A genuinely decentralised naming layer where names are auctioned and bids burned, but using a name still means running a custom resolver and trusting a thin, migrating registrar ecosystem - ownership without a company to call.
by the bestcloudmining editorial desk · review version 2 · prose updated 2026-09-24 · facts as of 2026-09-24 · how we verify
Handshake is a decentralized naming protocol that replaces ICANN with a peer-to-peer root zone, where top-level domains (TLDs) are won in on-chain Vickrey auctions and the winning bid is burned. It’s for developers and privacy advocates seeking true self-sovereign naming, but adoption is minimal, resolver support is limited, and the HNS token has lost nearly all value - making economic participation risky.
You don’t rent infrastructure - instead, you bid for ownership of decentralized TLDs (like .hns or .bitcoin) via an on-chain Vickrey auction, with the winning bid burned. You gain the right to manage subdomains and renew every two years by paying a miner fee. You do not get physical hardware, cloud compute, or guaranteed DNS resolution - only cryptographic ownership of a name on the Handshake blockchain.
Names are registered for a fixed term of 730 days (two years), after which they must be renewed on-chain with a standard transaction fee paid to miners. There is no maintenance fee at the protocol level, and no refund policy - once a bid is burned, it’s gone. Registrar-specific terms (like Namebase) may apply for aftermarket purchases, but the protocol itself does not offer reversals or refunds.
Yes: all name auctions, registrations, burns, and renewals are recorded on the public Handshake blockchain and can be verified using tools like hsd or block explorers. The open-source nature of hsd and hnsd allows independent validation of state. However, actual DNS resolution requires running custom software, and hnsd is currently incompatible with hsd’s network protocol - limiting practical verification.
Handshake is technically sound and fully decentralized, with no central entity - governed only by loose consensus and maintained on GitHub. It was funded by major crypto investors and distributed $10.2M to FOSS projects. However, adoption is extremely low, community activity is sparse, and the HNS token trades at $0.0012 with a $0.85M market cap. The impending shutdown of Namebase’s custodial platform adds migration risk.
There is no fixed price: TLDs are acquired through competitive Vickrey auctions, and the winning bid (in HNS) is permanently burned. Renewals cost only a miner fee. Registrar aftermarket prices vary - e.g., .xp at $0.99/yr, .os at $10/yr - but these are not protocol fees. Payment is in HNS only, with no fiat option. KYC is not required - ownership is controlled via private keys.
Only consider Handshake if you deeply value decentralized naming and are technically self-sufficient - this is not a profitable investment or practical web alternative. Most users are better served by traditional domains or more widely adopted Web3 naming systems like ENS.
| Documented price | $0.990 per year |
|---|---|
| Notes | No protocol list price: names are won at a Vickrey auction and the winning HNS bid is burned. Renewal every two years costs a standard network transaction fee paid to miners. Registrar (Namebase) observed list prices on 2026-09-24: .xp/.vm $0.99/yr, .web3 $1.99/yr, .hns/.ok $3/yr, .lab $3.99/yr, .dojo $4.99/yr, .satoshi/.bitcoin $5/yr, .os $10/yr; TLD transfer costs 1 HNS per name. Because the protocol itself has no registration price, price_from_usd is omitted. |
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Based on our checks as of 2026-09-24: Handshake scores 5.6/10 in our weighted review. We logged no red flags. User reports and operator background are documented with dated sources in the meta-review below.
You get on-chain ownership of a TLD, allowing you to issue subdomains. You don’t get hosting, resolution, or legal rights - just cryptographic control via your keypair.
The main cost is your auction bid, which is burned. Renewals every two years require a small miner fee. Registrar transfers cost 1 HNS. No recurring protocol fees.
No trial exists - every name requires an auction bid. Minimum cost depends on competition, but aftermarket names can be acquired from around $0.99/year via registrars like Namebase.
There are no payouts. You don’t earn income from owning a Handshake name. Any value comes from reselling or using the name, not protocol rewards.
There is no central operator to shut it down. As long as nodes exist, the chain persists. But if adoption vanishes, your name becomes unusable due to lack of resolvers and software support.
Unlike ICANN domains, Handshake offers no legal protection or universal resolution. Unlike buying crypto, it provides no yield. It’s a niche technical experiment, not a financial or practical upgrade.
Non-custodial Handshake domain registry and registrar (relaunched July 2026) selling .hns and thousands of TLDs; legacy custodial platform closes 2026-10-01.
Swiss ICANN-accredited registrar (IANA 4323) selling annual-renewal Web2 domains and one-time, no-renewal on-chain Web3 domains/TLDs that resolve only via its own DNS tooling.
Solana's .sol naming protocol, mid-migration to a new SRS registry: legacy names become .sns, registrations paused Aug 2026, no renewal fees today.
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