Quick answer
Epik vs Isthmus Domains: which is better in 2026?
Epik vs Isthmus Domains: Epik, owned since June 2023 by Epik LLC, a company of Registered Agents Inc., lists a .com at $15.99 to register and renew (domainoffer.net, 8 October 2026). Isthmus Domains is an offshore domain registrar in Panama: register any domain with no KYC and pay in crypto. Our .com costs $11.99/year. Epik's crypto payment is not confirmed in 2026.
Key facts
| Epik's owner | Registered Agents Inc., through Epik LLC, since June 2023 (Domain Incite, 4 February 2024) |
|---|---|
| Epik's base | United States |
| Isthmus Domains' operator | DomaineGoat LLC, incorporated in Panama |
| .com | Epik $15.99 / $15.99 · Isthmus Domains $11.99 / $11.99 |
| .ai per year | Epik $74.95 · Isthmus Domains $85.49 |
| Crypto at Epik | Not confirmed in 2026 (BitPay was announced in 2016) |
Epik and Isthmus Domains, side by side
| Isthmus Domains | Epik | |
|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Panama | United States |
| Owner | DomaineGoat LLC | Registered Agents Inc., through Epik LLC (since June 2023) |
| .com, first year then renewal | $11.99 / $11.99 | $15.99 / $15.99 |
| .io, first year then renewal | $34.49 / $52.99 | $55.95 / $55.95 |
| .ai, yearly price (sold for 2 years minimum) | $85.49 / $85.49 | $74.95 / $74.95 |
| Crypto | BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC | Not confirmed in 2026 |
| Privacy add-on | WHOIS privacy included; Domain protection +$29/year | Former privacy service not confirmed in 2026 |
| ID / KYC | None; one verified email per domain | Not checked |
| Complaints about content | Panamanian court decision needed; strict exceptions published | Not checked |
Last checked on ; older figures carry their own date
Checked 8 and 19 October 2026: Epik prices from domainoffer.net, read on 8 October 2026; our prices from our live price list on 19 October 2026. "Not checked" means we did not find the rule in a source we could cite.
What changed at Epik?
Epik changed owner. Domain Incite reported on 4 February 2024 that Epik LLC, a company of Registered Agents Inc., had bought Epik's business in June 2023, and that Registered Agents had announced the purchase of key Epik assets. Before the sale, Epik was known for a paid privacy service and for Bitcoin payments through BitPay, announced in 2016.
We could not confirm that either service still exists in 2026. So we do not list Epik in our offshore price ranking: it is a US company, and its privacy and crypto offer is unclear today.
Is Epik an offshore registrar?
No. Epik is a US company, so complaints and requests for customer data follow US law. Its old reputation came from its policies, not from its location.
Isthmus Domains is offshore by structure: DomaineGoat LLC is incorporated in Panama. A complaint about copyright, defamation, politics or from a competitor needs a decision from a Panamanian court, and we release the data we hold only when Panamanian law requires it (a Panamanian court or prosecutor's order), or in a UDRP case. Read why Panama.
Where does Epik win?
Epik wins on .ai. It lists .ai at $74.95 a year, against $85.49 here, as of 8 October 2026. That is below Cloudflare's at-cost $80.00 (cfdomainpricing.com, 8 October 2026).
If you only need a .ai and a US registrar suits you, Epik's price is better. Check the renewal and the minimum term before you pay: most registrars sell .ai for 2 years at a time. Our .ai page explains the rules.
Where does Isthmus Domains win?
Isthmus Domains wins on .com, .io, crypto and written rules.
- .com: $11.99/year against $15.99.
- .io: $34.49 for the first year against $55.95.
- Crypto: BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC, documented on our crypto payment page.
- Rules: complaints, abuse and data requests are handled under a published process, with phishing, malware, botnets, child sexual abuse material and fraud suspended within 24 hours of a well-documented report.
How do I move a domain from Epik to Isthmus Domains?
Unlock and get the code
In your Epik account, remove the transfer lock and request the transfer (EPP) code.
Check the dates
A gTLD cannot move within 60 days of its registration or last transfer. A .ai transfer is billed for 2 years, here as at many registrars: $85.49 plus one renewal, $170.98, and the registry adds 2 years.
Top up in crypto
Top up from $25. A .com transfer costs $11.99 here.
Start the transfer
Enter the domain and its code in the client area, then confirm your email.
Epik vs Isthmus Domains: FAQ
Who owns Epik now?
Registered Agents Inc., through its company Epik LLC, which bought Epik's business in June 2023, according to Domain Incite on 4 February 2024. Since then, we have not been able to confirm Epik's former privacy service or its BitPay crypto payment in 2026. Isthmus Domains is operated by DomaineGoat LLC, incorporated in Panama.
Does Epik still accept Bitcoin?
We could not confirm it. Epik announced Bitcoin through BitPay in 2016, but we found no 2026 source that shows it today. Isthmus Domains accepts Bitcoin, USDT on Tron or Ethereum, USDC on Ethereum, Ether, Solana and Litecoin, from a balance topped up from $25.
Is Epik cheaper than Isthmus Domains?
On .ai, yes: $74.95 a year at Epik against $85.49 here, as of 8 October 2026. On .com, no: Epik lists $15.99 and we charge $11.99. On .io, Epik lists $55.95 and our first year is $34.49.
Is Epik an offshore domain registrar?
No. Epik is a US company, so US law governs complaints and data requests. If you want a registrar outside the United States, compare Isthmus Domains (Panama), Njalla (Costa Rica), OrangeWebsite and 1984 Hosting (Iceland) in our offshore price ranking.
What is a good Epik alternative for privacy?
For privacy without an ID check, Isthmus Domains includes WHOIS privacy where the registry allows it and needs one verified email per domain. Domain protection, at +$29 a year, puts the domain in our company name. Every complaint is then reviewed by a person before any action.
Sources (6)
- Epik gets acquired again, the plot thickens — Domain Incite (4 February 2024)
- .com prices by registrar — domainoffer.net (checked 2026-10-08)
- .io prices by registrar — domainoffer.net (checked 2026-10-08)
- .ai prices by registrar — domainoffer.net (checked 2026-10-08)
- Epik announces support for Bitcoin domain name transactions — OnlineDomain (2016-10-13)
- Cloudflare .ai price at cost — cfdomainpricing.com (checked 2026-10-08)
Crypto payments you can check today
Six cryptocurrencies, no ID, offshore in Panama.