diff --git a/docs/ideas/split-domain-handles.md b/docs/ideas/split-domain-handles.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..203f89d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/ideas/split-domain-handles.md
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+# Split-domain handles for self-hosters
+
+Pre-spec exploration (2026-06-07), prompted by Hollo's split-domain
+setup (https://docs.hollo.social/install/split-domain/).
+
+## What it is
+
+Letting the **handle domain** differ from the **server domain**:
+`@bob@example.com` while the journal runs at `trails.example.com`.
+The apex only has to serve (or redirect) `/.well-known/webfinger`;
+actor IRIs, inbox/outbox, and the web UI all live on the server
+domain. Mastodon (`WEB_DOMAIN`/`LOCAL_DOMAIN`), GoToSocial
+(host/account-domain), and Hollo all support this.
+
+## Why it matters for trails.cool specifically
+
+- Fediverse handles are **permanent identity** — you cannot migrate
+  `@bob@trails.example.com` to `@bob@example.com` later. Self-hosters
+  who care about their handle want the apex in it from day one.
+- Most apexes are taken (a website, an existing service): the operator
+  case in this very project — `social.ullrich.is` exists because
+  `ullrich.is` was occupied; split-domain would have allowed
+  `@ullrich@ullrich.is`.
+- A self-hosting-first platform that forces "handle = wherever you can
+  host a Node app" is leaving its best identity feature on the table.
+
+## Why it's cheap for us
+
+Architecture Resolved Decision #18 (single domain) was justified as
+"avoids WebFinger complexity" — but Fedify natively supports the split:
+the `origin` option we already pass to `createFederation` accepts
+`{ handleHost, webOrigin }` instead of a string (since Fedify 1.5).
+Our side would be roughly:
+
+1. Optional `HANDLE_DOMAIN` env (defaults to `DOMAIN` — Decision #18
+   stays the default)
+2. Pass `origin: { handleHost: HANDLE_DOMAIN, webOrigin: ORIGIN }`
+3. Audit the places that build handles vs URLs (`localActorIri` builds
+   URLs — already correct; acct: construction, `users.domain` column
+   semantics, profile `@user@domain` rendering)
+4. Self-hoster docs: one redirect rule on the apex
+   (`/.well-known/webfinger` → server domain), like Hollo's guide
+
+## Interop direction (already a constraint, not an idea)
+
+Regardless of whether WE offer split domains, remote instances use
+them — the trails-to-trails check must run against the **actor IRI's
+host** after WebFinger resolution, never the handle's domain. Pinned in
+`social-federation` task 6.1 and `route-federation`'s gating decision.
+
+## Scope guess
+
+Config + audit + docs + a two-domain test in the (future) two-instance
+integration environment. Post-launch self-hosting polish; pairs with
+the broader self-host packaging story.
diff --git a/docs/roadmap.md b/docs/roadmap.md
index f870f40..30d555a 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap.md
@@ -89,3 +89,4 @@ See `docs/ideas/` for pre-spec explorations:
 - `activity-participants.md` — tag co-riders on shared activities, confirm/decline, federated mentions
 - `multi-day-collections.md` — activity collections for multi-day trips (architecture open question #1)
 - `fediverse-enhancements.md` — post-v1 federation: map images in Notes, fediverse kudos, comments, Events/Mobilizon, Wanderer interop, federated explore
+- `split-domain-handles.md` — `@bob@example.com` handles while the journal runs on a subdomain (Hollo/Mastodon-style; Fedify supports it natively)
diff --git a/openspec/changes/route-federation/design.md b/openspec/changes/route-federation/design.md
index ca5c672..b32c011 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/route-federation/design.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/route-federation/design.md
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@ activities are neither delivered to nor accepted from non-trails
 instances. (The Wanderer-interop idea would widen this allowlist —
 explicitly out of scope here.)
 
+Split-domain interop: the check runs against the **actor IRI's host**
+(server domain) after WebFinger resolution, never the handle's domain —
+remote instances may run Hollo/Mastodon-style split domains. See
+`docs/ideas/split-domain-handles.md`.
+
 ### Decision: Sync check is a pg-boss cron, owner-driven re-fetch
 
 Daily job on the *mirror-holding* instance: for each mirror whose
diff --git a/openspec/changes/social-federation/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/social-federation/tasks.md
index 34346ca..d41da8d 100644
--- a/openspec/changes/social-federation/tasks.md
+++ b/openspec/changes/social-federation/tasks.md
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
 ## 6. Outbound follow + trails-to-trails check
 
 - [ ] 6.1 Update `followUser` to allow remote IRIs; before creating, fetch the remote actor object and inspect `software`/discovery endpoint
+  > Split-domain interop constraint (2026-06-07): resolve the handle via WebFinger first, then run the NodeInfo/`software` check against the **actor IRI's host** (the server domain), never the handle's domain — Hollo/Mastodon-style split-domain instances (`@user@example.com` served from `social.example.com`) would otherwise be wrongly refused. See `docs/ideas/split-domain-handles.md`.
 - [ ] 6.2 Implement `/.well-known/trails-cool` endpoint on our side (publishes our software identity) so other trails instances recognize us
 - [ ] 6.3 If the discovery check fails, return 4xx with a clear "outbound federation to non-trails instances isn't supported yet" message + docs link
 - [ ] 6.4 If the check passes, write follow row with `accepted_at = NULL`, push `Follow` activity to remote inbox