Ethereum Name Service (ENS) - Blockchain Guide

Introduction to Ethereum Name Service

Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a decentralized naming system that translates human-readable names (like “vitalik.eth”) into Ethereum addresses and other identifiers, powered by smart contracts. Just as DNS maps domain names to IP addresses on the internet, ENS provides the naming layer for Web3.

Founded by Nick Johnson at the Ethereum Foundation, ENS has become essential Web3 infrastructure. ENS names have evolved beyond simple address resolution to serve as decentralized identity, with users displaying their .eth names as social identity across platforms.

The Naming Problem

Address Challenges

Cryptocurrency addresses:

Long hexadecimal strings
Error-prone to type
Impossible to remember
No identity expression

ENS Solution

Human-readable names:

Simple .eth names
Easy to share
Identity expression
Error reduction

Beyond Addresses

Extended functionality:

Website hosting (IPFS)
Multiple cryptocurrencies
Social profiles
Decentralized identity

How ENS Works

Name Registration

Acquiring names:

Auction/registration system
Annual renewal fees
Ownership as NFT
Transferable

Resolution

Name lookup:

Query ENS registry
Return associated address
Multiple record types
Decentralized resolution

Records

Stored information:

Ethereum address
Other crypto addresses
Content hashes (websites)
Text records (social, etc.)

Technical Specifications

Metric	Value
Platform	Ethereum
Suffix	.eth
Token	ENS
Registry	Smart contracts
Ownership	NFT (ERC-721)
Records	Extensible

The ENS Token

Airdrop and Launch

Token distribution:

November 2021 airdrop
To existing users
DAO governance
Community ownership

Utility

ENS serves multiple purposes:

Governance: Protocol decisions
Voting: DAO participation
Delegation: Vote delegation
Treasury: Fund allocation

DAO Governance

Community control:

Protocol parameters
Treasury management
Integration decisions
Strategic direction

ENS as Identity

Beyond Naming

Identity layer:

Profile information
Social links
Avatar display
Cross-platform identity

Social Adoption

Cultural impact:

Twitter display names
Discord identities
Profile pictures
Web3 identity standard

Profile Records

Identity information:

Avatar (NFT or image)
Social links
Description
Email
Various text records

Registration and Pricing

Name Pricing

Cost structure:

3-character: Higher price
4-character: Medium price
5+ character: Base price
Annual renewal

Registration Process

Getting a name:

Search availability
Request registration
Wait period (front-run protection)
Complete registration
Set records

Subdomain

Extended naming:

Create subdomains
Free to owner
Delegated control
Organizational use

Ecosystem Integration

Wallet Support

Universal integration:

MetaMask
All major wallets
Hardware wallets
Universal standard

dApp Integration

Web3 usage:

DeFi protocols
NFT platforms
Social platforms
Broad adoption

DNS Integration

Traditional web:

.eth in browsers
DNS bridge
IPFS websites
Web3 accessibility

Competition and Positioning

vs. Other Naming

System	Blockchain	Feature
ENS	Ethereum	Standard
Unstoppable	Various	Multi-chain
SNS	Solana	Solana native
Space ID	Multi-chain	Cross-chain

Market Position

Current standing:

Ethereum standard
Widest integration
Cultural adoption
First mover

Differentiation

Key advantages:

Ethereum native
Deepest integration
Cultural recognition
DAO governance

Challenges and Criticism

Gas Costs

Ethereum expense:

Registration gas
Record updates
Renewal costs
L2 solutions coming

Name Squatting

Registration issues:

Popular names taken
Speculation
Brand names
Resolution unclear

Competition

Market dynamics:

Multi-chain alternatives
TLD competition
Integration fragmentation
Market evolution

Recent Developments

L2 Integration

Scaling solutions:

Off-chain resolution
L2 record storage
Cost reduction
Accessibility improvement

ENSv2

Protocol evolution:

Architecture improvements
New features
Enhanced capabilities
Roadmap implementation

Ecosystem Growth

Adoption metrics:

Registration growth
Integration expansion
Feature development
Community engagement

Future Roadmap

Development priorities:

L2 Support: Cheaper operations
ENSv2: Protocol improvements
Integration: Broader adoption
Features: Enhanced capabilities
Governance: DAO maturation

Conclusion

ENS has established itself as the naming layer for Ethereum and, increasingly, Web3 as a whole. The cultural adoption of .eth names as digital identity demonstrates impact beyond simple address resolution.

The DAO governance structure ensures community control over this critical infrastructure. Challenges around gas costs are being addressed through L2 integration and off-chain resolution.

For anyone using Ethereum who wants a human-readable identity and for the Web3 ecosystem needing naming infrastructure, ENS provides the established standard. Its first-mover advantage and deep integration make it the default naming layer for Ethereum users.

Technology Stack