Editing Alternative DNS root (section)

=== Handshake ===
''Handshake'' is a [[Decentralization|decentralized]] implementation of a [[DNS root zone]] using [[blockchain]] and [[cryptocurrency]] technology to create a [[peer-to-peer]] alternative to the 13 root name servers managed by [[ICANN]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Decentralized naming and certificate authority An experimental peer-to-peer root naming system|url=https://handshake.org/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Handshake|language=en}}</ref>

Unlike other attempts, Handshake does not aim to replace the existing DNS; rather, it seeks to supplement and enhance it by allowing anyone to bid, register, and manage their own TLDs without an intermediate registrar or delegating authority. Since the [[root zone file]] records are not centrally managed, and instead are stored on a public blockchain, owners of Handshake TLDs can add or change top-level [[resource record]]s to delegate [[authoritative name server]]s and set up [[Domain Name System Security Extensions|DNSSEC]] zone signing directly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The ambitious plan to reinvent how websites get their names|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2019/06/04/239039/the-ambitious-plan-to-make-the-internets-phone-book-more-trustworthy/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=A crypto project to make internet names censorship-proof is now live|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/02/07/844900/handshake-network-dns-live/|access-date=2020-12-08|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en}}</ref>

Existing TLDs are reserved in the Handshake blockchain such that resolving traditional domain names (i.e. zones under [[.com]], [[.org]], [[.net]], etc.) through a Handshake node or name server are directed back to ICANN's root servers. In addition, the top 100,000 most popular domains are reserved as Handshake TLDs which can be redeemed by the original domain owner.<ref name=":0" />