Identity Layer

Identity is the foundation of any communication system. In Web2, this role is played by email addresses — identifiers issued and controlled by centralized providers. They appear simple and familiar, yet their ownership is fragile: users cannot freely trade them, move them across providers, or cryptographically prove authorship. In Web3, identity must be sovereign, transferable, verifiable, and censorship-resistant. SolMail introduces a dual identity model — [e-mail] handles and .mail domains — designed for user flexibility, organizational control, and long-term resilience.

[e-mail] (Handle)

The [e-mail] handle is the most user-friendly entry point into SolMail. It mirrors the familiar format of email addresses while mapping directly to a wallet on Solana. For a new user, this is critical: they can communicate without learning complex key strings, ENS-style domains, or new conventions.

• Every handle is represented as a non-fungible token (NFT), which confers true ownership and portability. A user may trade or lease their handle in secondary markets, an impossibility with Gmail or Outlook identifiers.

• Unlike Web2 addresses, the binding between handle and wallet is enforced by Solana’s state machine, not a centralized registrar. This ensures that even if SolMail ceases to exist, the handle continues to be resolvable on-chain.

• Users are free to operate pseudonymously (a random handle bound to a wallet) or with identity verification (linking a handle to a verified entity). This flexibility acknowledges the dual needs of privacy and legitimacy.

By design, the handle is optional: any wallet can receive SolMail messages, even if no handle is claimed. This keeps the system open, permissionless, and inclusive.

.mail Domains (NFT)

The second component of the identity layer is the .mail domain namespace. Domains like alice.mail, dao.mail, or org.mail are minted as on-chain NFTs. They function as sovereign namespaces, comparable to DNS domains but enforced entirely by smart contracts.

• Ownership and tradability: A .mail domain is an asset — transferable, saleable, leasable — under the full control of its holder.

• Organizational use: DAOs, companies, or collectives can claim domains such as dao.mail and subdivide them into role-based or departmental inboxes (finance.dao.mail, support.dao.mail).

• Programmability: Unlike DNS, which requires middleware for payments or governance, .mail domains inherit Solana’s programmability. This allows automated subscriptions, role changes, and cross-app resolution without intermediaries.

The .mail namespace creates a parallel identity plane: one that is organization-first, asset-driven, and composable with Web3 primitives.

Separation & Optional Linkage

A defining principle of SolMail is that handles and domains are independent.

• A user may operate only with a handle ([e-mail]), only with a domain (alice.mail), or both.

• If desired, they can link the two, mapping alice.mail to [e-mail] for human-readable routing and branding.

This separation avoids the namespace monopolization problem that plagues DNS and ENS. No actor can corner both the address and the domain space. It also protects users: losing a domain does not revoke their handle, and vice versa.

Resolution & Discovery

Behind the UX simplicity lies a deterministic resolution system:

• Mappings: Handles ↔ Wallets ↔ Domains ↔ Solana Name Service (.sol) identifiers.

• Caching rules: Clients can store verified resolutions for performance while relying on cryptographic proofs for integrity.

• Universal messaging: Anyone can send to a wallet using any of its identities. Whether the sender knows 0x…, [e-mail], or alice.mail, the system ensures that messages reach the same target.

This makes SolMail both backward-compatible with wallets and forward-compatible with traditional email metaphors. It creates a bridge for adoption while remaining trustless.

Reserved Names Policy

Identity systems must grapple with impersonation and brand squatting. SolMail addresses this through a transparent, governance-driven release process:

• Sunrise Period: Institutions, verified brands, and ecosystem partners may pre-claim names to prevent phishing vectors.

• Claims and Disputes: A structured, on-chain process allows legitimate rights holders to contest names.

• Community Oversight: All rules are enforced by MailDAO, ensuring no centralized authority decides unilaterally.

Unlike Web2 registries, this process is open, auditable, and amendable by governance vote.