Quick answer
Can I register a .cn domain privately?
No — the registry checks your identity and does not allow privacy services. Sealname, an ultra privacy-respecting domain registration service paid in crypto, does not sell .cn: we collect one email, nothing else, so we only sell extensions whose registry needs nothing more than that. Private alternatives start at $12.99/year for a .com, privacy included, no ID and no KYC.
.cn privacy at a glance
| Private registration | No — the registry checks your identity and does not allow privacy services |
|---|---|
| What the public sees in WHOIS/RDAP | The holder's details can be public: the registry does not allow privacy services. Privacy services not offered by major registrars. |
| Who can register | CNNIC real-name verification required (passport for foreign individuals, company certificate for organisations); unverified names cannot host a website. |
| Registry | China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) |
| Type | country-code top-level domain |
| Sold by Sealname | No |
| Rules | Rules checked against registry and registrar sources on 2026-10-08 |
Why doesn't Sealname sell .cn?
In short: the registry checks your identity and does not allow privacy services. Sealname collects one email per domain, nothing else, and a registrar cannot change the rules of a registry: if the registry needs your name and address, checks identity documents, accepts only local holders or publishes holders, every registrar has to apply that rule. A service that promises a .cn domain with only an email is either wrong or breaking the registry's rules, and the domain can be suspended later.
Registry rule: CNNIC real-name verification required (passport for foreign individuals, company certificate for organisations); unverified names cannot host a website.
Privacy services: The holder's details can be public: the registry does not allow privacy services. Privacy services not offered by major registrars. In practice, the registrant name and often the address or email of a .cn holder can be read by anyone in the public record.
.cn is the country-code extension of China. Its rules come from the national registry and the law of China, not from ICANN, so they can be stricter than the rules of .com or .net.
Which extensions can I register privately instead?
If privacy matters more than the country code, choose an extension that anyone can register privately:
- Generic: .com at $12.99/year, .net at $13.99/year, .org at $12.99/year — privacy included.
- Tech and projects: .io at $54.99/year, .xyz at $13.99/year, .app at $16.99/year.
- Personal and short names: .me at $22.99/year and .co at $33.99/year.
If you need .cn itself and accept that its rules apply, register it with a registrar accredited by its registry and read what that registry publishes before you pay.
Private alternatives and their price per year
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a .cn domain anonymously?
No: the registry checks your identity and does not allow privacy services. No registrar can make a .cn domain anonymous, because the registry's own rules decide what is published and who may register. What the public sees: The holder's details can be public: the registry does not allow privacy services. Privacy services not offered by major registrars.
Does Sealname sell .cn domains?
No. Sealname sells only extensions that anyone can register privately with one email, nothing else. .cn does not meet that rule, so it is not in our price list. You can still search other extensions in the client area, or compare them on the price list.
Who is allowed to register a .cn domain?
CNNIC real-name verification required (passport for foreign individuals, company certificate for organisations); unverified names cannot host a website. The registry (China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC)) applies this rule to every registrar. Check its website for the current rules before you register, because registries in Europe are adding identity checks under the NIS2 directive.
What is the closest private alternative to .cn?
A generic extension: .com at $12.99/year, .net at $13.99/year or .org at $12.99/year, all with WHOIS privacy included and open to anyone with one email. The privacy index shows the rule of every extension.
Will the .cn rules change?
They can: registries change their policies, and ICANN is reviewing the rules for privacy and proxy services. We re-check every extension each quarter and date every change. Current status: Rules checked against registry and registrar sources on 2026-10-08.
Extensions you can register privately
Sources (2)
- IANA Root Zone Database — .cn registry record — IANA (2026-10-08)
- ICANN Lookup — check any domain's RDAP record — ICANN (2026-10-08)