We’ve talked about what handshake is, how to experience it, how to obtain a name and why someone might want one. Handshake is an alternative decentralised naming system, but that doesn’t mean it works everywhere in the same way as traditional DNS.
For someone considering using Handshake, understanding those limitations is just as important as understanding its advantages.
Ownership is powerful. But ownership alone doesn’t mean universal adoption.
It Doesn’t Resolve Everywhere
Traditional domain names generally work across browsers, devices and internet connections without the user having to think about DNS.
Handshake is different.
A Handshake name needs access to a resolver that understands the Handshake root. This can be achieved through compatible DNS services, software or other methods, but it isn’t yet the default for most internet users.
That means you can own a Handshake name, build something on it and share it but someone using standard DNS may not be able to reach it without making a change first.
This is one of Handshake’s biggest challenges today.
Owning a name and having everyone able to resolve that name are two different things.
Adoption Takes Time
Handshake has been around for several years, but compared with the traditional DNS, its ecosystem is still small.
Most people have never heard of Handshake, and many browsers, applications and online services don’t support Handshake names natively.
That creates a familiar challenge for any alternative system:
People are less likely to use it until it becomes easier to access, but broader access often comes as more people begin using it.
This doesn’t mean Handshake has failed. It simply means adoption of an alternative naming system takes time.
The traditional DNS has decades of infrastructure and familiarity behind it. Handshake is building something alongside a system that is already deeply established.
An alternative doesn’t become mainstream overnight.
Not Everything Supports It
The internet has been built around traditional DNS for decades.
Web browsers, hosting platforms, email services, certificates and countless applications have been designed with that system in mind.
Handshake can work alongside much of this infrastructure, but compatibility isn’t universal. Some services may require additional configuration, specific software or alternative solutions to work with a Handshake name.
For someone accustomed to registering a traditional domain and having everything simply work, this can create additional complexity.
That is an important limitation to acknowledge.
Owning an alternative name doesn’t automatically mean every existing internet service knows what to do with it.
It’s Still a Choice
Handshake has limitations.
It doesn’t resolve everywhere by default, adoption is still relatively small, and not every existing internet service is designed to work with it.
Those are real considerations for anyone thinking about using a Handshake name.
But an alternative naming system doesn’t have to replace traditional DNS to have value.
You can continue using the traditional internet while exploring Handshake alongside it.
For some people, the additional steps required today won’t be worthwhile. For others, having an alternative built around decentralised naming and ownership makes those limitations worth accepting.
The important thing is understanding both the advantages and the limitations and making your own choice.
Own the Name. Own the Rules. Own The Dot. ⚪️