Namebase Review: Are Its Decentralized Domains Worth It?

Namebase lets you search across thousands of decentralized top-level domains, check whether a name is available, and register it at the price set by that TLD’s owner. Its homepage features endings including .hns, .web3, .xp and .bitcoin. The site also presents Namebase Wallet as a way to manage HNS, Handshake auctions and on-chain DNS. It offers wallet apps for desktop and mobile.

This is for registering names in decentralized naming systems, not simply buying a conventional web address. After registration, Namebase says you can point a name to a website, payment address or online profile. Whether that name will resolve in a particular browser or service depends on that service supporting the relevant naming system. Check compatibility before you register, especially if you need the name to work for customers or visitors using ordinary DNS.

Prices depend on the top-level domain owner, so there is no single price for a Namebase registration. In 2026, the homepage listed .hns at $3 per year, .web3 at $1.99, .xp at $0.99 and .bitcoin at $5. These are examples, not a price guarantee for every ending or future renewal. Check the amount shown for your exact name and term before checkout.

Namebase does not publish a complete fee schedule on its registration page. The listed annual price may not tell you whether any separate transaction or payment costs apply, so review the checkout total before confirming. Some names may involve Handshake auctions, which the wallet also supports; an auction is different from choosing a name at a displayed fixed annual price. Do not assume that every domain can be registered on the same terms.

A decentralized domain is not automatically reachable through every browser or internet service. Unlike a standard DNS address, a name in a system such as Handshake needs compatible software or a resolver to translate it into a destination. That can be useful if you specifically want an on-chain name, but it can also limit who can reach a site or profile using it.

Before registering, test whether the browser, wallet, hosting provider or payment service you intend to use supports the relevant name ending. Also decide what you want the domain to point to and how you will update that record. Namebase describes the registered name as under your control, but that does not mean every service will recognize it or that a website is hosted for you. Treat domain registration and making a site accessible as separate tasks.

Namebase describes its wallet as self-custody: it says keys are created on your device and never leave it. That can reduce reliance on a company holding wallet keys, but it also makes protecting your recovery information and device your responsibility. Losing access can mean losing access to the names or funds controlled by that wallet. Follow the wallet’s recovery guidance and keep recovery details private and secure.

Namebase does not identify an independent security audit or publish a licence on its registration page. It also does not give a detailed security track record there, so you should not treat the self-custody description as a substitute for independent assurance. The site’s notice says previous Namebase users should withdraw or transfer names and HNS before October 1, 2026. If you have an older account, check it promptly and do not assume that legacy holdings are already in the new wallet.

Start by deciding which decentralized naming system and ending you need. Search for the exact name, check that it is available, and confirm the displayed price and registration terms before proceeding. If the name is being auctioned rather than offered at a listed price, understand the auction process before committing funds.

Next, confirm that your intended browser, resolver or service supports the name, and review the wallet’s recovery setup before putting HNS or other value under its control. Keep your recovery information offline and private; never share it with someone claiming to provide support. If you are moving names or HNS from a previous Namebase account, check that the transfer is complete well before October 1, 2026. Namebase does not publish full fee or audit details on its registration page, so make your decision based on the exact checkout amount and the security information you can verify.