Spaceship.com registrar thread.

[dirk]

I just tried Spaceship.com. They're a NameCheap brand and launched their beta. I think they rightfully deserve a thread on NP to discuss our experiences with their new registrar.

Remember, it's still in beta so do expect some glitches, work to be done... Would be cool in someone from NC would care to chip in @tamar

 

[NameGroove]

Spaceship NS are down. Yikes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1956189274103022049

 

[Bob Hawkes]

The issue seems now resolved. At least my landers that had stopped resolving are back to normal.

 

[NameGroove]

For those with gTLDs - you may find this interesting

https://twitter.com/x/status/1958254951076917403

 

[NicTraders]

Question for those using Spaceship as a registrar... I see they list the ICANN fee separately:

So, I assume this means the total to register a .com is $9.28, and the total to renew is $10.38?...
I always hate it when registrars split the fee out as it just causes confusion, since it's not like you can get out of paying the fee. I know they're just trying to show that the fee doesn't go to them, but it makes it a bit less clear...

 

[NameGroove]

Question for those using Spaceship as a registrar... I see they list the ICANN fee separately:
Show attachment 281407
So, I assume this means the total to register a .com is $9.28, and the total to renew is $10.38?...
I always hate it when registrars split the fee out as it just causes confusion, since it's not like you can get out of paying the fee. I know they're just trying to show that the fee doesn't go to them, but it makes it a bit less clear...

Your assumption is incorrect. Really easy way to identify would've been to just place a name into the cart to see

 

[NicTraders]

Your assumption is incorrect. Really easy way to identify would've been to just place a name into the cart to see

Show attachment 281423

Indeed I did do that @NameGroove. However, for some reason it shows a special price. Maybe because I'm a new customer (not logged in) and they're trying to get me in or something... (and no, I have not enterred a promo code). Since this pricing does not line up with that on the Pricing page, it's rather difficult to be sure what the standard price is.

It's rather unusual to display the ICANN Fee (as it does on the Pricing page), but not make some sort of comment that the fee is included.
EDIT: Actually, I don't know if I've EVER seen a register specify the ICANN Fee separately, but then find that it is included in the total (well, not without saying so very clearly). Usually they don't mention it (and it's included), or for some they will specify it separately, but it's added on top.

 

[4L.com]

I want to warn fellow domain investors about what I've been dealing with at Spaceship (a Namecheap subsidiary). I hold 18,000+ liquid 4-letter .COMs there, all listed in their marketplace - traffic to those parked names and my sales generate commission and long-term customers for them.

Here are the basics. My current Spaceship balance is $20,180.36. Over the last 30 days I sold 17 domains on their marketplace for a total of $20,483. Spaceship took its 5% fee ($1,024.15) and credited the rest to my balance. After another sale, they emailed me "to protect you from any potential fraud" and restricted my account. They did not credit the proceeds of that sale, and they blocked access to the funds already on my balance from previous verified sales - the same funds they had already taken commission on. I've never even withdrawn money from Spaceship; I don't have a payout method selected. My plan was to use the balance to renew domains in the 2026 calendar year (all 18k+ are already renewed out to 2027+), transfer more names in, and keep selling. Instead, I can't use my own funds, I can't transfer new domains into Spaceship, and I can't renew there. The "triggering" sale involved a domain that had been transferred into Spaceship from my Dynadot account back on May 21, 2025 - more than four months before the lock - which hardly screams suspicious.

I'm not opposed to reasonable verification when the law requires it, but Spaceship is demanding sensitive documents via a third party I don't trust. Their chosen vendor is based in Estonia and its own privacy notice states it cannot guarantee data security. That's not protection; that's risk.

What this looks like in practice is the same pattern you see with some exchanges and payment systems: deposits and profits are welcome, but access to your own funds can be frozen behind invasive verification when it suits them. Except here I wasn't even trying to withdraw - I was reinvesting into renewals and transfers inside the same registrar.

Full context, screenshots, and timelines here:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9469860
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9470392


Update:
The problem has been resolved, details below:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9471050

 

[enetwork]

I want to warn fellow domain investors about what I've been dealing with at Spaceship (a Namecheap subsidiary). I hold 18,000+ liquid 4-letter .COMs there, all listed in their marketplace - traffic to those parked names and my sales generate commission and long-term customers for them.

Here are the basics. My current Spaceship balance is $20,180.36. Over the last 30 days I sold 17 domains on their marketplace for a total of $20,483. Spaceship took its 5% fee ($1,024.15) and credited the rest to my balance. After another sale, they emailed me "to protect you from any potential fraud" and restricted my account. They did not credit the proceeds of that sale, and they blocked access to the funds already on my balance from previous verified sales - the same funds they had already taken commission on. I've never even withdrawn money from Spaceship; I don't have a payout method selected. My plan was to use the balance to renew domains in the 2026 calendar year (all 18k+ are already renewed out to 2027+), transfer more names in, and keep selling. Instead, I can't use my own funds, I can't transfer new domains into Spaceship, and I can't renew there. The "triggering" sale involved a domain that had been transferred into Spaceship from my Dynadot account back on May 21, 2025 - more than four months before the lock - which hardly screams suspicious.

I'm not opposed to reasonable verification when the law requires it, but Spaceship is demanding sensitive documents via a third party I don't trust. Their chosen vendor is based in Estonia and its own privacy notice states it cannot guarantee data security. That's not protection; that's risk.

What this looks like in practice is the same pattern you see with some exchanges and payment systems: deposits and profits are welcome, but access to your own funds can be frozen behind invasive verification when it suits them. Except here I wasn't even trying to withdraw - I was reinvesting into renewals and transfers inside the same registrar.

Full context, screenshots, and timelines here:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9469860
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9470392

Not sure what is happening here but I will look into this asap. Definitely should not be happening to you.

 

[Savage Names]

I've read about some Spaceship verification issues on X recently.

Concerning..

 

[NameGroove]

I want to warn fellow domain investors about what I've been dealing with at Spaceship (a Namecheap subsidiary). I hold 18,000+ liquid 4-letter .COMs there, all listed in their marketplace - traffic to those parked names and my sales generate commission and long-term customers for them.

Here are the basics. My current Spaceship balance is $20,180.36. Over the last 30 days I sold 17 domains on their marketplace for a total of $20,483. Spaceship took its 5% fee ($1,024.15) and credited the rest to my balance. After another sale, they emailed me "to protect you from any potential fraud" and restricted my account. They did not credit the proceeds of that sale, and they blocked access to the funds already on my balance from previous verified sales - the same funds they had already taken commission on. I've never even withdrawn money from Spaceship; I don't have a payout method selected. My plan was to use the balance to renew domains in the 2026 calendar year (all 18k+ are already renewed out to 2027+), transfer more names in, and keep selling. Instead, I can't use my own funds, I can't transfer new domains into Spaceship, and I can't renew there. The "triggering" sale involved a domain that had been transferred into Spaceship from my Dynadot account back on May 21, 2025 - more than four months before the lock - which hardly screams suspicious.

I'm not opposed to reasonable verification when the law requires it, but Spaceship is demanding sensitive documents via a third party I don't trust. Their chosen vendor is based in Estonia and its own privacy notice states it cannot guarantee data security. That's not protection; that's risk.

What this looks like in practice is the same pattern you see with some exchanges and payment systems: deposits and profits are welcome, but access to your own funds can be frozen behind invasive verification when it suits them. Except here I wasn't even trying to withdraw - I was reinvesting into renewals and transfers inside the same registrar.

Full context, screenshots, and timelines here:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9469860
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9470392

This is why I always pull out monies from all platforms immediately after every sale. I will then use new monies for renewals, etc. Simply too much risk leaving $20k on deposit with any company. Do NOT leave sig monies anywhere. There is no upside.

 

[Charles Sweeney]

If it's owned by NameCheap, why not just use NameCheap?

 

[NameGroove]

If it's owned by NameCheap, why not just use NameCheap?

Spaceship has a marketplace - NC does not.

Renewal prices are sig higher at NC vs Spaceship.

 

[4L.com]

I want to warn fellow domain investors about what I've been dealing with at Spaceship (a Namecheap subsidiary). I hold 18,000+ liquid 4-letter .COMs there, all listed in their marketplace - traffic to those parked names and my sales generate commission and long-term customers for them.

Here are the basics. My current Spaceship balance is $20,180.36. Over the last 30 days I sold 17 domains on their marketplace for a total of $20,483. Spaceship took its 5% fee ($1,024.15) and credited the rest to my balance. After another sale, they emailed me "to protect you from any potential fraud" and restricted my account. They did not credit the proceeds of that sale, and they blocked access to the funds already on my balance from previous verified sales - the same funds they had already taken commission on. I've never even withdrawn money from Spaceship; I don't have a payout method selected. My plan was to use the balance to renew domains in the 2026 calendar year (all 18k+ are already renewed out to 2027+), transfer more names in, and keep selling. Instead, I can't use my own funds, I can't transfer new domains into Spaceship, and I can't renew there. The "triggering" sale involved a domain that had been transferred into Spaceship from my Dynadot account back on May 21, 2025 - more than four months before the lock - which hardly screams suspicious.

I'm not opposed to reasonable verification when the law requires it, but Spaceship is demanding sensitive documents via a third party I don't trust. Their chosen vendor is based in Estonia and its own privacy notice states it cannot guarantee data security. That's not protection; that's risk.

What this looks like in practice is the same pattern you see with some exchanges and payment systems: deposits and profits are welcome, but access to your own funds can be frozen behind invasive verification when it suits them. Except here I wasn't even trying to withdraw - I was reinvesting into renewals and transfers inside the same registrar.

Full context, screenshots, and timelines here:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9469860
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9470392


Update:
The problem has been resolved, details below:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9471050

The problem has been resolved, details below:
https://www.namepros.com/threads/spaceship-com-marketplace-thread.1356304/post-9471050

 

[4L.com]

This is why I always pull out monies from all platforms immediately after every sale. I will then use new monies for renewals, etc. Simply too much risk leaving $20k on deposit with any company. Do NOT leave sig monies anywhere. There is no upside.

I usually do the same, but in my case, for tax reasons, it's much more beneficial for me to renew all my domains next year rather than this year. Withdrawing funds in the 2025 calendar year could be considered taxable income, which would not reflect the real situation. I have no desire to run around proving this to the tax authority by showing thousands of renewal and transfer transactions, so I haven't withdrawn any funds from the registrar, since I will need to spend all these funds on renewals anyway.

 

[fka1080405]

I usually do the same, but in my case, for tax reasons, it's much more beneficial for me to renew all my domains next year rather than this year. Withdrawing funds in the 2025 calendar year could be considered taxable income, which would not reflect the real situation.

I am not your tax attorney and do not know where you are located so caveat emptor but I fear someone else might read your comment and take inspiration from it, so I am going to provide this information for anyone located in the U.S.:

The point at which you complete the transaction (meaning you have access to the funds, whether in your Spaceship account, or in your bank account) is the point at which it is taxable. Revenue from selling domains is unlikely to be income and much more likely to be considered capital gains which has its own set of (more complicated but beneficial) rules. Regardless of income or capital gains, the same principle applies, it is taxable when the asset is disposed of.

If you are in the U.S. then Spaceship should be issuing you a 1099 at the end of the tax year and it will be based on transactions, not withdrawals. So, in this case, for the 2025 tax year, these sales should be reported. I don't know if Spaceship do issue 1099s (I can't find any confirmation on the site) but even if they don't, it would be your responsibility as the tax payer to report these transactions.

Additionally, while historically the threshold for 1099s was high enough that most domain name sellers were unlikely to reach it, the IRS have changed the rules recently and drastically reduced the qualifying transaction amount with further reductions scheduled. Pretty much every person selling domains should expect to receive 1099s from marketplaces and be prepared to report transactions on their taxes within the next 2 years.

This means that for 2023 and prior years, payment apps and online marketplaces are only required to send out Forms 1099-K to taxpayers who receive over $20,000 and have over 200 transactions. For tax year 2024, the IRS plans for a threshold of $5,000 to phase in reporting requirements.

Via IRS announces 2023 Form 1099-K reporting threshold delay for third party platform payments; plans for a $5,000 threshold in 2024 to phase in implementation.

Hopefully you are not in the U.S. but for anyone who is in the U.S., leaving funds in your marketplace account does not beat the tax man.

edit: oh! it seems that Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill has repealed these changes. I assume the next time the democrats are in power they'll once again bring the changes, but at least now, the threshold went back up.

 

[NameGroove]

Hello @enetwork - can you please allow us to sort by expiry date within the domain manager?

Also, I recently did a bulk sale. Is there a way to bulk select a group of names for transfer out to another registrar (and get auth codes in bulk)? Or are we required do this one by one?

 

[Marina Savina]

Hello @enetwork - can you please allow us to sort by expiry date within the domain manager?

Also, I recently did a bulk sale. Is there a way to bulk select a group of names for transfer out to another registrar (and get auth codes in bulk)? Or are we required do this one by one?

Hi @NameGroove,

The bulk transfer out is not possible at the moment, so you will need to transfer one by one.

As for the expiration date sorting in Domain manager, this option is available, you would need to select Expiration as a sorting option as indicated on the screenshot.

 

[NameGroove]

Hi @NameGroove,

The bulk transfer out is not possible at the moment, so you will need to transfer one by one.

As for the expiration date sorting in Domain manager, this option is available, you would need to select Expiration as a sorting option as indicated on the screenshot.

Thanks Marina - I was trying to sort by clicking "Expires On" - but thanks for showing me the alternate way to do it.

As for transfers, it is very frustrating to have to unlock and get auth codes one at a time. If Spaceship can please add a bulk feature that would be appreciated.

Also, can you please prioritize (fix) "pinning" our sort choices on SellerHub? SellerHub now defaults to "alphabetical" and therefore whenever we leave the page, refresh, etc - it goes back to Alphabetical (the least helpful of all sorts) and requires us to re-choose the sort we want (requiring multiple clicks). Another cumbersome process that could use enhancement. I realize this may seem like a small request - but when managing/listing names within seller hub, sorting is paramount, and not allowing us to keep the sort choice we choose makes for a long difficult management process.

 

[Marina Savina]

Thanks Marina - I was trying to sort by clicking "Expires On" - but thanks for showing me the alternate way to do it.

Totally understand, I do the same, always.

As for transfers, it is very frustrating to have to unlock and get auth codes one at a time. If Spaceship can please add a bulk feature that would be appreciated.

I'll check on the possibility.

Also, can you please prioritize (fix) "pinning" our sort choices on SellerHub? SellerHub now defaults to "alphabetical" and therefore whenever we leave the page, refresh, etc - it goes back to Alphabetical (the least helpful of all sorts) and requires us to re-choose the sort we want (requiring multiple clicks). Another cumbersome process that could use enhancement. I realize this may seem like a small request - but when managing/listing names within seller hub, sorting is paramount, and not allowing us to keep the sort choice we choose makes for a long difficult management process.

Passed this one to the responsible team, they will check and try to release the fix for this asap.

 

[Jannes]

fyi

https://twitter.com/x/status/1980570793689116802