What is ZcashNames?
ZcashNames lets someone publish a human-readable name like alice.zcash that resolves to a Zcash unified address.
The registry is derived from standard Zcash shielded transactions, not from a centralized off-chain database.
What problem it solves
A Zcash unified address looks like so.
u1gphl7vrklduuv96kpw4eetx4vrs8nnk7w9tuzvppyuuctw0tuskkpmfulrjapr05zh78p3chpxhx3tm28qau3uwd36k94vgucpxphyv5hkg36nhvr4axWith ZcashNames, a wallet or app can resolve alice.zcash to a user’s address before sending.
Why the on-chain part matters
ZNS uses the Zcash blockchain to serve name registration.
- Name registrations are anchored in confirmed Zcash transactions
- Registry state can be re-created by anyone running the ZNS indexer
Already using zcash.me?
If you already like having a profile on zcash.me, ZcashNames is the upgrade path for that identity.
Registering a ZcashNames name automatically creates the matching zcash.me profile - you may customize your profile with a bio, links, and an avatar.
A .zcash name also becomes an on-chain identifier that Zcash apps (wallets, block-explorers, forums etc. ) can resolve.
Where it stands today
- Testnet is active with registrations open.
- Mainnet is live in beta.
- During beta, mainnet claim prices are set to 1/100th of the intended production pricing tiers.
For the current rollout picture, see Ecosystem.
What to read next
If you’d like to learn more, read How it works and then Trust model.
If your first question is privacy, read Privacy.
If you are ready to use it, go to Claiming a name.