Onchain Names Quickstart
If you have an onchain name like .eth, you can point it at your IPFS content with a single command. No DNS configuration, no SSL certificates, no domain validation: just point and go.
What you need
- An onchain name (e.g.,
vitalik.eth) - Content already pinned to IPFS (you'll need the CID)
- The Pinner CLI installed and authenticated
Point your name at content
pinner point vitalik.eth --cid bafybeigqaforwjgcx45jnh7dgyfgqqm2lei4hurrrnsizrpgyxz3egtd7eYou'll see output like:
Domain pointed successfully
Name vitalik.eth
CID bafybeigqaforwjgcx45jnh7dgyfgqqm2lei4hurrrnsizrpgyxz3egtd7e
IPNS Name k51qzi5uqu5djx...
Contenthash ipns://k51qzi5uqu5djx...
Set your contenthash
Copy the Contenthash value and set it in your name manager. For ENS names, this is the contenthash record in your ENS controller.
Once set, your name resolves to your content.
Verify
Visit your name through a resolver:
https://vitalik.eth.limo
Your content should load. If it doesn't, check that:
- The contenthash is set correctly in your name manager
- The CID matches your content
- You're using the IPNS contenthash (starts with
ipns://), not a raw CID
Update your content
When you have new content, just point again with the new CID:
pinner point vitalik.eth --cid bafybeig...updated-cidThe same IPNS key is reused and republished. The contenthash in your name manager stays the same: it points at the IPNS name, not the CID directly.
Remove a pointing
pinner unpoint vitalik.ethThis deletes the IPNS key. The name will no longer resolve to IPFS content.
How it works
Under the hood, point creates an IPNS key named after your domain, publishes your CID to it, and gives you the contenthash to set in your name manager. When someone visits your name, the resolver follows the contenthash → IPNS → CID path to serve your content.
For more detail, see How Onchain Names Work and the point & unpoint reference.
Next steps
- Point & unpoint reference: all flags, JSON output, troubleshooting
- How onchain names work: IPNS, contenthash, and the resolution path
- IPNS and mutable addresses: deeper dive into IPNS