Private naming

Historical record (2020–2026): Namebase offered a path to acquire Handshake names with only an email for signup — no full KYC required for bidding and marketplace purchases. This was a distinctive feature during their years as the main Handshake marketplace. Namebase ceased operations in June 2026.

Why this mattered

For most of 2020–2026, buying a Handshake name through Namebase normally required account verification and on-chain HNS. Users could transfer HNS from external wallets, but they still needed to obtain HNS somewhere — often from exchanges with their own verification requirements.

Namebase introduced private naming so users could acquire censorship-resistant Handshake names without submitting identity documents, as long as they did not need to withdraw or freely trade on-chain HNS.

This mattered for activists, journalists, and anyone who needed a Handshake name without linking it to government ID — situations where privacy could be safety-critical.

How it worked (historical walkthrough)

1. Sign up with a private email

Users created a Namebase account with an email only — often through privacy-focused providers like ProtonMail or disposable inboxes. Two-factor authentication was strongly recommended.

2. Buy HNS name credits with BTC

Users sent BTC through Namebase’s buy flow and received HNS name credits (not freely transferable on-chain HNS). These credits could be used to:

• Bid in Handshake name auctions
• Purchase names on the Namebase marketplace

Credits did not grant the right to withdraw on-chain HNS or use other financial features until the user completed verification.

Info Namebase recommended buying only enough credits for intended name purchases unless the user was willing to verify — legal obligations required identity collection before fund withdrawal.

3. Search and acquire names

Users searched for available names through Namebase’s domain interface, then either bought listed names instantly or placed auction bids. Namebase handled bid reveals automatically.

Successful purchasers received custodied names in their Namebase account — private, censorship-resistant, and truly owned on-chain, managed through Namebase’s UI.

What replaced private naming

Namebase’s email-only onboarding no longer exists. Today, comparable privacy is achieved through self-custody:

1. Acquire HNS via Liquidity Spot, CoinEx, or MEXC (buy guide)
2. Import HNS into Bob Wallet — no identity tied to the wallet itself
3. Bid on names directly on-chain (auctions guide)

No custodial registrar is required. Your name is associated with your public key, not a Namebase account email.

Historical screenshots

The walkthrough images below show Namebase’s original private-naming UI (offline since June 2026):