.MOE Domain Extension

The .MOE domain is a generic top-level domain popular within communities connected to Japanese culture, animation, manga, and creative universes. The term “moe” refers to a strong emotional attachment to characters or visual styles. This TLD is commonly used by artists, content creators, fan sites, and projects inspired by anime, games, and visual storytelling.

Home » Domain Extensions » .MOE Domain Extension

When should you choose a .MOE domain?

A .MOE domain clearly showcases a strong creative and cultural identity. It helps connect with passionate communities, strengthens project recognition, and builds an emotional link with the audience. It’s an excellent choice for artistic projects and niche creative worlds.

Earth globe icon

Artists and visual creators

Ideal for illustrators, designers, animators, and creators building graphic universes inspired by animation, manga, or games.

Target and accuracy icon

Communities and fan sites

Perfect for fan sites, wikis, forums, and community projects built around anime, characters, games, or shared interests.

Availability 99.95% icon

Cultural content and niche media

.MOE is also well-suited for blogs, video platforms, reviews, and media dedicated to Japanese culture and creative universes.

Technical characteristics of the .MOE domain

FeatureDetails
TLD name.MOE
TLD typeGeneric top-level domain (gTLD)
RegistryIdentity Digital
Registration period1 to 10 years
Grace period35 days
Redemption period30 days
Allowed name servers1 to 13
IDN supportYes (Internationalized Domain Names)
Domain transferAuthorization code required; 5-day transfer period
Root server updatesReal-time

Rules and conditions for registering a .MOE domain

The .MOE domain is operated by the registry Identity Digital (formerly Donuts). As such, its registration is subject to certain international compliance rules, including enhanced validations related to government sanctions and the management of reserved domain names.

Extended validation based on the OFAC list (U.S. sanctions)

The registry applies enhanced validation based on the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) sanctions list issued by the United States government.

How does this validation work? During registration (or contact creation), the system checks:

  • the country
  • the state / province (when this field is provided)

If the country + state/province combination matches a region listed under OFAC sanctions, the operation is automatically rejected.

The registry is not permitted to provide services to individuals or entities located in territories subject to U.S. government sanctions.

Reserved domains and the Allocation Token system

Some .MOE domain names may be temporarily reserved by the registry (e.g., pioneer programs, direct sales, strategic partnerships).

In these cases:

  • the domain remains in a reserved status
  • the final registrant cannot register it immediately through a standard registrar

Solution: Allocation Token

The registry has implemented a feature called an Allocation Token:

  • Donuts / Identity Digital generates a unique allocation token
  • this token is provided to the future registrant
  • during registration, the token allows the user to:
    • bypass the reserved status
    • complete the domain registration with the registrar of their choice

Without this token, registering a reserved domain is not possible—even if the domain name appears to exist technically.

General eligibility

Subject to the rules outlined above:

  • the .MOE domain is open to everyone
  • there are no requirements regarding:
  • residency
    • official academic status
    • institutional accreditation

It can be registered by:

  • individuals
  • businesses
  • training centres
  • organizations
  • educational platforms
  • anywhere in the world, excluding sanctioned regions.

Registry refusal or deletion rights

The registry reserves the right to:

  • refuse a registration
  • block the creation of a contact
  • or delete an existing domain

if the information provided:

  • violates OFAC rules
  • circumvents geographic restrictions
  • or breaches registry policies

These actions may be taken without a grace period, in accordance with international legal obligations.

Start your online project with a hosting provider that listens and protects.