Handshake is a decentralized and permissionless naming protocol that serves as an alternative to centralized Certificate Authorities and naming systems. It aims to create a more secure, resilient, and socially useful internet by allowing every peer to validate and manage the root DNS naming zone. Unlike existing systems that rely on centralized actors vulnerable to hacking, censorship, and corruption, Handshake puts control in the hands of network participants.

By running Handshake, individuals can participate in a decentralized open naming platform secured by a peer-to-peer network. The protocol provides a base layer for the decentralized internet, ensuring secure naming and minimal global consensus. It offers an alternative to certificate authorities by using a decentralized trust anchor and enables lightweight name resolutions and certificates.

Through economic incentives and a coin system, Handshake prevents sybil attacks and encourages participation from the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) community. Join Handshake to be part of the movement towards a more decentralized and secure internet