August 8, 2026
Namebase Sunset Guide
Withdraw Your Assets and Migrate Your Registry
Last Updated: August 2026
The legacy Namebase platform will permanently close on October 1, 2026.
The legacy platform is now available for withdraw only at: https://sunset.namebase.io
Before that date, every Namebase user should withdraw all remaining assets, including:
Handshake TLDs
Previously staked Handshake TLDs
Handshake (HNS)
Bitcoin (BTC)
After October 1, 2026, the normal withdrawal process will no longer be available. Remaining assets will require a manual recovery process that includes additional verification, longer processing times, and administrative costs.
IMPORTANT: Transfer your TLDs before withdrawing your HNS.
- Each TLD transfer requires 1 HNS.
If you withdraw all of your HNS first, you may not have enough remaining to pay the network fee required to transfer your names. As a general rule:
5 TLDs → reserve at least 5 HNS
25 TLDs → reserve at least 25 HNS
100 TLDs → reserve at least 100 HNS
Withdraw your remaining HNS and BTC only after every TLD transfer has been submitted.
Step 1 — Prepare a Self-Custody Wallet
Before moving any assets, make sure you have wallets that you control.
For Handshake assets you may use:
Legacy Bob Wallet at bobwallet.io
Recent Fork of Bob Wallet at bobwallet.org
ShakeWallet https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/mjjjcbjgeiigcajppjbceofojddmomla?utm_source=item-share-cb
Any other Handshake-compatible wallet
For Bitcoin, use any wallet that gives you control of your wallet credentials.
Be sure you're using the correct wallet for each asset:
Handshake addresses receive HNS and Handshake TLDs.
Bitcoin addresses receive BTC.
Never send HNS to a Bitcoin address.
Never send BTC to a Handshake address.
If you're using Bob Wallet:
Allow it to fully synchronize before expecting transferred assets to appear.
To speed up synchronization, go to Settings → Network & Connection and enable SPV Node.
Back up your recovery phrase and store it securely offline.
Never share your recovery phrase or send it to Namebase support.
Step 2 — Get Your Receiving Addresses
You'll need receiving addresses before transferring assets.
In your wallet, select one of the following:
Receive
Receive HNS
Receive Bitcoin
Receive Name
Deposit
Copy the address directly from your wallet.
Before every withdrawal or transfer, verify:
You're transferring the correct asset.
The destination wallet supports that asset.
The pasted address exactly matches your wallet.
Blockchain transactions are generally irreversible.
Step 3 — Sign Into Sunset
Visit: https://sunset.namebase.io
Sign in using your existing Namebase account. If you previously signed in with GitHub, reset your password using the email address associated with that GitHub account. After signing in, review every section of your account.
Your account may contain:
Unstaked TLDs
Previously staked TLDs
HNS
BTC
Each asset type must be withdrawn separately.
Step 4 — Transfer Your Unstaked TLDs
Before moving any coins:
Open the TLD in Sunset.
Select Transfer.
Paste your Handshake wallet receiving address.
Verify the destination.
Confirm the transfer.
Handshake transfers take approximately 48 hours.
During this period the transfer may appear pending. This waiting period is part of the Handshake protocol.
Do not submit duplicate transfers simply because the name has not yet appeared in your wallet.
Transferred names are automatically renewed as part of the Handshake transfer process.
Step 5 — Previously Staked TLDs
Previously staked TLDs require one additional step before they can be transferred.
Go to: https://namebase.io
Navigate to: Account → TLDs
Previously staked TLDs will appear with a Pending status and a Finish Listing button.
From there you have two choices:
Option A — Delist
Choose Delist if you no longer wish to operate your TLD through the Namebase Registry.
Delisting:
Removes the TLD from Namebase search.
Prevents new registrations through Namebase.
Does not transfer ownership of the TLD.
Allows you to continue operating the TLD independently.
After completing the delist process:
Return to sunset.namebase.io
Locate the TLD.
Select Transfer.
Enter your Handshake receiving address.
Confirm the transfer.
The protocol transfer takes approximately 48 hours.
Option B — Migrate
Choose Migrate if you want to continue operating your registry through the new non-custodial Namebase Registry.
Migration allows you to:
Continue offering SLD registrations.
Set pricing and premium names.
Reserve names.
Run promotions.
Chat with buyers.
Receive registration payments directly into your own wallet.
Operate without Namebase taking custody of registration proceeds.
To migrate:
Go to namebase.io
Navigate to Account → TLDs
Select Finish Listing
Choose Migrate
Accept the Registry Services Agreement
Follow the on-screen instructions
Important: Migration is not withdrawal.
Even after migration, you must return to sunset.namebase.io and transfer the underlying TLD into your own wallet.
Step 6 — VERY IMPORTANT: Complete Registry Setup (Migrated Registries Only)
If you migrated your registry, complete the remaining setup.
This includes:
Pointing your TLD to the Namebase nameservers.
Removing conflicting NS, DS, GLUE, or SYNTH records.
Verifying ownership by signing a message.
Configuring registry pricing.
Adding your Handshake payout key.
Optionally enabling Bitcoin payouts.
Only registry operators who choose to migrate need to complete these steps.
Step 7 — Withdraw Your HNS
Once every TLD transfer has been submitted:
Open your HNS balance in Sunset.
Select Withdraw.
Paste your Handshake receiving address.
Verify the destination.
Confirm the withdrawal.
Wait for confirmation.
Step 8 — Withdraw Your BTC
After withdrawing HNS:
Open your BTC balance.
Select Withdraw.
Paste your Bitcoin receiving address.
Verify the destination.
Confirm the withdrawal.
Wait for confirmation.
Never send BTC to a Handshake address or HNS to a Bitcoin address.
Final Checklist
Before October 1, 2026, confirm that you've:
Transferred every unstaked TLD.
Transferred every previously staked TLD.
Migrated or delisted every registry (if applicable).
Withdrawn all HNS.
Withdrawn all BTC.
Withdrawn any other supported assets.
If you migrated a registry, remember:
Migration does not withdraw your TLD.
Every TLD and every coin balance must be separately transferred out of Sunset before the deadline.
Begin early. Handshake TLD transfers take approximately 48 hours, and support volume is expected to increase as the deadline approaches.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Why do I need to transfer my TLDs before withdrawing HNS?
Each TLD transfer requires 1 HNS. If you withdraw all of your HNS first, you may not have enough remaining to transfer your names.
What happened to staking?
The new platform no longer uses staking. Instead, registry operators retain ownership of their TLDs in their own wallets while choosing whether to list them through the non-custodial Namebase Registry.
Does migrating move my TLD out of Sunset?
No. Migration only transfers registry data and services. You must still transfer the underlying TLD out of sunset.namebase.io into a wallet you control.
Why does a transfer take about 48 hours?
The waiting period is part of the Handshake protocol and is not imposed by Namebase.
What happens after October 1, 2026?
The Sunset platform will close. Remaining assets will require a manual recovery process involving additional verification, longer processing times, and administrative costs.
Need Help?
If you encounter any issues during the migration or withdrawal process, contact:
Please include:
Your Namebase account email
The affected asset or TLD
A description of the issue
Relevant transaction IDs
Screenshots, if applicable
Never send:
Private keys
Recovery phrases
Seed phrases
Wallet passwords