Sigil usernames are short @-handles bound to a single DID — separate from the longer .sigil SNS namespace. Short handles have a fixed allocation: 4–6 characters via auction, 7+ characters via direct claim during the genesis-username window.

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When to use this

  • Reserve your personal @ handle for messaging and discovery.
  • Claim a brand handle for your organisation.
  • Bid on a contested short handle through the auction.

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Prerequisites

  • A funded DID.
  • The handle must pass validate_genesis_username (lowercase ASCII letters and digits; length ≥ 4; no profanity blocklist matches).

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Direct claim (handles ≥ 7 characters)

await signAndSend({
  RegisterUsername: {
    action: 'Claim',
    name: 'alice42',
    owner_did: process.env.SIGIL_SENDER_DID,
  },
});
Once accepted, query the binding: 
curl -s "$SIGIL_RPC_URL" -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"sigil_resolveUsername",
       "params":{"name":"alice42"}}'

# Reverse lookup
curl -s "$SIGIL_RPC_URL" -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"sigil_lookupUsername",
       "params":{"did":"did:oas:sigil:agent:..."}}'

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Auction claim (handles 4–6 characters)

Short handles run on a sealed-bid auction.
1

List open auctions

curl -s "$SIGIL_RPC_URL" -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"sigil_listOpenUsernameAuctions","params":{}}'
If the name you want has no auction yet, submit UsernameAuctionOpen to start one.
2

Bid

Bid amounts are in micro-MINT (the smallest divisible unit; one MINT = 10⁶ micro-MINT). The chain holds your bid in escrow until the auction settles.
await signAndSend({
  UsernameAuctionBid: {
    name: 'alex',
    bid_amount: '5000000',     // 5 MINT, decimal string
  },
});
3

Settle

After the auction window closes, anyone may submit UsernameAuctionFinalize. The winning bidder receives the handle; losing bids are refunded.
await signAndSend({
  UsernameAuctionFinalize: {
    name: 'alex',
  },
});
Inspect the auction at any point: 
curl -s "$SIGIL_RPC_URL" -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"sigil_getUsernameAuction",
       "params":{"name":"alex"}}'

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Common errors

SymptomCauseFix
username too short for direct claimDirect claim of a ≤6-character handleUse the auction flow
username on reserved listReserved system namePick another
auction not yet finalisableWindow still openWait until closes_at_height
bid below floorBelow the auction’s reserveRaise the bid

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See also