI.com brand, with its first public debut expected during a Super Bowl LX commercial.

The platform aims to allow users to create personal AI agents capable of sending messages, managing applications and even trading stocks on their behalf.

According to AI.com, user data will remain private, permission-based and encrypted with individual keys, addressing growing concerns around data privacy and security.

Explaining the vision, Marszalek said the industry is moving beyond simple chatbots towards AI agents that can “actually get things done”, adding that his long-term goal is to build a decentralised network of self-improving agents.