Solana Name Service (.sol): Register & Use

Solana Name Service maps human-readable .sol names to Solana addresses and related on-chain records. This guide explains name resolution, registration, transfers, pricing considerations, and the limits of treating a blockchain name as a traditional web domain. Readers exploring mobile access can also review the Solana dApp Store guide.

What is Solana Name Service (SNS)?

Definition: Solana Name Service (SNS) is a decentralized naming protocol built on the Solana (SOL) blockchain that maps human-readable domain names (e.g., alice.sol) to Solana wallet addresses. Instead of sharing a 44-character string, you share a name.

SNS at a glance:

• Built on: the Solana (SOL) blockchain
• Domain suffix: .sol
• Developer: Bonfida
• Domain type: NFT (non-fungible token)
• Register at: sns.id

A typical Solana wallet address looks like this:

7xKXtg2CW87d97TXJSDpbD5jBkheTqA83TZRuJosgAsU

Sending funds to that address requires copying it exactly, character by character. One wrong character routes your SOL to the wrong destination or a dead address. SNS solves this by letting you claim a short, readable name, for example alice.sol, that points to your wallet. Anyone who wants to send you crypto types the name instead of the string.

SNS was built by Bonfida, a Solana-native DeFi (decentralized finance) and infrastructure company. Bonfida operates the primary registration interface at sns.id, though the SNS protocol itself is open and decentralized. The protocol uses on-chain records, while interfaces, authorities, and integrations retain distinct roles. In Web3, your .sol domain becomes your on-chain identity: a portable, human-readable handle that works across wallets and platforms.

How Solana Name Service works

Just as the internet's Domain Name System (DNS) translates google.com into a numeric IP address (142.250.80.46) so your browser finds the right server, SNS translates alice.sol into a Solana wallet address so your transaction finds the right wallet. SNS is to Solana wallets what DNS is to websites.

Here is how the full resolution process works, from registration to receiving a payment:

1. Register your domain. Visit sns.id, search for an available .sol name, and review the current registration terms and payment options before signing.
2. Domain minted as an NFT. The SNS on-chain program mints your domain as an SPL NFT (Solana's native token standard) and sends it to your wallet.
3. Sender queries your .sol name. When someone types alice.sol into a wallet or dApp to send funds, the application calls the SNS on-chain program with that name.
4. SNS program returns your wallet address. The on-chain program looks up the address stored in the registry and returns it to the sending application.
5. Transaction routes to your wallet. The wallet resolves the name before the sender signs. The sender should still verify the resolved address, asset, and network because name resolution does not make a mistaken transfer reversible.

SNS uses on-chain programs (smart contracts, in Ethereum terminology) to store domain records, verify ownership, and resolve names to wallet addresses. SNS records are stored on-chain and can be inspected publicly. Control, upgradeability, resolution support, and recovery behavior still depend on the deployed programs, authorities, interfaces, and wallet integrations; on-chain storage should not be described as eliminating every form of third-party control.

Is a .sol domain an NFT? Yes. When you register a .sol domain on Solana Name Service, it is minted as an NFT in your Solana wallet. You hold provable on-chain ownership and can transfer or sell it like any other NFT.

What can you use a .sol domain for?

In Web3, your .sol domain functions as a portable on-chain identity, replacing the long alphanumeric wallet address you share with every person who sends you crypto. The six most common uses are below.

Send and receive crypto payments

Instead of sharing 7xKXtg2CW87d97TXJSDpbD5jBkheTqA83TZRuJosgAsU, you share alice.sol. Phantom Wallet natively resolves .sol domains: type a name in the send field and Phantom looks up the wallet address automatically. Solflare supports .sol domain resolution natively as well.

Build a Web3 identity across dApps

Many Solana decentralized applications (dApps) resolve .sol names natively, displaying your domain instead of your raw wallet address in transaction histories and user interfaces. A DEX might show alice.sol in your trade history rather than a truncated address string.

Link social handles for cross-platform recognition

As of June 2025, SNS lets you link your Twitter/X handle to your .sol domain so the same name appears in both your on-chain activity and your social profile. This feature is subject to platform policy changes, so check sns.id for current availability.

Trade as an NFT on secondary markets

Because .sol domains are minted as NFTs, they can be bought and sold on secondary markets. A marketplace for .sol domain NFTs is Magic Eden, making each domain both a functional tool and a collectible digital asset.

Create subdomains for projects and developers

SNS supports subdomains such as pay.alice.sol, which projects and developers can use to create user-specific addresses or route different functions to separate on-chain destinations. Full subdomain coverage is in the developer section below.

Withdraw from exchanges using your .sol address

As of June 2025, some centralized exchanges have integrated SNS, allowing users to withdraw funds directly to a .sol domain name instead of a raw wallet address. Check current exchange support before relying on this feature.

How to register a .sol domain name on Solana Name Service

Registering a .sol domain requires a Solana-compatible non-custodial wallet and enough SOL tokens to cover the registration fee.

Don't have a wallet yet? Download Phantom Wallet (browser extension or mobile) or Solflare (browser and mobile). Both natively support SNS registration and .sol domain resolution.

Step-by-step: how to buy and register a .sol domain

1. Set up a Solana wallet. Install Phantom or Solflare. Both wallets support SNS and display your .sol domain NFT once registered.

2. Fund your wallet with SOL tokens. If the current interface requires SOL, acquire only the amount needed through an available platform and transfer it to the correct wallet. Registration costs and network fees vary; confirm both before signing.

3. Go to sns.id and connect your wallet. Click "Connect wallet" and approve the connection request in Phantom or Solflare.

4. Search for your desired domain name. Type the name you want (without the .sol suffix) into the search bar. The platform shows whether the name is available or already registered.

5. Review the current term. Confirm the registration, expiration, and renewal conditions shown by the interface; do not rely on older guides for these terms.

6. Review the fee and confirm the transaction. Check the total cost on the registration screen, then approve the transaction in your wallet.

7. Registration complete. Your new domain NFT appears in your wallet within seconds. Share your .sol name in place of your wallet address.

Tip: Pricing can vary by name and current protocol terms. Review the live quote before signing.

How much does a .sol domain cost?

Pricing, payment assets, registration terms, and any renewal or expiration rules can change. Review the exact name, term, currency, and total shown by the official registration interface immediately before signing. A dated fee table should not be used as a current quote, and secondary-market listings do not establish a domain's fair value.

Solana Name Service vs ENS: how .sol and .eth domains compare

Solana Name Service (SNS) and Ethereum Name Service (ENS) are two established blockchain naming protocols, each operating on a different Layer-1 blockchain and serving users of different ecosystems.

SNS vs ENS comparison table

The table below compares SNS and ENS alongside AllDomains (formerly ANS, an alternative Solana naming protocol) across seven dimensions.

As of June 2025. Fees are estimates and subject to change. Visit each protocol's official site for current pricing.

ENS benefits from Ethereum's larger developer ecosystem and broader brand recognition. SNS offers lower per-transaction costs: Solana's Proof of History (PoH) timekeeping mechanism, used alongside Proof of Stake consensus, (Solana's speed-enabling consensus architecture) enables transaction times and fees that make SNS registration significantly cheaper than registering an ENS .eth domain.

Which blockchain naming service is right for you?

The right naming service depends on which blockchain you use day to day. If you primarily use Solana for payments and DeFi, SNS integrates natively with your existing wallet setup and dApps. If you use Ethereum, ENS is the equivalent service for your ecosystem. If you want to register names under multiple top-level domains (TLDs) on Solana, AllDomains (formerly ANS) offers broader options than SNS's exclusive .sol focus.

.sol domain value: what determines the price of a Solana domain?

Because .sol domains are minted as NFTs (non-fungible tokens) on the Solana blockchain, they carry the same transferability and tradability as any other on-chain digital asset. A registered .sol domain can be held, transferred, or sold on the secondary market.

One marketplace used for buying and selling .sol domain assets is Magic Eden. Some premium domains are also listed for secondary purchase directly on sns.id.

What makes a .sol domain more valuable?

Disclaimer: This section describes factors that may influence .sol domain pricing. It is not financial advice. The value of digital assets, including .sol domain NFTs, is speculative and not guaranteed. Do not purchase digital assets with funds you cannot afford to lose.

Several factors influence how much a .sol domain trades for on the secondary market:

• Character length. Shorter domains (1 to 4 characters) command significant price premiums due to scarcity. Single-character and two-character domains trade at the highest floor prices (the lowest listed price for a .sol domain NFT on the secondary market).
• Dictionary words. Common English words have higher demand because they function as recognizable, memorable identities.
• Brand relevance. Domains that match known projects, brands, or personal names carry premium demand from parties who want that specific name.
• Secondary market activity. Active trading on Magic Eden with consistent sales volume signals genuine demand rather than speculative listing.
• Solana ecosystem growth. Broader adoption of Solana and SNS across wallets and exchanges increases both utility and speculative demand for names.

How to sell a .sol domain

As of June 2025, the standard process for selling a .sol domain on the secondary market:

1. Go to Magic Eden and connect your Solana wallet.
2. Locate your .sol domain NFT in your wallet inventory on the platform and list it for sale at your desired price.
3. When a buyer completes the purchase, the NFT transfers to their wallet automatically and the payment transfers to yours.

Selling a .sol domain is a permanent ownership transfer. Once the NFT leaves your wallet, you no longer control the domain.

SNS for developers: subdomains, smart contracts, and integration

SNS exposes JavaScript and TypeScript SDKs, on-chain programs, and subdomain support for developers building on Solana. If you are here to register a personal .sol domain, skip ahead to the FAQ section. The guide above covers what you need.

SNS uses Solana on-chain programs (smart contracts) to handle all protocol operations: registration, ownership transfer, record storage, and name resolution. Developers can interact with these programs directly or through the official SDKs that Bonfida maintains. When integrated into a Solana dApp, SNS resolution allows your application to display human-readable .sol names instead of raw wallet addresses in user interfaces and transaction histories.

SNS also supports subdomains, one of the protocol's most useful developer-facing capabilities. A project can create user-specific subdomains under its primary domain. For example:

• pay.alice.sol can route to a separate payment address
• app.protocol.sol can represent a project's application, resolvable by any compatible dApp
• username.project.sol can serve as a per-user identity within a protocol

These subdomains resolve to on-chain data, not web servers, so they function differently from HTTP subdomains. A domain owner creates a subdomain record through the SNS on-chain program, and any compatible wallet or dApp can resolve it.

For full SDK reference, API documentation, and technical integration guides, visit Bonfida's technical documentation at docs.bonfida.org.

Related Solana Resources

For another identity and mobile-access use case, see the Solana Seeker phone overview. Current SOL market information is available on the SOL price page; readers who independently decide to acquire SOL for network fees can use the SOL/USDT spot market. Always verify the resolved destination address before signing a transfer.

FAQ: Solana Name Service

Who created Solana Name Service?

SNS was created by Bonfida, a Solana-native DeFi and infrastructure company. Bonfida launched the protocol in 2021 and continues to maintain it, with the official registration front-end at sns.id. The SNS protocol itself is decentralized; Bonfida operates the primary interface but does not own or control the registry.

What is a .sol domain used for?

A .sol domain replaces a long Solana wallet address with a memorable name, for example, alice.sol. Primary uses include sending and receiving crypto, establishing a Web3 identity across dApps, linking social handles for cross-platform recognition, and trading the domain as an NFT on secondary markets.

Is Solana Name Service an NFT?

Yes. When you register a .sol domain on Solana Name Service, it is minted as an NFT (non-fungible token) on the Solana blockchain. This means you hold provable on-chain ownership and can transfer or sell the domain like any other NFT in your wallet.

What blockchain is SNS built on?

SNS is built on the Solana (SOL) blockchain, a high-speed, low-cost Layer-1 network known for sub-cent transaction fees and fast confirmation times.

How do I register a .sol domain name?

To register a .sol domain: (1) Set up a Phantom or Solflare wallet with SOL tokens; (2) Go to sns.id and connect your wallet; (3) Search for your desired name and check availability; (4) review the current registration terms and confirm the transaction. See the full step-by-step registration guide for complete instructions.

How do I transfer a .sol domain?

Since .sol domains are NFTs, they can be transferred directly from your wallet using standard NFT transfer functionality in Phantom or Solflare, or listed and sold on Magic Eden. A transfer is a permanent ownership change. Once transferred, you no longer control the domain.

Can I use a .sol domain as a website?

.sol domains are not traditional web domains and do not serve HTTP content by default. They primarily resolve to Solana wallet addresses and on-chain data. Some projects have built tooling to point .sol domains to IPFS-hosted content, but web hosting is not their primary function.

Does Phantom Wallet support .sol domains?

Yes. Phantom Wallet natively resolves .sol domains. You can send SOL or SPL tokens to a .sol address directly in Phantom without entering the raw wallet address. Solflare also supports .sol domain resolution natively.

How does Solana Name Service resolve addresses?

When you send funds to a .sol domain, your wallet queries the SNS on-chain program (smart contract) on the Solana blockchain. The program looks up the wallet address stored in the registry for that domain name and routes your transaction there automatically.

Are .sol domain names a good investment?

A .sol name can have functional value as an identifier, but secondary-market value is speculative and may fall to zero. Name length, perceived desirability, registration terms, transferability, and marketplace liquidity can change. This article does not classify a domain as a good investment; evaluate it primarily for the intended use and verify all current terms.

Can I sell my .sol domain?

Yes. .sol domains are NFTs and can be sold on secondary marketplaces such as Magic Eden. List your domain as an NFT, set a price, and ownership transfers automatically when a buyer completes the purchase. See the selling guide for the step-by-step process.

Is a .sol domain worth buying?

A .sol domain is worth registering if you regularly send or receive crypto on Solana, want a consistent Web3 identity across wallets and dApps, or are interested in owning a short, memorable domain name as a digital asset. Compare the current total cost and terms with the alternatives relevant to your use case. Whether the domain appreciates in value depends on demand and market conditions. This is not financial advice. See the domain value section for context.

Does SNS support subdomains?

Yes. SNS supports subdomains such as app.alice.sol or pay.protocol.sol. Domain owners and developers can create subdomains that resolve to separate wallet addresses or on-chain data, enabling advanced identity and routing use cases for projects and protocols.

Who is behind Solana Name Service?

Solana Name Service was built and is maintained by Bonfida, a Solana-native DeFi and infrastructure company. The official registration front-end is sns.id. Bonfida operates the primary interface, but the underlying protocol is open and decentralized.

What is the difference between SNS and AllDomains?

SNS (Solana Name Service) focuses exclusively on .sol domains and is the original Solana naming protocol, launched in 2021. AllDomains (formerly ANS) is an alternative Solana naming protocol that supports multiple top-level domains (TLDs) beyond .sol. Both operate on the Solana blockchain and serve as naming layers for wallet addresses. The right choice depends on whether you want the .sol suffix specifically or access to a broader range of TLDs.