Digital id · Review
ActiveBase Name Service Review 2026: Onchain Names on Base
Base Name Service, branded Basenames, lets people register human-readable names for their wallet on the Base network. It is an ENS-style identity tool built into the Coinbase-backed chain, useful mostly for users who already live on Base.
By the DappsAtlas editorial team · Updated
DappsAtlas score
6.8/10
Good
Our verdict on Base Name Service
6.8/10Base Name Service suits people who already use Base and want a readable name instead of a raw wallet address. Its strength is that it sits inside the Base ecosystem and follows the well-known ENS model. The main caveat is that pricing, renewal terms and audit details are not published in the material reviewed, and a name is only as useful as the number of apps that support it. Check the cost on the registration page before you commit.
Score breakdown
How Base Name Service scores
- Security
- 7.0/10
- Ease of use
- 7.5/10
- Fees
- n/a
- Features
- 6.0/10
Scores run from 0 to 10 and are based only on facts we could verify. Where information was missing we mark the score n/a rather than guess.
What is Base Name Service?
Base Name Service, shown on the official Base site as Basenames, is a naming system for the Base blockchain. It lets anyone register a human-readable name for their wallet so they can use a name instead of a long address.
Base is the Ethereum-based network built by Coinbase. Coverage from August 2024 describes Basenames as inspired by ENS, the naming service on Ethereum, and the Base site calls it a core onchain building block for establishing identity on the network.
The service is a utility rather than a trading or earning product. Its value depends on how many apps, wallets and communities on Base recognise and display these names. The team, audit history and pricing for the naming contracts are not detailed in the material reviewed.
How Base Name Service works
A naming service maps a short, readable name to a wallet address. Instead of copying a long hexadecimal address, a sender types a name, and apps that support the service look up which address it points to. Basenames does this on Base, using names that end in base.eth.
The registration and records are stored onchain, so the owner controls the name from their wallet. Users register a name through the Base names page, sign a transaction and pay the fee shown. Once registered, the name can serve as an identity across apps on Base.
The Base site also lists follow-up steps for a registered name, such as adding a project to the Onchain Registry, getting roles on Base Guild, applying for a Rounds grant and getting a verification. Details of how each of these works are not given in the materials reviewed.
6 features
Key features
01
Human-readable wallet names
Register a name that stands in for a long wallet address, so payments and profiles are easier to share.
02
Built on Base
Names live onchain on Base, which the homepage describes as sub-second and low-cost, with fees of a fraction of a cent.
03
ENS-style model
Basenames are described as inspired by ENS, so the model of mapping a name to an address will be familiar to ENS users.
04
Profile building
The Base site points to profile steps such as adding a project to the Onchain Registry and getting a verification.
05
Ecosystem access
Snippets mention roles on Base Guild and Rounds grants as things a named, verified profile can access.
06
Direct claim links
Claim links on the official Base site let a specific name be searched and claimed directly.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Turns long wallet addresses into readable names that are easier to share.
- Built into Base, the Coinbase-built network that the homepage describes as low-cost and fast.
- Follows the familiar ENS model, which lowers the learning curve for existing crypto users.
- Official Base pages link names to profile steps such as verification and the Onchain Registry.
- Direct claim links make it simple to look up and register a specific name.
Watch out for
- Registration pricing and renewal terms are not described, so users must check them at sign-up.
- Names are tied to a single chain, so value depends on how widely apps on Base and beyond resolve them.
- No audit reports or team details for the naming contracts are published in the material reviewed.
- Looks like ENS, so people can confuse a Basename with an Ethereum mainnet name when sharing addresses.
- Gas costs and any registration fee are paid in crypto, which adds a hurdle for newcomers without a funded wallet.
Base Name Service fees
The materials reviewed do not publish a Basename price, renewal term or discount structure. The registration page on the official Base site is where a user would see the cost of a specific name before confirming.
On top of any registration fee, a transaction on Base needs gas. The Base homepage describes transactions as costing a fraction of a cent, but actual costs vary with network conditions.
Is Base Name Service safe?
Basenames runs on Base, which the homepage describes as built on Ethereum and carrying the same security focus as Coinbase products. The materials reviewed do not include audit reports, a bug-bounty scope for the naming contracts, or a description of how names can be recovered if a wallet is lost.
The main user risks are wallet-related: losing access to the wallet that owns the name, signing a malicious transaction on a lookalike site, or sending funds to the wrong name. Always check the address in your wallet prompt and register only through the official Base site. A name is an onchain record, so a mistake is usually not reversible.
6 steps
How to get started with Base Name Service
- 1
Set up a self-custody wallet that supports Base and keep your recovery phrase offline.
- 2
Fund the wallet with a small amount of ETH on Base to cover gas and any registration fee.
- 3
Open the names page from the official Base site and search for the name you want.
- 4
Review the price and registration length shown for that name before confirming.
- 5
Approve the transaction in your wallet and wait for confirmation.
- 6
Set the name as your primary name and optionally add profile details such as a project or verification.
Who Base Name Service is for
It is for Base users, builders and community members who want a simple onchain identity and a shareable name. It is less relevant for people who never use Base or who only need a name on Ethereum mainnet.
Base Name Service FAQs
What is Base Name Service?
Basenames is a naming service on the Base network. It lets users register a readable name for their wallet address instead of sharing a long string of characters. It was announced in August 2024 and is described as inspired by ENS.
What does a Basename look like?
Basenames follow the.base.eth pattern, for example a name ending in base.eth, as seen in the claim links on the official Base site. The name points to your wallet address and can be used as an onchain identity.
How much does a Basename cost?
The materials reviewed do not publish a price or renewal schedule. Users should check the registration page on the official Base site, which shows the cost for a given name before they confirm, plus the network gas fee on Base.
Is a Basename the same as an ENS name?
No. Basenames are built for the Base network and are inspired by ENS, which runs on Ethereum. They are separate systems with separate registrations, so a name on one does not automatically exist on the other.
What can I do with a Basename?
Search snippets from the Base site mention ways to build your profile after registering. These include adding a project to the Onchain Registry, getting roles on Base Guild, applying for a Rounds grant and getting a verification.
Is Base Name Service safe?
Base is built on Ethereum and operated with Coinbase, but the materials reviewed do not list audits for the naming contracts. As with any onchain product, use a wallet you control, check the address you are signing with, and avoid lookalike sites.
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How we checked
Sources
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