ICANN Terminates 'Bulletproof' Registrar as Trustname Customers Report Domain Thefts
This edition covers ICANN's termination of a 'bulletproof' registrar and resulting theft reports, Registered Agents' new-TLD and RSP push, a .chess community application, and the day's auction activity.[1][2][7][4]
- Sept 11Registrar selling-rights deadlineFewmoretaps/Trustname.com
- $4,550Final auction pricecollect.net (Aug 31 auction recap)
- $8,100Top comparable sale'Bright'-suffix domain comps
- 6New gTLD applications filedRegistered Agents
Key takeaways
- ICANN terminated 'bulletproof' registrar Fewmoretaps (Trustname.com) over unresolved abuse reports; selling rights end September 11.[1]
- TrustName customers report domain thefts following the registrar's de-accreditation notice.[6]
- Registered Agents filed six new gTLD applications and launched its own registry service provider.[2][9]
- A chess organization applied for .chess as a community-based top-level domain.[7]
- Maglite and other businesses made notable end-user domain acquisitions.[3]
- collect.net sold for $4,550 in the August 31 expiring-domain auction recap.[4]
Today in domains
The same 48 hours that saw ICANN sever a 'bulletproof' registrar over unresolved abuse complaints also brought fresh new-TLD applications and a community bid for .chess, underscoring how registry growth and registrar accountability are moving on separate tracks.[1][2][7]
Bulletproof Registrar Falls, Customers Scramble
ICANN terminated registrar Fewmoretaps, doing business as Trustname.com, which marketed itself with 'bulletproof' domain registrations, a term signaling resistance to abuse takedown demands. DomainIncite reports the termination followed repeated failures to address abuse reports, and the registrar's gTLD selling rights end September 11, 2026, giving remaining customers a hard deadline to act. Fallout arrived quickly: Domain Name Wire reports TrustName customers have reported domain thefts following the de-accreditation notice, raising questions about how portfolios held at a terminated registrar get transferred safely before the cutoff, and what recourse registrants have when a registrar exits under compliance action rather than voluntarily. The episode is a reminder that registrar-level abuse enforcement carries direct custody risk for domain holders, not just a policy footnote.[1][6]
New TLD Wave: Registered Agents' Two-Pronged Bet, Chess Applies
Registered Agents applied for six new top-level domains and simultaneously launched its own registry service provider business, a two-pronged strategy that lets it operate registries while also selling back-end services to other new gTLD applicants, per Domain Name Wire and DNJournal. Separately, a chess organization applied for .chess as a community-based TLD, joining the wave of niche community applications competing for space alongside commercial and portfolio players in the current round.[2][9][7]
Aftermarket Snapshot: Auctions and Comparables
Domain Shane's August 31 auction recap across Dynadot, Catched and GoDaddy platforms listed final sale prices and bid counts for expiring domains. Trav's List for September 1 compiled GoDaddy, Dynadot, NameJet and NamePros auctions alongside a comparables set for 'Bright'-suffix domains, giving buyers and sellers a reference band for that naming pattern.[4][5]
| collect.net | $4,550 |
| ponder.dev | $510 |
| Bright-suffix comps (range) | $6-$8,100 |
Selected auction results and comparable sales, Aug 31-Sept 1, 2026
End Users Buy In, UDRP Panels Sharpen Scrutiny
Domain Name Wire's roundup of recent end-user purchases includes acquisitions by Maglite and other businesses, evidence that brand buyers continue sourcing domains from the aftermarket rather than settling for available alternatives. Separately, the ICA UDRP Digest examined a defaulted case where the panel conducted independent research rather than treating the respondent's silence as automatic grounds for transfer, a reminder that complainants still carry the burden of proof even when no response is filed.[3][8]
What to watch
Sept 11, 2026Trustname.com's selling rights lapse ICANN's termination of Fewmoretaps takes full effect, ending the registrar's ability to sell gTLD domains and forcing remaining registrants to complete transfers before the cutoff.[1]
TrustName theft claims follow-up Whether ICANN or affected registries issue guidance on recovering domains reported stolen from TrustName accounts remains an open question following the de-accreditation notice.[6]
.chess application review How ICANN's evaluation process treats the .chess community-based application, including whether it draws objections from rival string applicants, is still to be determined.[7]
Questions investors are asking
Why did ICANN terminate the Fewmoretaps registrar?
DomainIncite reports ICANN terminated Fewmoretaps, operating as Trustname.com and marketed as a 'bulletproof' registrar, for repeatedly failing to address abuse reports; its gTLD selling rights end September 11, 2026.[1]
What happened to domains registered through TrustName after the termination?
Domain Name Wire reports TrustName customers have reported domain thefts following ICANN's de-accreditation notice, though the supplied material does not detail the recovery process available to affected registrants.[6]
What is Registered Agents doing in the new gTLD program?
Registered Agents applied for six new top-level domains and launched its own registry service provider, giving it both its own registries and a back-end services business for other new gTLD operators, according to Domain Name Wire and DNJournal.[2][9]
Who applied for the .chess top-level domain?
A chess organization applied for .chess as a community-based TLD, per Domain Name Wire, positioning it among the niche community-string applications in the current new-gTLD round.[7]
What domains did Maglite recently acquire?
Domain Name Wire's roundup covers domains recently acquired by Maglite and other businesses as part of ongoing end-user aftermarket purchases, though specific domain names were not detailed in the supplied summary.[3]
What were the notable results in the August 31 auction recap?
Domain Shane's recap of Dynadot, Catched and GoDaddy expiring auctions listed collect.net selling for $4,550 and ponder.dev for $510 among the day's results.[4]
What does the UDRP Digest say about defaulted cases?
The ICA UDRP Digest examined a case where the respondent defaulted, showing the panel still conducted independent research to evaluate the complaint's merits rather than granting an automatic transfer, underscoring that complainants must still meet the burden of proof.[8]
Sources and citations
- DomainIncite“Bulletproof” registrar takes a bullet to the headKevin Murphy · September 1, 2026
- Domain Name WireRegistered Agents applies for six top level domains, starts RSPAndrew Allemann · September 1, 2026
- Domain Name WireWhat domains Maglite and other businesses recently acquiredAndrew Allemann · September 1, 2026
- Domain Shane / DSADAUCTION RECAP OF AUGUST 31, 2026Travis M. · September 1, 2026
- Domain Shane / DSADTrav’s List of Domains at Auction for Tuesday, September 1, 2026Travis M. · September 1, 2026
- Domain Name WireTrustName customers report domain thefts after ICANN de-accreditation noticeAndrew Allemann · September 1, 2026
- Domain Name WireChess group applies for .chess as community top level domainAndrew Allemann · September 1, 2026
- ICA UDRP DigestA Default Is Not a Verdict: Panel Research Done Right – vol 6.35Ankur Raheja · September 1, 2026
- DNJournalRegistered Agents Takes a Two-Pronged Approach to New TLDs - Running Their Own and Providing Back-End Services to the RestSeptember 1, 2026
Each source opens the original publisher. Unique Domains summarizes and attributes this reporting without republishing the source article.