
When you link a custom domain to your Portrait, you're proving ownership in a way that's verifiable by anyone, anywhere, without trusting Portrait's servers or any centralized authority.

Like most platforms, Portrait uses DNS TXT records for domain verification. But unlike traditional platforms, Portrait's verification is cryptographically signed using your onchain identity. Instead of checking a DNS record, storing the result in a database, and deciding whether you're "approved," Portrait's system lets anyone verify the connection independently.

> Linking your custom domain to your Portrait is available to Portrait Plus subscribers.

## How it works

Every Portrait has an associated Portrait ID, which is a unique numeric identifier stored onchain. Your Portrait ID is linked to your Ethereum wallet address.

When you link a domain to your Portrait, you're proving two things:

1. You control the Ethereum wallet that owns the Portrait ID
2. You control the DNS settings for the domain you're linking

The process is straightforward, but the details matter. When you link a domain to your Portrait, here's what happens:

### You sign a message with your Ethereum identity

You sign a message with your Ethereum wallet. The message format is simple:

```
{domain}={portraitId}
```

For example: `example.com=12345`

This creates an <a href="https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-191" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EIP-191</a> compliant signature, a cryptographic proof that you control the wallet associated with your Portrait.

### You add a DNS TXT record to your domain

The signature is then included in a DNS TXT record on your domain, together with your Portrait ID. This record serves as public proof that you control both the domain and the Portrait.

You add a TXT record to your domain's DNS settings with hostname `@` and a value like:

```
"portraitId=12345 signature=0xabc123..."
```

This proves you control the domain itself.

### Anyone can verify the connection

Here's where it gets interesting. DNS records are public by nature, so anyone can read the TXT record you added. The signature in the record can be used to verify that the domain is linked to the correct Portrait ID.

Anyone can verify the connection by:

1. Reading the DNS TXT record from your domain by querying DNS
   - You can use standard DNS lookup tools like `dig` to fetch the TXT record.
2. Extracting the `portraitId` and `signature`
3. Recovering the signer address from the signature (using the message `{domain}={portraitId}`)
4. Checking onchain that this address owns the claimed Portrait ID, using Portrait's smart contracts.
   - You can interact with the `PortraitIdRegistry` contract to verify ownership. Smart contracts are publicly accessible and <a href="https://github.com/portraitgg/portrait-contracts-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">open source</a>.
5. If the recovered address matches the owner of the Portrait ID, the domain ownership is verified.

No need to trust Portrait's servers. The proof exists independently. Even if Portrait goes offline, the verification can still be performed by anyone.

Portrait's proxy servers that serve Portraits on custom domains will check the DNS records and signatures to ensure the domain is correctly linked.

## Why this matters

Most people don't think about domain verification until something goes wrong. In 2025, a DNS hijacking attack on Aerodrome Finance and Velodrome Finance redirected their centralized domains to phishing sites.

When a domain gets hijacked, how do you prove that a bad actor controls it? And after recovery, how do you prove that you recovered control? Most common methods rely on communication via social media channels like X to announce changes. But how do users know those accounts weren't compromised too?

Domain registrars are more vulnerable than private keys, as they can be compromised, social engineered, or coerced. But your Ethereum private key is under your control.

Similar to how Vitalik used <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2017/06/26/proof-of-life-vitalik-buterin-uses-ethereum-to-disprove-death-hoax" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ethereum to prove he was alive during a death hoax</a>, you can use your Ethereum identity to prove domain ownership and control of both the domain and the Portrait, from anywhere in the world, from any social platform, without relying on centralized intermediaries.

---

View Portrait's contracts yourself on <a href="https://github.com/portraitgg/portrait-contracts-public">GitHub</a>, and stay informed and engaged by following updates on [X](https://x.com/withportrait).


How domains are verified on Portrait with Ethereum


Today, we are removing the ten-dollar registration fee. Portrait is now open to everyone, at no cost.

When we introduced the fee, it served a clear purpose: protecting the network from bots and sybil attacks during the early, chaotic years of crypto. The space has matured, our defenses have improved, and we’re ready to open the doors.

**Disclaimer:** A Portrait has never been, and will never be, something you register for financial gain. It is not a ticket, a claim, or an investment. It is simply your place on the internet.

## For those who were early supporters

Those who joined early and paid the fee keep everything they already have: their name, their identity, their place in Portrait’s history. We want to acknowledge the people who helped carry Portrait through its earliest stages.

## Changes ahead

This change comes with a few updates. Portrait Plus will expand with new benefits. And because free registration removes an important filter, only Plus members will be able to participate in Discord chat going forward. New free accounts can read, but not post. Anyone who created their Portrait before today keeps full access.

## Making Portrait sustainable

Decentralized social is difficult by nature. The economics work against you, and yet the entire value of a network comes from the people who use it. Traditional social platforms are free for a reason. Charging at the door creates friction that holds decentralized networks back. It was time to remove it.

To sustain Portrait in the long term, we need a business model that aligns with users. The most realistic and healthy path is mindful, privacy-focused ads. Portrait Plus members will never see ads. For everyone else, ads should be ethical, minimal, and never invasive. Running Portrait is expensive, but it should not come at the cost of user trust.

---

Stay informed and engaged by visiting portrait.so, following updates on [X](https://x.com/withportrait), or joining our vibrant [Discord](https://discord.portrait.so) community.

Thank you for your continued support.


Portrait is now free for everyone


Today we are making changes to the Supporters plan to prepare for the future of Portrait. The Supporters plan is now called Plus, and the monthly price has changed from five to ten dollars per month. If you already have a subscription, your current expiry date will stay the same.

## Plus is the beginning of something new

This change is part of our broader effort to what we are shaping for the future of Portrait. We can’t wait to share more about what’s coming, and will soon give you a glimpse of what Plus means for you.

In the coming weeks, our team will be rolling out new features while connecting them directly to Points—giving Plus members an edge as we test, release, and refine what’s next.

## What's next?

We’re closely following how people use Plus, and we’re always learning from the way creators work. Your feedback helps guide what we build next. If you have questions, ideas, or run into something unexpected, reach out anytime — we’re here to help.

---

Stay informed and engaged by visiting portrait.so, following updates on [X](https://x.com/withportrait), or joining our vibrant [Discord](https://discord.portrait.so) community.

Thank you for your continued support.


Supporters is now Plus


Today we're introducing Points—a simple yet powerful way to acknowledge and reward those who bring value to the Portrait ecosystem. It's launching this Thursday, and we couldn't be more excited.

On Portrait you can do two things: publish your own content and keep someone else’s content online. Most people float between the two, but it’s totally fine if you don’t. Some focus more on hosting than creating; others just want to design their own Portrait and call it a day. Points respect both paths.

If you are mostly a host, every hour your node stays up counts. If you’re mostly a creator, everything you share counts. And if you hop back and forth, Points add it all up just the same.

## How Points Work

Starting this Thursday, everyone who registers a Portrait on our testnet will be able to earn Points. Actions like actively hosting Portraits, engaging positively with the community, or contributing meaningful content will directly earn you Points. It's a straightforward approach designed to fairly reflect your contribution to the network's health and vibrancy. As we move toward mainnet, these insights will guide the design of fair, transparent reward structures.

## Eligibility

Points are available exclusively for users who have registered a Portrait. This ensures that rewards remain directly connected to meaningful contributions and genuine community engagement. We understand the skepticism around points and reward systems. We've deliberately designed Portrait Points to avoid these pitfalls.

## What's Next?

We invite everyone to join us in testing and shaping this next phase. Your participation is more than just earning Points—it's helping us build a sustainable, expressive, and genuinely empowering space on the decentralized web.

Join us this Thursday and start earning Points. Your contributions make Portrait stronger.

---

Stay informed and engaged by visiting portrait.so, following updates on [X](https://x.com/withportrait), or joining our vibrant [Discord](https://discord.portrait.so) community.


Announcing Points


Today we're introducing the Open Internet Protocol (OIP)—an open-source, decentralized protocol for building scalable, privacy-focused, and censorship-resistant social applications.

At Portrait, we've spent the past three years learning firsthand which decentralized technologies effectively scale and enhance user experience. These insights have directly informed OIP's design, focusing on simplicity, usability, and affordability. Our goal is to lower barriers for developers and provide users with seamless decentralized experiences.

OIP provides developers with the flexibility to register their own applications through the `OIPAppRegistry`, enabling custom interaction logic.

The [Open Internet Protocol](https://openinternetprotocol.com) will exist as a public good: independently, open-source and credibly neutral. It's important to note that OIP is not designed exclusively for Portrait.

## Why we separated OIP from Portrait

As the original protocol matured, it became clear that its design and capabilities could support many decentralized social applications beyond Portrait itself. We believe this positions OIP as a versatile foundation that can effectively address the growing demands of decentralized social applications at scale.

While Portrait must comply with regional regulatory requirements, OIP will remain independent and impartial—free from any single organization's control. This separation ensures Portrait can continue innovating and optimizing for user experience, while OIP serves as a reliable, open foundation for diverse decentralized applications.

## What happens next

OIP is currently in the process of migration as we finalize benchmarking and security assessments. We plan to fully migrate the Portrait protocol onto OIP in Q2.

Developers interested in exploring or contributing to OIP can get started by visiting [the official documentation](https://openinternetprotocol.com), following updates on [X](https://x.com/useopeninternet), or checking out the project on [GitHub](https://github.com/openinternetprotocol).

## A note on tokens

We've become aware of unofficial tokens claiming affiliation with Portrait. There is no official Portrait token at this time. Please exercise caution. While no immediate token launch is planned, we are carefully considering how incentives might support the long-term health and growth of the Portrait ecosystem.


Introducing the Open Internet Protocol


Today we're excited to announce the launch of the Portrait beta on testnet—the first step toward enabling true autonomy in everyday internet usage.

Over the past three years, our team has learned extensively about the technologies that empower genuine decentralization while still offering an intuitive user experience. Portrait embodies these insights, providing an accessible, expressive, and decentralized personal site for everyone.

Portrait represents the "New Internet"—a place designed for self-expression, ownership, and community-driven hosting, away from centralized control. By leveraging the power of decentralization, Portrait ensures your personal digital identity is truly yours.

## Getting started with Portrait

As part of our beta release, early adopters can create their Portrait for a one-time fee of $10. This fee helps maintain network stability, reduce spam, and supports the sustainability of a decentralized hosting infrastructure.

Creating your Portrait takes just minutes. Visit portrait.so to sign up, pick your name, and establish your corner of the decentralized web.

## Why decentralization matters

Today's web has become dominated by centralized platforms that dictate how you express yourself, control your content, and even monetize your attention. Portrait offers an alternative—built on open protocols that empower users with genuine control, transparency, and resilience.

Your Portrait isn’t hosted on centralized servers but across a global network of peers. Every user contributes to the resilience of the network by hosting each other’s content, ensuring your site remains accessible without reliance on any single entity.

## Testnet launch details

The Portrait beta is currently deployed on Base Sepolia testnet, providing a stable, low-cost environment ideal for testing and community feedback. We anticipate a full mainnet launch in Q4 after comprehensive testing and optimization.

During this beta period, we're actively tracking network participation and preparing for our innovative rewards system, expected to launch between Q3 and Q4. Early contributors and hosts during this period will unlock unique rewards beyond just access.

## Next steps and community engagement

We invite everyone to join the beta today—experiment, create, and help shape the future of the decentralized web. Your feedback is invaluable as we refine Portrait, ensuring it meets your needs for self-expression, autonomy, and digital sovereignty.

For developers and enthusiasts interested in the underlying technology, Portrait is powered by [the Open Internet Protocol](https://openinternetprotocol.com) (OIP), a fully open-source and credibly neutral framework designed for building decentralized social applications.

## Rewards

We’re already tracking hosting activity during the beta, with rewards set to launch later this year.

---

Stay informed and engaged by visiting portrait.so, following updates on [X](https://x.com/withportrait), or joining our vibrant [Discord](https://discord.portrait.so) community.

Thank you for your continued support. The future of the web starts today—and it starts with you.


How domains are verified on Portrait with Ethereum

How domains are verified on Portrait with Ethereum

More stories

Portrait is now free for everyone

Supporters is now Plus

Announcing Points

Introducing the Open Internet Protocol

Announcing Portrait Beta

Portrait Blog

How domains are verified on Portrait with Ethereum

More stories

Portrait is now free for everyone

Supporters is now Plus

Announcing Points

Introducing the Open Internet Protocol

Announcing Portrait Beta