December 18, 2025 4 min to read

Setting Up Email for Your Handshake Domain

Send and receive mail at you@yourdomain using ShakeTheMail

One of the lesser-known benefits of owning a Handshake domain is that you can use it as a real email address as you@yourdomain with no ICANN intermediary. ShakeTheMail makes this straightforward: it’s an open-source mail server built specifically for Handshake TLDs, handling registration, DNS validation, and full IMAP/SMTP support.

How It Works

1. Register an account on ShakeTheMail.net
2. Prove domain ownership by adding an MX record pointing to the mail service
3. Once validated, send and receive email as you@yourdomain

Step 1: Register Your Account

Go to shakethemail.net and sign up with:

• Username: your Handshake TLD (e.g. decentralizers)
• Email: a recovery address used only for password resets
• Password: your chosen password

ShakeTheMail verifies your domain exists in the Handshake DNS and generates a unique MX code: a 48-character base32 string you will use to prove ownership. Your account starts inactive until you complete the next step.

Step 2: Add the MX Record

After registration you will receive an MX code. Add it as a DNS record on your Handshake domain:

yourdomain.  IN  MX  10  <your-mx-code>.shakethemail.net.

For example:

decentralizers.  IN  MX  10  qq2pqslz7wfq7qjwedrfedwsqaj63zh2q4cmt23k45rf7y4wfch4.shakethemail.net.

Where to add it:

• Namebase: Domain → “Manage DNS” → add an MX record with the values above
• Own nameserver (PowerDNS, BIND, etc.): add the record directly to your zone file

We also recommend adding an SPF record to improve deliverability to ICANN domains:

yourdomain.  IN  TXT  "v=spf1 mx include:shakethemail.net -all"

Step 3: Wait for Validation

A background daemon periodically queries MX records. Once it sees your record pointing to the correct value, your account activates automatically:

• A mailbox is created for your username
• Postfix is configured to route mail to your account
• You receive a welcome email at yourdomain@shakethemail.net

Validation is usually fast but can take up to 24 hours. Check your status by logging in and visiting the Domains page.

Step 4: Set Up Custom Addresses

Once active, your default address is yourdomain@shakethemail.net. To use a fully custom address like hello@yourdomain:

1. Log into Rainloop webmail at https://shakethemail.net/webmail/
2. Go to Settings → Accounts → Add an Identity
3. Add your desired address (e.g. hello@decentralizers)

ShakeTheMail validates the identity against your proven domain ownership and updates its routing automatically.

Step 5: Receiving Email

When someone sends to hello@yourdomain:

1. Their mail server looks up the MX record for your domain
2. Finds your MX code pointing to ShakeTheMail
3. Connects on port 25 and delivers the message
4. Postfix routes it to your mailbox via the virtual alias map

Here’s a real example, an email successfully sent from ShakeTheMail and received in Gmail:

Step 6: Sending Email

Via Webmail (recommended): you can reach any address, Handshake or ICANN:

• shakethemail.net/webmail/

Via IMAP/SMTP client:

Note: SMTP via client only delivers to other users on the same ShakeTheMail server. To send to external addresses, use the Webmail interface.

Important Limitations

• External delivery via SMTP client is restricted: you can only reach other ShakeTheMail users this way. Use Webmail to send outside the server.
• Recipients on ICANN domains need a Handshake-aware DNS resolver to look up your domain’s MX record and receive your mail.

Running Your Own Instance

ShakeTheMail is open source. If you want full control:

1. Run the container with DNS servers that resolve Handshake
2. Edit policy.json to set your email_domain and website_domain
3. Add DNS records for your hosting domain (A record, wildcard A, SPF)

Quick Reference

DNS Records

; Required: proves ownership and routes mail
yourdomain.  IN  MX   10  <your-mx-code>.shakethemail.net.

; Recommended: improves deliverability to ICANN domains
yourdomain.  IN  TXT  "v=spf1 mx include:shakethemail.net -all"

Account Lifecycle

A Handshake domain gives you sovereign control over your namespace and ShakeTheMail extends that to your inbox.

References

• ShakeTheMail Website
• James Stevens
• ShakeTheMail Github