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Getting Started with Coinbase Decentralized ID

Mailchain users can use their Coinbase Decentralized IDs (.cb.id) to send and receive web3 mail. It’s simple to get started…

Introduction

Coinbase is working with the Ethereum Name Service (ENS), a decentralized identity infrastructure provider, to offer Coinbase-managed web3 usernames free to users.

A Coinbase username is a decentralized form of ID that allows you to personalize your wallet address, making it easier to access web3 and for others to locate, remember and send funds to your wallet through your Coinbase username (for example, using username.cb.id instead of 0x7ec…).

Your Coinbase username (username.cb.id) is a “subdomain” tied to Coinbase’s Domain Name System (DNS) domain (cb.id), which is also registered under the ENS protocol. Source: Coinbase Help


Add Your Coinbase Decentralized ID To Mailchain

Prerequisites:

  • You own a .cb.id username (see here)
  • You have a Mailchain account (see here)

Step 1: Connect your wallet

Follow these steps to connect and register an existing blockchain wallet address:

  1. Once you have signed into Mailchain, head to your Inbox (https://app.mailchain.com/inbox)

  2. Click 'Register your wallet'

    register a wallet
  3. Select a wallet provider which supports the wallet address you are registering (e.g. Metamask for Ethereum and all other EVM addresses)

    select your wallet provider
  4. Click 'Connect'

    connect your wallet
  5. Select the address you would like to register, then click 'Next'

    select the wallet address to register
  6. Click 'Connect' to confirm Mailchain should be able to read your address

    click connect button

Your wallet is now connected.

Step 2: Verify your address

  1. You can now register your wallet address with Mailchain. To do this click 'Verify Address'.

    advanced option

    By default, Mailchain is able to receive messages for your existing blockchain wallet address before you sign up. If you do not wish to retrieve these messages, un-check the option to 'Retrieve messages sent to my address prior to registering'.

    verify address
  2. A 'Signature Request' will appear in your wallet. It contains the following text:

    Message:
    Welcome to Mailchain!

    Please sign to start using this address with Mailchain. This will not trigger a blockchain transaction or cost any gas fees.

    What's happening?
    A messaging key will be registered with this address and used only for messaging. It will replace any existing registered messaging keys.

    Technical Details:
    Address: your_address
    Messaging key: a_generated_messaging_key
    Nonce: a_number

    Review the request

  3. Click 'Sign'

    review signature, then sign message

Your wallet is now verified.

Step 3: Adding your .cd.id decentralized ID

  1. The next step checks for any supported Web3 domain names. To add a .cb.id decentralized id, enter the name into the manual search.

    manually searching for supported names

    The example below found allofweb3.cb.id

    decentralized identity found
    note

    If your name still cannot be resolved, please see Coinbase FAQs for troubleshooting tips.

  2. Click 'Apply' to save your changes.

    apply customization

Step 4: Disconnect your wallet

  1. Click 'Disconnect' to disconnect your wallet from Mailchain.

    click disconnect button

    You have successfully registered your wallet address with a set of messaging keys that belong to your Mailchain account. You no longer need to have wallet connected to send and receive messages.

  2. You now have the option to 'Go To Inbox' or to 'Register Another Address'.

    choose Go To Inbox or Register Another Address

    You will see your new sub-inbox in the left sidebar.

    sub-inbox image

How To Send A Message Using Your .cb.id Username

With Mailchain you can send Mailchain message from your .cb.id username to other Mailchain users.

Prerequisites

  • You own a .cb.id username (see here)
  • You have a Mailchain account (see here)
  • You have added your .cb.id username to Mailchain (see above)

Compose And Send A Message From Your .cb.id Username

  1. Log into your Mailchain account.

  2. Click 'Compose' in the sidebar.

  3. In the New Message window, click the “From” dropdown menu and select your .cb.id username.

  4. Fill out the rest of the message, then click Send

  5. Your message should be successfully sent.

Done! Your recipient will receive your message from your .cb.id username.