How it works
Money moves only when the name does.
Auction X joins three things that are usually separate: a live auction, a payment hold, and a registry check. Here is exactly what happens.
For buyers
Bidding without paying upfront
When you bid, we ask your bank to hold your maximum bid. Nothing is charged. Every bidder's hold stays locked until the auction closes, so every bid on the board is backed by real, reserved funds. When the hammer falls, the winner's hold is kept and every other hold is released, at no cost.
Your maximum stays private. We bid for you one step at a time, only as far as needed to keep you ahead. If two people enter the same maximum, the earlier bid wins.
Soft close: a bid in the last 5 minutes moves the end to 5 minutes from that bid, so last-second sniping doesn't work. Auctions run for at most 5 days, so a hold never runs out before the close.
≤ €100
+€5
≤ €500
+€10
≤ €1,000
+€25
≤ €5,000
+€50
≤ €10,000
+€100
≤ above
+€250
For sellers
Verification in one DNS record
Enter your domain and we give you a one-time TXT record for _auctionx.yourname.si. When you press Check, we:
- • look the domain up live at Register.si (RDAP + WHOIS) to confirm it is registered, transferable, not locked or in dispute, and not expiring for at least 45 days;
- • record the registrant handle, which is how we later detect the holder change;
- • confirm your token through three independent DNS resolvers, and accept it only if most of them agree.
DNS control alone doesn't move any money. The seller is paid only once the registry shows a new holder, so someone who controls DNS but doesn't own the domain cannot collect.
The Vault
From hammer to payout
- 01Payment securedThe winner's hold stays in place for the final price. A card is charged only once the transfer is verified, or shortly before the hold would run out.
- 02Seller starts the holder changeWithin 2 days the seller asks their registrar to transfer the domain to the buyer. The registry fee is €0. If the seller misses the deadline, the buyer is refunded automatically.
- 03Buyer accepts and proves controlThe buyer confirms the registrar's email and publishes a private token in DNS. They have 2 days.
- 04Automatic verificationWe check that the registrant handle has changed, that the registry was updated after the sale, that the buyer's token is live, and that nothing is blocking the domain. All four must pass.
- 05Charge and payoutOnce the transfer is verified the buyer's card is charged and the seller's share, minus commission, moves to the seller's own payout balance at Stripe. After a 24 hours inspection window, or straight away if the buyer confirms, it is paid out to the seller's bank.
Payments are processed and held by our licensed payment partner (Stripe Connect). Auction X never holds customer money in its own accounts.
Disputes
Automated first, human when it matters
Either side can report a problem until the funds are released. Reporting pauses every timer and keeps the money in the Vault. Transfers that can't be verified before the deadline go to the resolution desk automatically. The desk reviews the registry history and the evidence from both sides, then refunds the buyer or pays the seller.
Fees
Simple, and only on success
€0
Buyers and bidders pay no fees and no buyer's premium. Holds that are released cost nothing.
5%
Sellers pay a commission plus Stripe's transaction costs at cost, only on completed sales. No listing or monthly fees.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is Auction X?
Auction X is the global marketplace for .si domain names, the two letters AI and superintelligence companies want. You can buy names at live auctions or at a fixed price, and sell names you own after proving that you control them. Payments go through Stripe, and every transfer is checked against the .si registry (Register.si) before the seller is paid.
Can anyone buy a .si domain?
Yes. Anyone, anywhere can hold a .si domain, and Auction X is open to buyers and sellers worldwide. Prices are in euros and you pay with a card.
How does bidding work?
You enter the most you are willing to pay. Your bank holds that amount on your card, nothing is charged. We bid for you one step at a time, only as far as needed to keep you ahead, and your maximum stays private. A bid in the last 5 minutes extends the auction by 5 minutes, so last-second sniping doesn't work. Auctions run for 1, 3, 5 days.
Am I charged if I don't win?
No. A losing bid is only a hold on your card, and it is released when the auction closes. You pay nothing, and there are no buyer fees.
When is the winning buyer charged?
Only after the auction, when the .si registry confirms the domain has moved to you, or shortly before the card hold would expire (card holds last about 7 days). The seller's share then waits in the seller's own payout balance at Stripe for a 24-hour inspection window before it is paid out to their bank.
How do I know the seller really owns the domain?
Before listing, every seller adds a DNS record to their domain that only the owner can create. We confirm it with several independent DNS resolvers and check the domain's holder, registrar and status with the .si registry (RDAP and WHOIS). Live listings are re-checked daily and again in the last hour of an auction; if anything changes, the listing is paused.
How is a .si domain transferred after the sale?
The seller starts the holder change at their registrar within 2 days. Auction X then checks the registry automatically for the new holder and your private confirmation token. When the transfer is verified, you get 24 hours to check everything, and then the seller is paid.
What does it cost?
Buyers and bidders pay no fees. Sellers pay a 5% commission plus a transaction fee covering Stripe's card and payout costs, passed on at cost, only when a sale completes. There is no listing fee and no minimum.
What if the transfer doesn't happen?
If the seller doesn't start the transfer within 2 days, the buyer is refunded automatically. If something is wrong after the transfer, the buyer can report a problem during the inspection window: the seller's payout is stopped until the Auction X team resolves it, and if the domain wasn't delivered as listed the buyer is refunded in full.
How do I sell my .si domain?
Sign in, enter your domain on the Sell page, and add the DNS record we give you to prove ownership. Set up payouts once (Stripe checks your identity and bank account inside Auction X), then choose an auction or a fixed price. Your listing goes live in minutes with its own cover artwork.
Which payment methods are accepted, and is my card safe?
Visa, Mastercard and other major cards, processed by Stripe. Card details go directly to Stripe and never reach Auction X. Sellers are paid out by bank transfer to accounts in the EU and EEA, the UK, Switzerland, the US and Canada.
How do I contact Auction X?
Write to support@auctionx.si. Every email from Auction X comes from that address, and you can reply to any of them.