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.
Integrations
Cryptocurrency Platform Enhances Bug Bounty Program
Mon 13th May 2024
A prominent cryptocurrency platform has announced enhancements to its bug bounty program. Through a partnership with Immunefi, the platform is now offering up to $250,000 for the discovery of critical smart contract bugs and up to $100,000 for significant web infrastructure vulnerabilities. This move aims to strengthen the security of the platform's systems and incentivize ethical hackers to identify and report potential issues.
ENS Manager App Update
Mon 13th May 2024
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Manager App has received an update that allows users to register and extend domain names by specifying an expiration date. This new feature provides greater flexibility in managing ENS domain names.
ENS 7th Anniversary Celebration
Mon 6th May 2024
Today marks the 7th anniversary of the Ethereum Name Service (ENS). Users are reminded to claim their commemorative 7th Anniversary NFT. The ENS team extends their well-wishes with a playful 'May the 4th be with you' message.
ENS Challenges Unstoppable Domains' Patent on Open-Source Technology
Thu 2nd May 2024
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has petitioned the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to challenge the validity of a patent obtained by Unstoppable Domains (UD) in 2023. The patent covers technology that ENS had developed as open-source. ENS claims that UD has patented ENS's pioneering technology, directly leveraging their open-source innovations, which they consider theft. ENS believes that the UD patent threatens to distort or destroy the decentralization and public benefit principles that ENS thrives on. ENS had given UD opportunities to avoid legal action, but UD refused to open-source the patent or make irrevocable pledges not to use it to the detriment of the community. ENS is committed to fighting this battle for the sake of Web3's future and defending the common vision of an open and innovative internet for everyone.
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Releases Major Updates
Thu 18th Apr 2024
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has announced several significant updates through a new blog post. Key highlights include the launch of a revamped documentation site, the introduction of gasless DNSSEC functionality, improvements to the user experience and interface, an ownership tab for better management, direct links to Etherscan for enhanced transparency, support for new record types, and the migration of the platform to Next.js for improved performance and scalability.
Japanese Registrar ValueDomain Integrates ENS Name Resolution and Gasless DNSSEC
Mon 8th Apr 2024
ValueDomain, a Japanese domain registrar owned by GMO, has recently started providing Ethereum Name Service (ENS) name resolution functionality and gasless DNSSEC for DNS domains. This integration allows owners of traditional DNS domains (e.g., .com, .net) to resolve their domains to Ethereum wallets. There are two methods to add ENS functionality: on-chain and off-chain, both supporting DNS names and DNSSEC integration. The on-chain method requires proving ownership by setting up a text record and sending proof to the Ethereum blockchain, incurring gas and network fees. The gasless DNSSEC method uses CCIP-Read to access names not on-chain, eliminating the need for on-chain proof of ownership. DNS owners can set up text records, and the DNS records will work automatically.
ENS DAO Small Grants Round Deadline Approaching
Thu 4th Apr 2024
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) has announced that there are only 12 more hours remaining to submit proposals for the current Small Grants round. The ENS DAO provides funding for public goods projects related to the ENS ecosystem. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their proposals before the deadline.
ENS Domains Powering Major Web3 Ecosystem
Thu 21st Mar 2024
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has announced that one of the largest ecosystems in Web3, Uniswap, has adopted ENS usernames for its platform. ENS domains are being positioned as open, interoperable identifiers for the internet, allowing traditional Web2 domains to become cross-platform usernames within the Web3 ecosystem. ENS has also integrated with 3DNS, enabling domain owners to receive crypto payments, interact with DApps, and manage their domains on Layer 2 networks via a Layer 1 gateway to avoid high gas fees.
ENS Labs Executive Director Shares Vision for Global Adoption and Accessibility
Thu 4th Apr 2024
The Executive Director of ENS Labs, Khori Whittaker, shared insights into the organization's vision for global adoption and accessibility of the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) naming system. With ENS running quadratic funding rounds on Giveth and soon on Gitcoin, Whittaker emphasized the importance of making the intuitive naming system accessible worldwide and encouraging prominent organizations to integrate ENS names. The interview highlighted Whittaker's perspectives on inclusion and accessibility in the web3 space.
ENS Ecosystem Working Group Announces Gitcoin ENS Identity Round with $100k Matching Pool
Thu 28th Mar 2024
The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Ecosystem Working Group is participating in the Gitcoin ENS Identity Round with a $100,000 matching pool to support projects developing decentralized identity solutions on the ENS platform. Project submissions will be accepted from April 2nd to April 16th, with the round period running from April 23rd to May 7th. This initiative aims to foster innovation in the field of decentralized identity built on the ENS infrastructure.
