How Do I Get a Handshake Name?
So you understand what a Handshake name is.
The next question is simple:
How do you get one?
There are two types of names worth understanding first.
A Top-Level Name
On Handshake, names exist at the root of the naming system.
For example:
example/
This is different from registering something like example.com.
With example/, example itself is the top-level name.
Handshake top level names can be acquired through the Handshake ecosystem. Depending on the name, this may involve bidding for an available name through the Handshake auction process or acquiring a name that someone already owns.
A Name Underneath a Handshake Name
Owning a Handshake name also gives you the ability to create names underneath it.
For example, the owner of:
example/
could create:
webpage.example
email.example
wallet.example
How those names are used or made available is up to the owner of example/.
That's an important difference.
Owning the top-level name means owning the namespace beneath it.
Where Do I Start?
To acquire a top level Handshake name, you'll first need some HNS, the native coin of the Handshake blockchain. HNS is used to participate in Handshake name auctions and to pay network transaction fees.
If you don't already have HNS, LearnHNS maintains information on current ways to obtain it.
You'll also need a Handshake wallet. Bob Wallet allows you to manage your HNS and Handshake names yourself.
Once you're set up, you can visit ShakeShift to search Handshake names and explore current auctions.
The basic starting point is:
HNS → Bob Wallet → ShakeShift → example/
We'll look more closely at how the auction process works in another article.
Ownership Comes With Responsibility
Handshake gives you more control, but that control also comes with responsibility.
If you self custody your Handshake name, you are responsible for looking after your keys, managing the name and keeping track of its renewal requirements.
With self custody, you shouldn't rely on a traditional registrar sending you renewal reminders.
That's part of self custody.
Your name. Your keys. Your responsibility.
Where Do I Go From Here?
You don't need to understand everything about Handshake before exploring it.
Start by exploring the names that exist and becoming familiar with the tools available within the Handshake ecosystem.
We'll explore the auction process in the next article.
For now, the important thing to understand is this:
With Handshake, you're not simply choosing what comes before the dot.
You can own the dot itself.