What is Solana Name Service (SNS)?
The Solana Name Service (SNS) is a simple way to make cryptocurrencies easier to use on Solana. Instead of sending crypto to a long wallet address commonly called public key, SNS lets you register a human-readable name ending in .sol. Instead of the public key, the name.sol can be used to receive tokens or NFTs from another Solana address. As a guide for this article, For example, I purchased the name clergypriest.sol to show how SNS works on the Solana blockchain.
SNS is More Than Transfers
SNS names can also be used for websites and decentralized apps (dApps). Some Solana projects use SNS names for identity, logins, or community features. It adds more utility beyond just payments. For Solana developers, SNS can help create a better UX to serve their customers.
How It Works
When you buy an SNS name, it links directly to your Solana wallet. You can share this name instead of your full address when receiving SOL, tokens, or NFTs. Some apps and wallets such as Phantom and Solflare can auto-detect SNS names andd route transactions to the address linked underneath. SNS makes transfers faster while it reduces the number of mistakes that can be made when a long public key is used.
Why Use SNS?
SNS takes the hassle out of copying and verifying long crypto addresses. It helps make Solana feel more user-friendly for everyone—newcomers and experienced users alike. Names can also be sold or traded on secondary markets if you grab something valuable early.
Initially, I searched for Priest.sol but it was registered by another user a long time ago. I think clergypriest.sol should work. SNS provides related names that can be registered if a particular domain namee is unavailable.
To purchase a domain name using crypto, users can deposit SOL, USDC or USDT. SNS also allows payment through its Credit Card offering. The average cost of domains is usually $20 but I enjoyed a discount in image use.
The SNS Profile page serves as a dashboard for managing all that is related to the domain name purchased. Users can add their X and Discord account, verify ownership of the domain check other details such as storage details in IPFS and Arweave. Clicking “List” underneath the domain on the left side of the page displays the screen beelow.
Listing a domain is putting the domain up for sale. You can customize the amount you want to list the domain for. It will be published on the general marketplacee as shown in the Marketplace section.
Marketplace
Just as it is easy to purchase a .sol domain name, the team behind SNS created a marketplace for sellers to connect easily with buyers. The SNS marketplace as shown below makes it possible for users to transfer ownership of domain names to others without the risk of getting scammed.
Subdomain
Subdomains are prefixes added to the main .sol domain like “soladex.clergypriest.sol” where soladex is the subdomain and clergypriest.sol is the main domain. Similar to how subdomains are used on the traditional internet, SNS subdomains can be used to separate different sections or functionalities of a wallet. For better organization, a user might create a subdomain like "blog.mainwallet.sol" to manage a blog associated with their main .sol domain.
Advanced
In the Advanced section of the page below, a domain name can be sent to another address. Any new wallet that receives the domain receives used to. For more functionalities, users can create subdomains on their domains.
Conclusion
The Solana Name Service is one of the tools helping to make crypto more accessible, social, and simple. By allowing users to replace complex wallet addresses with easy-to-remember names, it streamlines transactions the overall user experience on Solana.
