Nostr Web Client

**NIP-69 is being proposed to use the Stacks blockchain and BNS .btc name system for Nostr Names**

The proposal states to use the Stacks "Bitcoin Name System", which has nothing to do with Bitcoin, but uses that name for name recognition only, as a new *"Nostr Names"* implementation. This is being proposed as an improvement to NIP-05 IDs. As a NIP-05 ID service provider, I will agree that the NIP-05 is not perfect, but NIP-69 is **not the solution**.

The Nostr Names NIP-69 proposal states that NIP-05 is flawed because:

* DNS names are controlled by the state and 3rd parties

* they're expensive, need to own a server, ssl, etc

* you need to be skilled to do it

The first key point is true, DNS names are controlled by third parties. That's something we can't fix yet.

The second point about being expensive is completely false. Domain names are fairly cheap and you don't need to pay for SSL certificates, nor do you need to own a server.

*For example: derekross.me costs me $12 a year. The server is a Rapsberry Pi 4. The SSL certificate is free from Let's Encrypt.*

The third point is partially false. The skill required isn't incredible, but it probably is too much for the average person to handle. This leads us to third party services such as NostrPlebs.com providing ID services for customers. This can lead to some centralization and trust, but we will reach a point where certain providers are better than others. Some providers will allow anyone to register, some will charge for this service, some will provide additional perks and support to their members. As time progresses, clear leaders in this new industry will merge and providers will be known and judged by their reputations, services, and support.

"Nostr Names" states the following are benefits to using NIP-69:

* use the centralized service btc.us to register a name

* learn how to use Stacks Clarity language and programmatically register your name

* use the Stacks blockchain, run a Stacks node

So, it sounds like you need to use a centralized service and you need to be skilled to register a NIP-69 Nostr Name, doesn't it? I thought these were issues that NIP-69 was trying to solve for NIP-05?

It costs about $10 for 5 years, so a BNS name is cheaper. That's a plus.

**But you still need to use Stacks.**

I like the effort here as NIP-05 is not perfect, but I'm sorry, I'm going to say no to this one.

[Source](https://www.newinternetlabs.com/blog/nostr-names/)

yunginter.net 2y ago

I spent an evening a month ago going through all the different solutions and open endly asked fiatjaf if he found any of the current decentralized domain systems preferable, which he did not. all the current solutions to this all seem to be shit. Hopefully nostr inspires someone to do something similar for domains, but with no underlying token / blockchain, not really because nostr needs this, but because domains need it.

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Discussion

nothenry 2y ago

Are there any PoW based ideas out there?

yunginter.net 2y ago

I’m honestly not well versed enough, I think namecoin is/was PoW based to some extent, not sure the actual registration of the name was maybe just the storage. A lot of these don’t see enough adoption to easily find well versed counter arguments as to why they aren’t desirable.

I feel I have to qualify again, I don’t think nostr needs this. My other critiques about providing publishers an expected field to declare a human readable source are unrelated to this.