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Wallet Name System (WNS)

Overview

The Wallet Name System (WNS) is a protocol and software system designed to revolutionise how users interact with cryptographic wallet addresses. Current hexadecimal addresses are unwieldy, error-prone, and a barrier to mainstream adoption. WNS introduces human-readable, memorable aliases for these addresses (e.g. alice@example.com), drawing inspiration from the familiarity of the email system.

At its core, WNS leverages Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology to ensure that this user-friendly naming system does not compromise user privacy or security. Instead of publicly linking names to addresses, WNS allows for private linkage and verifiable interactions. Users can prove ownership of a name, direct transactions, or attest to attributes associated with their WNS identifier, all without unnecessarily revealing their underlying wallet addresses or sensitive data to the public or counterparties until strictly required by the transaction protocol itself. This enhances usability, reduces phishing risks, and opens new avenues for private yet verifiable digital interactions.