Imagine being able to own and trade the underlying identifier of your digital identity. That’s exactly what's happening with Farcaster IDs (FIDs) — unique numeric handles assigned to every user on Farcaster. These IDs aren’t just ordinary usernames; they’re on-chain assets that can be collected, bought, and sold like domain names or NFTs. In fact, some collectors are already paying serious money for low or unique FIDs, viewing them as digital collectibles.
Why Are People Collecting FIDs?
Numbers have meaning, and for many Farcaster users a specific FID is more than just an account number. Here are a few reasons these numeric handles have become sought-after collectibles:
Status symbol: Low-digit FIDs (e.g. under 1,000) serve as a status symbol, similar to having an early Twitter handle or a rare username. An early, smaller number can signify that you have one of the first FIDs on the platform.
Lucky or iconic numbers: Certain digits carry cultural or internet significance. For example, 8 is considered a lucky number in Asian culture. Likewise, internet-famous numbers like 420 or 69 attract attention for their memability and novelty.
Patterned numbers: Repeating or sequential number patterns (like 1234, 7777, or 11111) are collected for fun, much like rare items in a game. These patterns are visually distinctive and scarce, which gives them a collectible appeal.
“OG” badge: As Farcaster grows, having an early or unique FID could be seen as an OG (original gangster) badge in the community.
How to Buy & Sell FIDs on FarMarket
FarMarket (fid.market) is the go-to marketplace for Farcaster IDs, built by far.quest! It allows users to list their FIDs for sale, place bids on FIDs, or buy FIDs outright. If you’re looking to trade FIDs, here’s how to get started:
Connect your wallet: Visit FarMarket and connect a wallet (like MetaMask) to authenticate your account. This lets you interact with the marketplace using your Ethereum (Optimism) address.
Browse or search FIDs: Explore the marketplace for available FIDs. You can scroll through listed FIDs or use the search function to find a specific number that interests you.
Read the FAQ: We have comprehensive FAQ on the top right of FarMarket that explains everything you need to know about FIDs. For example, "fnames" or usernames can be reassigned by the Farcaster team as they are centrally controlled, making the FID number the specific decentralized asset - you shouldn't buy a FID for the fname.
Make an offer or buy now: Found a FID you want? If the seller has set a price, you can purchase it instantly. Otherwise, you can place a bid (offer) at a price you're willing to pay, and the owner can choose to accept it.
Secure your new FID: After buying, finalize ownership by updating your Farcaster account’s signers (the keys/accounts authorized to control the ID). This step ensures you have full control over casts (posts) and account management for your newly acquired FID.
Whether you’re collecting for fun, prestige, or potential future value, the FID market is growing quickly. If you’re curious, check out FarMarket (fid.market) and see if there’s a number that speaks to you!
You can't upgrade @farcaster_xyz IDs (yet?), but you can buy a lower number via our marketplace!
fid dot market
fid dot market
Everyone has a Farcaster ID on @farcaster_xyz - would you upgrade yours to a lower one if you could?
It's fascinating how numbers are important to people such as 888 in China, or @CounterStrike skin float numbers like 0.001337!
It's fascinating how numbers are important to people such as 888 in China, or @CounterStrike skin float numbers like 0.001337!
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~ jcdenton.cast & nico.cast
