# What is BNS?

Bitcoin Name System (BNS) is a network system that binds Stacks usernames to off-chain state without relying on any central points of control. \
BNS-names form a human readably and secure alternative for hard to remember public keys (such as public Stacks addresses and/or Bitcoin addresses).&#x20;

Read more: <https://docs.stacks.co/docs/stacks-academy/bns>
