Background

Ethereum Name Service

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) is a distributed, open, and extensible naming system based on the Ethereum blockchain.

ENS’s job is to map human-readable names like ‘alice.eth’ to machine-readable identifiers such as Ethereum addresses, other cryptocurrency addresses, content hashes, and metadata. ENS also supports ‘reverse resolution’, making it possible to associate metadata such as canonical names or interface descriptions with Ethereum addresses.

ENS has similar goals to DNS, the Internet’s Domain Name Service, but has significantly different architecture due to the capabilities and constraints provided by the Ethereum blockchain. Like DNS, ENS operates on a system of dot-separated hierarchical names called domains, with the owner of a domain having full control over subdomains.

Top-level domains, like ‘.eth’ and ‘.test’, are owned by smart contracts called registrars, which specify rules governing the allocation of their subdomains. Anyone may, by following the rules imposed by these registrar contracts, obtain ownership of a domain for their own use. ENS also supports importing in DNS names already owned by the user for use on ENS.

Integrationstwitter

ENSv2 Introduces Shared Registries for Scalable Namespace Management

Fri 24th Apr 2026
**ENSv2 brings a major architectural shift to namespace scalability.** Instead of requiring each ENS name to maintain its own isolated registry setup, the new version allows registries to be shared across multiple identities. **Key improvement:** - Shared registries reduce overhead and enable more efficient namespace management at scale - Builds on ENSv2's hierarchical architecture where names are structured systems rather than single entries **Context:** This follows ENSv2's move from a flat registry model to a hierarchical system of linked registries. The upgrade maintains backward compatibility with existing subnames, CCIP-Read names, and imported DNS names while introducing more powerful permissioning and delegation capabilities. The change supports ENS's evolution from a niche crypto tool to infrastructure serving millions of names across ecosystems, wallets, and applications. [Learn more about ENSv2's architecture](https://ens.domains/blog/post/names-are-no-longer-single-objects)

🏆 ETHesis Wins Runner-Up for AI Agent Integration with Onchain Research Funding

Thu 7th May 2026
**ETHesis** secured second place in the Best ENS Integration for AI Agents category at a recent competition. The project addresses research funding transparency by enabling: - Researchers to launch **tokenized research ventures** - Communities to **fund projects directly onchain** - Autonomous auditor agents to **verify milestone completion** through ENS-linked attestations ETHesis joins a growing ecosystem of ENS-native AI agent projects, including first-place winner **ACL** (which uses ENS for agentic commerce discovery) and **Siren** (third place, focusing on ENS identity verification). The competition highlighted diverse use cases: from **EthTwin's** voice-first crypto interface to **Brainpedia's** knowledge network and **ENSign's** passkey-controlled smart accounts—all leveraging ENS as core infrastructure for agent coordination and identity.

ENS Dominates ETHPrague: 45% of Projects Built on Naming Protocol

Thu 7th May 2026
**ETHPrague Results** ETHPrague concluded with 64 projects delivered over the weekend. ENS integration reached a new high: - **29 projects built on ENS** (45% of all submissions) - **4 teams won prizes** across two ENS-specific tracks This follows ETHGlobal Open Agents the previous week, where 177 of 468 projects (38%) integrated ENS. **What This Means** The increasing adoption rate—from 38% to 45%—shows developers are prioritizing human-readable naming in their applications. ENS provides the infrastructure for mapping readable names like 'alice.eth' to blockchain addresses and other identifiers. The protocol's presence at consecutive hackathons demonstrates its position as essential infrastructure for Ethereum development.
Community article

ENS Splits Into Two Apps: Management and Protocol Explorer

Thu 14th May 2026
**ENS launches dual-app architecture with ENSv2** The Ethereum Name Service has restructured its interface into two separate applications, both currently in alpha testing on Sepolia: - **App**: Handles name management and user experience - **Explorer**: Provides deeper protocol-level visibility and data The original ENS application remains functional during the transition. This split architecture becomes possible through ENSv2, which enables the new dual-app experience. Both applications are accepting user testing and feedback on the Sepolia testnet before mainnet deployment.
Community article

ENS Launches registerAgentIdentity() for On-Chain Agent Verification

Fri 24th Apr 2026
ENS has introduced `registerAgentIdentity()`, a new function that provides AI agents with on-chain identity infrastructure. When called, agents receive: - A human-readable ENS subname - An on-chain passport - Cryptographic proof linking the agent to its owner This builds on ENS's evolving role beyond simple name resolution. The system now supports: - **Arbitrary records** that carry an agent's full trust stack - **Identity scoring** (none, registered, discoverable, verified, full) - **Programmable resolvers** that execute logic like token swaps or privacy routing ENS serves as the accountability layer, transforming raw cryptographic keys into verifiable, human-readable identities. One ENS name can hold everything: identity, discoverability, code integrity, and capabilities. The infrastructure makes agents resolvable and accountable while maintaining the flexibility to chain complex actions through custom resolver logic.
Community article

🏆 Trust Resolution Layer Wins First Place for Verifiable Agent Identity

Fri 24th Apr 2026
A **Trust Resolution Layer (TRL)** has taken first place for establishing verifiable AI agent identity through ENS. The system combines multiple components: - World ID verification - ENSIP-25 agent registration standard - ENSIP-26 context records - Novel AIP manifest system These elements work together to create a **progressive 5-tier trust scoring system** for autonomous agents. This infrastructure addresses a critical need as AI agents increasingly sign transactions, hold assets, and interact with blockchain protocols. The TRL builds on ENSIP-25, which introduced standardized verification that an onchain-registered AI agent is genuinely associated with an ENS name. The solution provides essential identity infrastructure for the growing ecosystem of autonomous agents operating in web3.

ENS Releases Alpha Log #5 with Reliability and Usability Updates

Thu 2nd Apr 2026
The Ethereum Name Service has published its fifth alpha development log for ENSv2, detailing continued improvements to the App and Explorer on the Sepolia testnet. **Key Updates:** - Focus on reliability, flexibility, and overall usability enhancements - Builds on previous fixes including transaction modal layouts and Fuses page improvements - Ongoing polish to search functionality, profiles, notifications, and name management features The ENSv2 testing phase continues on Sepolia as the team iterates on the user experience before mainnet deployment. More updates are expected in upcoming alpha logs.
Community article

🚀 Faster... Smoother... Better

Thu 2nd Apr 2026
The ENS App just got a performance boost. Profile data now loads faster thanks to optimized record fetching, making name management feel noticeably smoother. **What changed:** - Profile records are fetched more efficiently - Viewing name details is quicker - Managing profiles feels more responsive This follows recent updates that added Layer 1 primary name management and streamlined subname creation with address pre-population. [Learn more about ENS](https://ens.domains)
Community article

ENS App Now Includes Built-in Expiration Notifications

Fri 6th Feb 2026
The ENS Manager app has introduced a highly anticipated feature: **built-in expiration notifications**. **Key Features:** - Set up reminders through multiple channels: email, Telegram, or browser notifications - Never lose your ENS domain to accidental expiry - Notifications work directly within the app at [app.ens.domains](http://app.ens.domains) **Additional Context:** This builds on existing ENS Manager features, including the ability to register and extend names by selecting exact expiration dates for more precise domain control. The notification system addresses a common pain point for ENS users who may forget renewal dates and risk losing valuable domain names.

ENS Prepares for v2 Launch with Universal Resolver Updates

Mon 15th Dec 2025
**ENS is gearing up for its v2 launch** by requiring developers to update their libraries and applications. Key requirements for ENSv2 readiness: - Update ENS libraries to latest versions - Ensure apps resolve names via **CCIP-Read protocol** - Verify **L2 compatibility** for name resolution - Implement Universal Resolver support The Universal Resolver serves as the foundation for ENSv2, enabling cross-chain name resolution and improved functionality. **Why this matters:** ENSv2 represents a significant upgrade to Ethereum's naming infrastructure, expanding beyond simple address mapping to comprehensive web3 identity management. Developers should review the [ENSv2 readiness documentation](https://docs.ens.domains/web/ensv2-readiness/) and test their applications now to ensure seamless transition. *Action needed: Update your ENS integrations before the v2 launch to avoid service disruptions.*
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